How do you spend your day? Before you retired, you likely had dreams about sleeping in, ditching the professional attire and eating whatever you want whenever you want. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—you’ve worked hard and deserve a little pampering. But sometimes too many of these changes can lead to some bad habits—which can be hard to break.
Here are six habits that you may want to stop before they start or kick them if they’ve already settled in.
1. Eating Irregular Meals
Now that your schedule is no longer dictated by when you have to be at work and when you can take your meal break, it can be refreshing to just eat whenever you feel hungry. It’s not harmful to do that once in a while, but if your meal times are too irregular, you may end up sacrificing a healthy diet. Stock up on healthy foods—perhaps preparing meals ahead of time and keeping them in your freezer—so you have healthy meals ready and waiting for those times when you do want to be spontaneous.
2. Eating in Front of the TV
Eating while watching TV can be a treat, but it can also lead to bad eating habits. It turns out that we often eat more when we’re distracted by the television or computer than if we concentrate on our meals. This can lead to weight gain and other negative effects on your health. So take the time to eat most of your meals at the kitchen- or dining-room table, and take time to enjoy each bite.
3. Sleeping In
Who doesn’t dream of sleeping in on a regular basis? And now that you don’t have to be anywhere early in the morning, you don’t need to set that alarm. But sleeping in too long and too often can throw your sleeping schedule off, making it difficult for you to sleep at night. To help get your body back into a healthy rhythm, choose a regular time to arise each morning, and stick with it.
4. Too Much “Screen Time”
The Internet has changed our lives by providing instant entertainment, an easy way to connect with friends and family, and all the news and celebrity gossip one could want. But sitting in front of a computer or television for too long takes you away from real-life interactions. It’s fine to catch up with old friends on Facebook or follow the latest TV series, but too much screen time has been linked with negative effects in the brain. Instead of spending most of the day in front of a monitor, go for walks, make plans with a friend or find a new hobby.
5. Not Exercising
When you give up the rigid schedule of a workday, it can be tempting to give up other activities, too. But while relaxing all day sounds appealing, exercise is critical to your health and happiness. Whether you develop an exercise practice at home or join a local gym, it’s important to keep moving.
6. Staying in Your Pajamas
Gone are the suits, the dress shoes, the make-up, even the need to shave daily, right? Well, while you may not need to fit a specific dress code, it’s still important to get up and get groomed every day. Staying in your PJs or lounging around in sweats can be comfortable, but getting dressed in nice clothes can lift the spirit and inspire you to get out and do more.
As you’ve probably noticed, retirement is a whole different lifestyle than the one you experienced before. But while you’re taking time to enjoy its many perks, don’t let yourself take up these bad habits. Be mindful of how you spend your day, and you’ll be more likely to live each one to its fullest.
Are you ready to age into your best self? Check out free resource, The Vitality Guide: Nutrition, Exercise and Health Care for Seniors.
