The most important factor when you reach retirement is your health. Yes, being financially secure gives you choices, but if you do not have your health, having money isn’t much good, except for paying medical bills.
When we are working, we stay busy. Up early in the morning, learning new things, talking to colleagues, new challenges. When we retire, that routine changes dramatically. Naturally, you are not as busy as you used to be but from a health point of view, it is very important to stay engaged.
Learning new activities is a key aspect to keeping your brain sharp. Doing brain games and challenges gives some improvement of short term memory but taking up a new hobby is where you will see real benefits to long term memory and other areas of the brain.
Research showed that people who learned digital photography and Photoshop showed the greatest improvement in memory. Another hobby seen as very beneficial is quilting. Using computers or using sewing machines can be completely new experiences for people, that requires lots of concentration and practice, leading to improvement in cognitive function.
It seems obvious, but staying in contact with friends is a great way of maintaining your cognitive function. It is important for us to talk to other people all the time and stay engaged in conversation as well as partaking in activities with others.
Joining clubs is a great way to meet people. That may be by taking up golf or joining a gardening club. Places where you have shared interests with people that you can connect with. Staying at home on your own leads to isolation and cognitive decline.
This goes without saying and applies to every age. If you are not physically active, your health will decline. Several studies have supported the connection between physical activity and brain health. It can also help with improving your memory. There is the social element of staying active if you are involved in group activities which is also beneficial.
Even creatine, the long maligned (incorrectly) supplement for muscle growth has been shown to improve cognitive health with studies linking it to better memory, reasoning and protecting the brain against cognitive decline.
As we age, there are diseases that can have a big impact on us and out quality of life. Sometimes we are just unlucky but there are ways to reduce the risk of getting some of these diseases. We are retired a long time and the more of those years we spend enjoying ourselves and living life to the fullest, the better.
Steven Barrett
15 September 2025