Whether you’re planning to spend your retirement days launching a second career or golfing, the choices you make can have an impact on your quality of life for years to come. Taking care of your physical, mental, and financial well-being empowers you to make the most of your retirement years.

Keep Active

After you spent years in the workforce, retirement is an adjustment in many ways, including its effect on your activities and relationships. Staying active, whether traveling, fitness, or other activities, can be enriching for your health and happiness. Nurturing your own interests may even strengthen your marriage or other relationships by allowing you and your spouse or partner to grow as individuals as well as together.

Volunteering for a cause or organization that you feel passionate about is another great way to keep active in retirement. If volunteering is not interesting for you, consider learning a new language or skill. These kinds of engaging activities can help mitigate cognitive decline. Consider setting new goals, and make sure that some of your activities involve interacting regularly with other people. The presence of a strong social network may also help your quality of life and longevity.

Save on health care expenses

Medicare covers only a percentage of health care expenses. If you decide to get Medicare Supplement Insurance (or "Medigap") to provide more coverage, be sure to compare prices, which can vary widely.

Also compare prices for medical care and procedures; you may be able to save hundreds of dollars simply by going to a different provider and asking the right questions. Using your insurer’s preferred in-network providers and pharmacies may also help reduce costs.

Finally, make prevention a priority. The Affordable Care Act requires Medicare and most other insurance plans to provide wellness visits, screenings, flu shots, mammograms, and other preventative care for free, depending on your age.

Taking charge of your physical, emotional, and financial health is more important than ever as you make the transition to retirement. You have the opportunity to find new purpose and meaning, so take healthy steps to help ensure you thrive during this new life phase.