When was the last time that you put yourself first? When was the last time you had TIME to put yourself first? When you move into retirement, you need to think about putting your health in the forefront of your mind as soon as you are able to. That means booking yourself into a battery of health tests to ensure that you are in your best shape.
From professional hearing evaluations to getting your sight checked, there is a full checklist that you need to follow to ensure that you are on top of your health. Prevention is always better than cure so you could feel absolutely fine, but that is not a reason to not get checked. In fact, getting checked when you are feeling good is a smart plan. This can help you to then notice when things are not feeling the way they should be feeling. So, what checks should you get?
- Breast exams. For women, it is so important that you check your boobs once a month first – as a reminder that getting familiar with your breasts could be the difference between life and death. It is really that dramatic! You need to take advantage of the time you have to get your breasts checked and the fact that if you are at retirement age, those checks are free.
- Skin checks. No matter where you live, the sun has an impact on your skin. In hotter countries, you are taught to slap on sunscreen as much as possible but it does not always prevent issues with your skin. Instead of worrying about moles or freckles, get a full body skin check as soon as you are able to and keep on top of them. You should notice any changes on existing moles and freckles but you cannot see the entirety of your body, so have a specialist check the rest.
- Speak to a dentist. Dental checks twice a year are an absolute must, as are healthy teeth and gums. Even brushing and flossing does not guarantee perfection, however, so regular checks with your own teeth and gums will help you to keep them for longer. Booking into hygienists will help you to feel like you are on top of swollen gums and loose teeth. You want to keep your own teeth for as long as possible, and this is the way to do it.
- Body composition. The middle aged spread is a very real thing and if you are on top of your weight and health, you are going to feel that in a positive way. Do not obsess over the scales if you can pay attention to your body composition with regular checks. Getting a full health screening can help you out here and most pharmacies can help you with these.
Retirement does not mean the end of your life. It means getting your freedom back and you want to be in the best possible health for that to be the time of your life. Start with your health and go from here.
