Life changes as you get older, and you need to change with the times.
As you move into retirement, there are a few habits you must drop so you can live a longer, healthier and more enjoyable life.
What are those habits? Here are five things to give up as you move into your 60s and beyond.
Indulging in unhealthy behaviors when you’re a young person is damaging, but your body has more time to bounce back. As you get older, sadly, these behaviors can have a bigger impact both on how you feel and on your long-term medical risks.
When you were young, you may have been able to stay up late, eat a poor-quality diet and even drink alcohol or smoke on a pretty regular basis without feeling many negative effects. You’re less likely to be able to tolerate those habits well as you age. They’re also more likely to make you sicker.
In fact, a 2021 study linked sleep deficiencies with both accelerated aging and a greater risk of serious health issues such as cancer and heart problems. Since aging already increases the chances of developing these life-threatening ailments, it pays to avoid habits that compound the risk.
Climbing up on a ladder for some DIY repairs or getting out your chainsaw to cut up some firewood may not have seemed like such a big deal at a younger age — but activities that put your safety at risk should be avoided as you get older.
Preventable injury is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and your risk increases as you age and experience changes like slower reflexes or poorer balance.
Fall injuries can be especially damaging for retirees, with the chances of being hospitalized after a fall doubling between the ages of 65 and 90.
Before you engage in risky behavior, ask yourself whether you’re still in physical shape to do it — and what the consequences would be if things went wrong.
Read more: I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 3 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
A desire to keep up with the Joneses doesn’t just go away when you retire. Unfortunately, competing with or trying to impress your peers can cause you to make financial and personal decisions that aren’t well aligned with your values.