A popular image of retirement is sitting on the beach, sipping mai tais.  Equally popular is the idea of lounging in a hammock with a book on your lap, a shade over your face, and a glass of lemonade nearby.  But if you find yourself asking “Now what?” at any point in retirement – especially in the beginning, as you adjust to a schedule that doesn’t involve calendars or alarm clocks – then here’s some of the best advice I can give:

Get up and get moving.

Recently, someone shared a study with me from the National Library of Medicine.  I’m a financial advisor, not a doctor, but there were several passages in the study that are very connected with retirement planning.  Allow me to quote from it:

The global population is aging rapidly. It is estimated that 21% of the population will be aged >60 years by 2050. A major challenge of the growing number of old people is the potential increase in healthcare demands due to age-related chronic diseases and disabilities. Physical activity has been shown to be crucial for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and some cancers; prevention of falls; and maintenance of independence in the later years of life. Despite these benefits, objectively measured physical activity levels are consistently low in older adults.

Retirement has been recognized as a critical turning point in determining physical activity behaviors in old age. Retirement may therefore present an important ‘window’ for targeting interventions to promote increases in, or maintenance of, overall physical activity levels. Retirement is a major life transition that is associated with life changes including those involving social networks, income, and time flexibility that may all affect physical activity behaviors.[1]

As a financial advisor, I’ve seen it for myself: My retired clients who have led active lives, who get out of the house, who keep moving, often save a lot of money that might otherwise have gone to paying for medical expenses.  Just as importantly, they often seem to enjoy retirement more, too.

For that reason, if the words. "I'm retired - now what?" ever cross your mind, the solution is simple: Go do something active, in whatever way that means to you!