Whether you’re approaching or already enjoying life at 70, your experience is likely quite different to that of your parents at the same age. Generally, huge life events like retirement and becoming a grandparent for the first time are happening later in life, and we’re all living longer.

Staying fit and healthy is important at every stage of your life, but 70 could be the perfect time to focus on your physical and mental wellbeing and maybe even try something new.

Here’s how.

1. Move more

Movement is key to staying physically fit but that doesn’t have to mean high-intensity training or running a marathon. The NHS recommends light activity every day, which could include tasks as simple as vacuuming, making the bed, or putting the kettle on.

You should also aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week. This might include activities like:

• Walking for health
• Water aerobics
• Riding a bike
• Dancing for fitness
• Pushing a lawn mower.

Generally, it’s a good idea to combine light aerobic exercise with tasks that improve balance, so yoga is a good choice.

Try to reduce the time you spend sitting down and break up periods of inactivity with movement.

2. Stay social

Maintaining existing relationships and forming new ones is vital for physical and cognitive health as we age. This can be as simple as keeping in touch with friends through regular meetups and phone calls.

You might also look to widen your existing circle of friends by taking up a new hobby. This provides the opportunity to meet like-minded people and learn a new skill – incredibly beneficial for keeping your brain active and forming new neural pathways.

New and complex activities are great for brain training and could improve your concentration, relieve feelings of sluggishness, and keep your mind agile.

3. Sleep well

You should be looking to sleep for seven to nine hours each night, but the quality of that sleep is important too.

A lack of quality sleep can lead to:

• Increased irritability
• Poor concentration
• Feeling down or having a lower mood.

Good sleep, meanwhile, can improve your physical health, aiding your immune system and helping cell repair.

You can improve your “sleep hygiene” in a few easy steps:

• Be consistent by keeping regular sleep hours, even at weekends, allowing your body to find its rhythm
• Diet and exercise play a key role in sleep so avoid alcohol or exercise before bed and maintain a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.
• Ensure your sleep space is relaxed and restful by controlling (as much as possible) the noise, light, and temperature in your bedroom.

An important point to remember is that you’re a grown-up and you can make your own choices about how and when you sleep. If you can’t sleep, don’t force it. It’s ok to get up and do something else until you’re tired enough to try again.

4. Maintain a balanced diet

A balanced diet is essential throughout your life but reducing meat and increasing plant consumption in your 70s could help to keep you healthy and even improve your lifespan. Some studies suggest that foods rich in omega-3 oils and vitamin D could slow biological ageing, especially when combined with regular exercise.

So-called “blue zones” are areas of the world with the highest numbers of centenarians, and this longevity could, at least partly, be down to their diet.

Countries like Japan, Italy, and Greece tend to have a diet high in five areas, thought of as the pillars of healthy eating. These are:

• Wholegrains
• Greens
• Tubers, including potatoes and yams
• Nuts
• Beans.

Try to incorporate the above into your diet alongside fish and meat, in moderation.

5. Remember it’s not too late

It’s never too late to become healthier, whether that’s giving up smoking, cutting out alcohol and caffeine, or beginning a new exercise regime.

Not only can a healthy lifestyle increase your lifespan but, in some cases, it can also reverse the damage you might have done to yourself earlier in your life. So, act now.

Get in touch

If you need a financial wellbeing check, we’re on hand to help so get in touch. Email info@thepensionplanner.co.uk or call 0800 0787 182.

Please note:

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.