When do you want to retire – at what age? Most people pick an age between 55 and 70. Let’s say for a moment that you want to retire at age 65. How long will you live in retirement. Most people based their answer on an age that their parents died or an age that they have thought about over time. For purposes of this blog, let’s say that you plan to live until age 85 – that’s twenty years in retirement. Twenty years of spending just like you are today plus inflation – interpret that as you will be spending twice what you are today at age 85 as you will be at age 65. That’s sounds pretty nearly impossible that you could be spending twice as much in just twenty years. Think back twenty years ago – how much were you paying for food, gasoline, telephone, medical care, etc. OK, so, your house is paid for and you won’t have that expense, but you will still have your home taxes – plus the value of your home could double in twenty years if you don’t protest your taxes every year.
Where am I going with this blog? I asked the basic question – how long will you live? For purposes of this blog, the answer is 85. What will your life be at age 84 – the year before you die? What is your mental capacity, your physical capacity, your financial capacity, your spiritual capacity, etc.? You would still hope that you think clearly – no Alzheimer’s; and, you can do most of what you want to do physically. Your finances are OK, but they could be better. If your health is that good at 84 years of age, why would you be dead in one year? Actually, if you live to age 70, statistically you will live to age 80. Most people underestimate their life span. You should plan to live until at least age 100 for financial purposes – and for your health.
The University of Retirement spends the third year concentrating on your health. Generally, you can make changes late in life and still enjoy the fruits of those changes. What changes? Diet and exercise are just two – there are many more. Just as you did in year one – concentrated on your personal development, you will spend your third year concentrating on your physical health. Learn about what you can do to control your life. Learn about the typical deficiencies most people have, such as vitamin D. If most people have a deficiency and you are not aware of it, not have taken any actions to eliminate this deficiency, then you probably have that deficiency also.
Do you get an annual physical? Why not? What if you have to pay for it yourself? Is that too large an expense for you? You are responsible for your health – not your doctor. You need to know where you stand year to year so that you can take better control of your life. I recommend to family, friends and clients to get extra health tests, even if you have to pay for them yourself, when you get your annual physical. I get and recommend a highly sensitive c-reactive protein test, a homocysteine level test, a D-25 (vitamin D) test and an AMAS (antimalignin antibody in serum) test and some others.
The Internet provides a lot of information – research both sides of story. Research the prescription drugs that you are taking. For instance, statin drugs are recommended for cholesterol, but there is a lot of evidence indicating that statin drugs do more harm than good. All prescription drugs have side effects and all of them are harmful to your long and healthful life. There are options to most prescription medicines, but your doctor is not allowed to tell you about them – he must protect his practice and he is legally bound to tell you to take a prescription medicine. Read the side effects on your prescription and make a determination if you are willing to live with them. Yes, today you might not have any side effects, but the longer you take the prescription med, you will begin to see them.
Knowing what is healthful is only part of the question. You must take action. If your diet needs changing – think about the better health you’ll have later in your life because you made that change. The same applies to physical exercise. Action is required. I get many health newsletters on the Internet and several health magazines. I like Life Extension magazine more than others. The third year of the University of Retirement does not require you to buy a book a month, but you can spend a small portion of your budget for your retirement on those subscriptions that add value to your life. Ask your doctor what magazines he subscribes to or reads each month. That will give you a place to start.
You want to be in excellent health to enjoy your retirement. Take a year to really research what you can do. Improve your knowledge of health and nutrition just like you did in year two to learn about finance. Similarly, don’t trust your health to your doctor – just as you are taking control of your finances. The Law of Attraction (and many other sources) tells us that we become what we focus on or think about. If that is so, then start thinking about how healthy you will be at age 105 or 110 or 115. If you start thinking about that today, you will probably reach one of those ages in good health. Use your subconscious mind to help you arrive in style as you past 100 years of age.
Choices have consequences. Your Prosperity Professor, Red O’Laughlin
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