Most people spend decades planning for retirement.
They contribute to pensions, speak to financial advisers, and carefully consider how much money they will need. They dream about holidays, hobbies, and having the freedom to do whatever they want with their time.
But there is one part of retirement that many people never plan for, their health.
Imagine two people who both retire at 67 with identical pensions and savings. They live in similar houses, drive similar cars and have the same amount of money in the bank.
One can walk into town, carry shopping, travel, play with grandchildren and enjoy active holidays.
The other struggles with stairs, gets out of breath easily, has poor balance and depends on others for many everyday tasks.
Financially, they are in the same position. Physically, they are worlds apart. Which one would you rather be?
The uncomfortable truth is that whilst most of us spend years planning financially for retirement, we often spend very little time contributing to our own health “pension”.
The irony is that your physical health often has a greater impact on your quality of life than your bank balance.
After all, what is the point of having the time and money to travel if your mobility prevents you from enjoying it? What use is a healthy pension if your poor health means most of it is spent sitting at home waiting for appointments?
The good news is that planning for your health in retirement is remarkably simple.
It starts with movement.
Regular exercise helps maintain cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance and mobility. Strength training is particularly important because muscle mass naturally declines as we age if we do not use it. Strong muscles help us stay independent, reduce the risk of falls and make everyday activities easier.
Good nutrition, adequate sleep and social interaction all play their part too. These habits may not seem exciting, but over years and decades they have a profound effect on how we age.
The important thing to remember is that the retirement you experience at 70, 80 or 90 is not decided when you reach those ages. It is being shaped years before.
Every walk, every strength session and every healthy choice is a small contribution to your personal health pension.
So of course keep paying into your pension but remember to pay into your future health as well; it may turn out to be the most important investment you ever make.