06 May 2022
SOURCE: CPF Board
Retirement is the exciting next chapter of your life. But if you’re not healthy — physically, mentally, and financially — how can you truly live your best life?
Here are five things that have a positive impact on your well-being.
1. Connectivity
Stay connected to the people who bring out the best in you, and vice versa.
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
Humans are inherently social creatures. We require social interaction and cooperation not only to survive, but to thrive. Being lonely has been directly linked to worsening mental and physical health.
That’s why we need to find our tribe. Invest your time and energy in the people that drive you to be your best self. Your tribe supports you through the difficult times, provides you with a sense of community and encourages you to pursue your purpose in life.
As they say, no man is an island.
2. Challenge
Challenge yourself intellectually and physically on regular basis.
An active life is a happy life. Regular physical activity can help to delay the onset of health problems that inevitably come with old age. This also allows you to maintain your independence as you age. It can be as simple as taking walks around your neighbourhood or doing tai-chi with your friends in the morning.
At the same time, you cannot just focus on your physical health and neglect your emotional wellness. Both are equally important.
Studies have shown, cognitive decline starts to set in during retirement, especially if you allow yourself (and your brain) to idle. When you do not challenge your brain intellectually on a regular basis, the risk of developing brain-related diseases starts to increase.
You’re never too old to learn. Pick up a new skill or a new hobby. If you still enjoy working, continue doing it. Keep your brain engaged by having conversations with others. Brain stimulating exercises like Wordle and Sudoku help as well.
3. Creativity
Engage in pursuits that drive your creativity.
Who says that being creative is an endeavour only for the young?
Having a creative outlet can enhance the quality of life and nurture overall well-being. According to experts, making or viewing art causes the brain to continue to reshape, adapt, and restructure, thus expanding the potential to increase mental capacity.
Participate in group activities such as singing, dance and painting. This helps not only to stimulate the use of creativity and imagination, but also alleviates loneliness.
4. Charity
Do things that will benefit the wider community.
Volunteering is not just a nice thing that you do for others. It can lead to emotional and even physical health benefits in some cases.
Take Grandpa Loh for instance. He is someone who champions being active in retirement by helping others. In his spare time, he volunteers at different organisations, across a variety of roles.
Keen on becoming a CPF volunteer? Learn how to do so.
5. Curiosity
Be curious and continuously learn.
This can motivate you to take part in activities, boosting your overall well-being.
Being older should not stop you from having a child-like curiosity for the things around you, nor should it be an indication of having no hope and goals for the future. In fact, staying curious and seeing life as a vast canvas waiting to be explored can give you a broader perspective. It’s like being in a massive library, filled with stories and experiences, choices you have made, learning points you can always apply even in old age – it’s all for you to explore.
Remember as a child, how discovering something new filled you with the utmost joy?
Take the chance to also reflect on the past, whether it’s about your accomplishments, or even past regrets and mistakes. Looking back at the good and bad with a more mature outlook can help improve your emotional well-being. This can in turn help you determine what to pursue next as you transition towards the next chapter of your life.
Just as you made plans towards having an exciting retirement, you need to “hydrate” your finances for these plans to take shape.
While vitamins are essential for your well-being, adequate hydration is vital for your body to function at an optimal level. You probably know that 60% of your body is made of water. But did you know that your brain is made up of approximately 80% water? Drinking water is the basis of staying alive.
Without proper financial health, even the best plans can fall apart. Retiree Jeffrey Ho shares how he keeps his mind and body active, thanks to his monthly CPF LIFE payouts giving him the financial peace of mind to do these things without worry.
Your CPF provides a strong foundation for your retirement. From the day you started working, your retirement savings have been steadily growing. You can continue to make use of the attractive CPF interest rates and the effects of compound interest to boost your retirement income.
Learn how CPF LIFE forms the foundation for your retirement needs.
Nourish your mind and body and make sure you water your money (plant) regularly so it will continue to grow. You will then be fully primed to live your dream retirement life.
