Interaction is as important to your general health as fitness. Various studies have highlighted the benefits of regular time spent with family, friends and others. Social relationships and activities are enormously helpful for staying healthy
in retirement.
Loneliness Is a Health Risk
Sociable people are generally less stressed and take better care of themselves. Reviews into the impact of relationships on health reveal that people who
belong to a wider social group have an increased survival rate of as much as
50 per cent.
You can feel lonely at any stage in life, but for people who have stopped
work and no longer have this routine, the change can be quite a jolt into unknown territory.
Why Get Socially Involved?
For retired people, it is important to become socially active sooner rather than later. The Centre for Ageing Better has produced research where people have identified themselves as worried and disconnected in retirement.
Groups help form an individual’s sense of identity, in much the same way as work can do. What many people find on retirement is a loss of contact, and a consequent questioning of who they are.
Becoming involved in social activities can therefore be a reaffirmation of self. What these activities are, and what groups form around them, can vary greatly, from outdoor walking and rambling to book groups, or simply getting together with a group of people regularly for a drink or meal.
The conclusion of the study is that many people miss the social interaction of work more than anything else. Many health professionals see social relationships are as important to retired people’s sense of wellbeing as
financial matters and health concerns.
This particular time of life can be a period of major, significant change, and people should not underestimate it potential impact. It is important to be able to manage the transition from work to retirement, and social activities can play an enormously positive part in this process.
