Posted on Friday, 23rd August 2024 by

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At Federal Retirement Planning, we understand the importance of preparing for retirement holistically: financially, emotionally, and physically. One without the other could derail your retirement.

One crucial aspect often overlooked is the incorporation of an exercise routine long before retiring in preparation for an active life after retirement. Many, defer this to post retirement.

After retiring, I treated everyday like the weekends when working, running here and there, taking on multiple projects, and started an aggressive mall walking routine. Much to my dismay, I discovered the reality of the situation. Too much too soon and had to slow down the pace considerably to recover after several months of non-stop activity.

Exercise, Essential for All

Establishing a consistent exercise regimen can significantly benefit your physical and mental well-being in retirement. From boosting energy levels and enhancing your mood and cognitive function, to improved sleep, regular exercise can pave the way for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle.

By taking proactive steps towards your health now, you are investing in a vibrant and active future post-retirement. Let Federal Retirement Planning help you thrive in retirement by providing comprehensive resources for all aspects of your retirement journey.

Download our FREE Excel 2025 Federal Employee’s Leave Record – Tracks Annual, Sick, Comp, and Credit Hours

Personal Commitment

It takes commitment to achieve your goals, whatever they may be: a realistic exercise routine, financial independence, eating right and diet, or one of a thousand other challenges we encounter throughout life.

It’s easy today to get distracted and put off planned activities. The longer you wait to restart your program, the harder it is to get back up and running. How many times have we made New Year’s resolutions that were soon abandoned.

It’s best to incorporate healthful activities and exercise programs long before retiring. Walk around the office for 5 minutes every hour or at lunch time to relax and start a daily routine. Extend this to your home life.

When I mention walking to family and friends, many say they can’t get out and about to walk, or the sidewalks in their area are trip hazards. Most ignore the fact that they can walk in the home as Mary, and I do.

We have a trip free all hard wood path on the first floor of our home that we’ve walked for over a decade. I walk for 30 minutes twice a day, starting at 7 am each morning, seven days a week. Mary does two 1-hour sessions! That’s not counting all of the additional walking we do during the day for work and other activities.

Areas To Focus On?

One area I should have paid more attention to is my core. During my early years, I serviced our cars, remodel homes, landscaped, and general construction work including finishing game rooms, installing bathrooms, electrical wiring, plumbing, patios, porches, building retaining walls, installing fences, and decks. All of this heavy physical activity at home and work early in life created health challenges down the road.

Unfortunately, I ended up with knee surgeries and three lower abdominal hernias that now restrict what I can do physically. Had I exercised my core I could have possibly avoided some of this, who knows, life has it way of catching up with us all. I advised my 52-year-old son not to abandon his exercise routine and to focus on his core, so he doesn’t end up with issues like I have today.

Last But Not Least

Our Federal Employee’s Retirement Checklist focuses on the key issues that must be addressed to retire and exit on a positive note. It starts off with a link to our FREE PDF report titled “How to be Emotionally and Physically Prepared When You Retire.” It discusses how to be up for the challenge and outlines what I did to prepare for retirement at age 55, 20 years ago!

Follow the checklist to ensure you don’t miss out on the benefits you worked a lifetime to secure and maximize your annuity through prudent sick and annual leave management.

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Disclaimer: The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, medical procedures, investment, and benefit information are subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact relevant parties for assistance including OPM’s retirement center.

Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The information contained herein should not be considered investment advice and may not be suitable for your situation. This service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with a financial, medical or human resource professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Last 5 posts by Dennis Damp

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Posted in BENEFITS / INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE | Comments (0)


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