When most people think of retirement planning, they tend to focus on the financial aspects of it — investments, Social Security and insurance. But a less obvious area of retirement planning should also be addressed: health and wellness. Boosting your well being can not only improve your enjoyment of life in retirement, but it may extend your lifespan and save you boatloads on medical bills in the future.

Research has shown that a good quality of life in retirement depends on a number of factors, including financial resources, physical and mental health, social connections, and emotional wellbeing. Many of these elements, however, are dependent upon lifestyle choices, including smoking, diet and exercise, sleep habits, alcohol use, and home environment.

Prioritizing wellness in retirement can be the key to Click for more ensuring that you enjoy the most fulfilling years of your life, and the best way to do this is by implementing a plan as early as possible. It’s essential to work with a wealth management professional to make sure your finances are secure, but it’s equally important to make sure you take steps to ensure that your health is in good shape when you reach retirement.

A lot of the time, poor health decisions in younger years can lead to a host of problems later on, especially in retirement. For example, smoking can significantly decrease your life expectancy, and living a sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk for heart disease.

As a result, many people find that their enjoyment of retirement suffers because they are not able to live a healthy lifestyle. This is why it’s so important to put a strong emphasis on wellness in retirement — and that’s something that both financial advisors and lifestyle medicine professionals can help with.

Lifestyle medicine can include everything from quitting smoking and increasing physical activity to incorporating healthier eating habits into your diet. But it can also help you stay engaged in your community and create new relationships, particularly if you’ve been relying on coworkers and other work-related friends for socialization throughout your career. This is particularly important in retirement, when loneliness and isolation are common problems.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be expensive. Expenses can include food, housing, and transportation costs as well as health care premiums, prescription medications, and insurance deductibles and co-payments. This is why it’s so important for retirees to be aware of these expenses and make smart decisions when it comes to establishing a budget.