For many people, their retirement years are some of the best years of their lives.

It’s a time to reflect back on a life well lived and a time to relax and enjoy the rest of it in peace and happiness.

But in order to do that, staying happy and healthy is essential. Taking care of your health is more important now than ever if you want to live out your golden years comfortably.

Following the five tips below can make your retirement years the best they can be.

1. Start Eating Healthy

As our bodies age, our digestive system slows down, which means it’s time to start thinking about whether what we’re putting into our bodies is helpful or harmful.

If you’re not currently eating the right foods, making a change to healthier foods like high-fiber fruits and vegetables or whole grains can make all the difference in how you look and feel.

Eating healthier meals and drinking plenty of water can help you feel invigorated and keep you mentally sharp.

So figure out a meal plan that can help keep you healthy and feeling better throughout your senior years.

2. Think About Applying for Medicare

Investing in a new form of healthcare when planning for retirement is one of the best moves you can make since your lifestyle typically changes drastically during this time.

Medicare is for people 65+ and can help you get the coverage you need to ensure you can get the best healthcare possible.

However, there’s a lot to think about before signing up, which means you should know things like how much it’s going to cost you, when to sign up and how to do it, and what to know if you’re still working.

So, before you reach 65, start looking into Medicare and all of its advantages so you’ll know ahead of time if it’s the right type of health insurance for you.

3. Get Regular Health Screenings

Staying on top of your health means getting regular health screenings to ensure you learn about any illness or disease well before it becomes too serious to deal with.

Make sure you’re going for yearly wellness visits, as well as staying up-to-date on immunizations and other health screenings, such as cancer screenings, and screenings for things like:

• Obesity
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• High cholesterol
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Osteoporosis
• Abnormal blood glucose
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar

You should also be screened for mental health, cognitive issues, and substance use.

4. Start Exercising Regularly

As we get older, our bodies become more susceptible to injury and disease.

Physical changes may occur in almost every organ and can take away from your quality of life if you don’t take action to prevent these kinds of things as much as you can.

If you haven’t already, make it a habit to start exercising regularly. That means keeping active in any way that you can.

Consider physical activity, such as walking, cycling, swimming, flexibility and balance exercises, resistance training, and strength training to keep your body in tip-top shape. Plan your activities through an activity calendar.

While we can’t help getting older, we can do more to ensure that we age healthfully. Staying active and fit can help you feel better throughout your golden years.

5. Consider Other Lifestyle Modifications

In addition to getting regular exercise and eating healthy, you should also think about limiting your alcohol consumption and quitting smoking. You might also want to consider things like:

• Protecting your skin from the sun using sunscreen and moisturizers
• Brushing and flossing twice daily (as well as going to the dentists regularly)
• Going to the eye doctor regularly
• Taking vacations and engaging in social activities
• Going to a podiatrist (for those with diabetes)
• Volunteering or going back to work part-time
• Getting enough sleep

Making lifestyle modifications may not be easy, but they’re worth it if you want to live your best life now.

Take things one day at a time and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t quite get it right the first time.

Making the Right Healthcare Choices

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during your retirement years might be a bit of a challenge, but making the necessary changes can help you feel better as you get older.

From eating healthy and getting regular health screenings to exercising and making lifestyle modifications, you can find ways to get on the path to living your best life throughout your retirement years.