Regular Engagement is key to a Happy Life after Retirement

“A sound body has a sound mind” is an old saying that emphasises that  physical health and mental state are deeply connected and essential for happy life. There is a saying that the foremost happiness is a healthy body which enables  enjoyment all other pleasures. If the body is sick then all facilities are void. This is true for the whole life span but is more relevant after retirement where staying healthy is the main objective. Many good practices suggest ways to stay healthy in old age and I am sharing some of them along with my experience of 77 years.

Try to be near relatives and old friends in old age as their company is like a booster in old age. With this in mind, having served in eight state capitals in national level institute , I settled in a district headquarters, even though all my junior-most colleagues too are living in metropolitan cities. The decision was with the consideration that “Apno se baat karate raha karo, tabiyat theek rahegi, kyoki unke alphaz me bhi davaa hot hai.” It means talk to your near & dear, it will keep you healthy because there are medicines in their words too. Furthermore, the environment is cleaner in smaller towns  than in metropolitan cities. But this old doctrine based upon the shaloka, Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi” is being replaced by “go where Luxury meets comforts”. Hence, an alternative to Happy life may be as under.

Regular physical activity such as walking or yoga exercise, etc. should be a part of the lifestyle for a healthy body. My thought is, ‘tire out the body; otherwise, it will make you tired.’ According to my experience, walking both in the morning and evening can be harmful to the knee joints; therefore, practice yoga for an hour early in the morning and go for a brisk walk for about 45 minutes in the evening. It is better to do yoga in a group, wherein peer pressure keeps you regular and also breaks your social isolation. If one is an early riser, about 40 minutes of sleep after lunch can refresh him. Spend some time in gossip and discussing current news with friends during the day or evening. A 10-15 minute walk after dinner is awesome in your routine.

With age, the body machinery weakens and a balanced diet is an essential condition to keep it in good working condition. Have breakfast at about  9 am as you had dinner around 9 pm the previous day. Breakfast should be rich of your choice but avoid oily and fried dishes. Better split meals thrice a day which includes staples, milk and curd as well as seasonal salads, vegetables and fruits. Even in social gatherings, our focus is on fruits and a select few other items instead of regular food. While going out of hometown prefer taking food from home. Eat dinner at least an hour before bedtime and go to bed by 10 pm to maintain our early rise schedule.

Keep your updated and mentally vibrant by reading newspapers. To keep engaged in your own interest by taking responsibility for smaller household tasks like fetching milk, vegetables and taking kids to school or bus. Nowadays, many retirees are living alone because of children’s jobs in distant places; so, accept the reality without grumbling. Indulge in any social, political, or educational activity of your choice during the day with your motive is to be busy rather than money. In this regard, soon after retirement, I started maintaining a park near my home. I cleaned up the mess thrown in it by the neighbors.

Initially, I got the support of some people and children but later more people joined. I used to make representations to the development authority for works like trimming trees & grass, repair of gate, boundary walls and footpath of the park. The methodology was that after meeting with the Estate officer with a few residents, I would get my application entered in the receipt register and that was my strength in the process. Later on people around the park to took initiative to register a society without my knowledge and entrusted the responsibility of Park Maintenance to the committee headed by me. An account of society was opened in in a bank to keep small subscriptions by the residents. After that, we got the park leveled, got a water connection for the park, and got a rain shelter made by HUDA. I rejoiced in irrigating the park and do other things as per the demand of the residents. There may be pull and push in doing such work too but keep in mind your objective to engage yourself and be relevant in serving and mobilizing your neighbours.

I have also formed my family Charitable Trust to encourage the students by organizing competitions and honoring meritorious students.  It would be better to involve your spouse too to do in all the activities. Besides, being a researcher since 1978 in JNU, Delhi University and Professor of SBI Chair till the age of 70 years, it is my way of life to write on socioeconomic issues in newspapers and research journals. I have realized, ‘keeping engaged regularly is the key to  enjoy a scientifically life.'  

Dr. Sher Singh Sangwan Former Professor SBI Chair Chandigarh and General Manager NABARD # 57, Sarendeep Mansion VIP Road, Ahmedabad-380057