News & Insights
Prepare Now For a 95+ Life Span
From 1900 to 2020, the average life expectancy in the United States increased by over 30 years! This is partly because of the advancements in various health measures and medical breakthroughs like vaccines and antibiotics. As of 2021, there were a remarkable 89,739 people 100 or older living in the U.S., which is nearly twice as many as there were 20 years ago, according to population. Exciting medical breakthroughs are currently happening that could potentially extend life even further in the coming years, according to some medical experts. Some even predict that in the near future, people will have the opportunity to live longer and retire later, with 90 becoming the new 40.
Living to 95+ years old is a possibility that could happen regardless of your personal desires. That is why we customarily use that age in our financial plan longevity forecast. How can we plan for the future, not just monetarily, but also emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, so that our long lives have purpose and value? It's great that we have the opportunity to make changes that will help us prepare for a longer life!
Change your Perspective on Work
Let's start by adopting a positive mindset about working. Retirement can be seen as an exciting new chapter in life, full of opportunities and possibilities beyond the end of your first career/working life at the age of 65. If we plan to live to 95+, many of us will have the opportunity to continue working in some capacity past age 65. Absolutely! Having a more flexible schedule or starting a new business can be exciting opportunities to pursue. It's never too late to take a chance and pursue something you've always wanted to do. This is the perfect opportunity to make the next phase of your life the best one yet! You can start by finding work that is both meaningful and challenging. By discovering our purpose and passion and utilizing it to sustain ourselves financially for a little longer than we initially anticipated, we can position ourselves to achieve complete financial independence throughout our long lifespan. For others, this means having the opportunity to use our time and talent to make a positive impact by volunteering for causes that are meaningful to us and contributing to the betterment of our communities.
Change your Perspective on Health and Wellness
Another adjustment we need to make if we're going to succeed in our quest to live to be 95 and beyond is to put health and happiness first. The following are critical procedures to follow in order to keep your health in check:
- Keep up with your routine checkups, as well as any preventative testing or immunizations your doctor recommends.
- Keep up a healthy diet (if you aren't already doing so, learn to cook nutritious meals or buy them).
- Drink plenty of water.
- Stay away from bad routines (such smoking and binge drinking).
- Keep your weight where it should be.
- Keep to a regular sleep pattern (six to eight hours per night is ideal).
- Keep in contact with others; avoid withdrawing into yourself.
- Engage in mental exercise (constantly expanding knowledge).
- Be sure your home is secure.
- Do cardio, weight training, and stretching on a regular basis.
- Try to spend as much time outdoors as you can.
- Try some relaxation techniques out, like meditation.
- Keep your mental health in check and get help from a therapist if necessary.
- If you need help taking care of someone, look into available resources.
Explore new possibilities and follow your dreams.
Embrace the exciting opportunity to plan for your next phase of life! When you eventually decide to stop working, you'll have the opportunity to pursue activities that bring you fulfillment and joy. There are countless possibilities for meaningful pursuits, and you'll have the freedom to explore them at your own pace. What exciting and fulfilling goals do you hope to achieve during your lifetime that will bring you personal satisfaction and psychological fulfillment? It's great that you have identified all these components that need to be included in your mix of goals! Having a good balance is key to achieving success. You have 30+ years of retirement to fill with endless possibilities of goals and activities to enjoy! Begin now to envision the things you want to achieve and the timelines in which you can accomplish them. List all the things you want to achieve and believe that writing them down increases the chances of making them a reality! Your exciting list of possibilities may include:
- Explore a new and exciting destination!
- Imagine finally writing that novel you always dreamed of!
- Volunteering or working for a nonprofit organization that advances a topic you're passionate about can be extremely satisfying.
- Embarking on a meaningful mission trip!
- Enjoying a thrilling adventure in a hot air balloon.
- Pursuing higher education and earning a college degree is a great way to explore new opportunities and experience personal and professional growth.
- How exciting to have the opportunity to visit the town where your great grandfather was born in another country and begin piecing together your family history!
It's great to have so many possibilities! It's great that everyone has unique goals that are meaningful to them! The sooner you start, the more time you'll have to make progress. All of us have the opportunity to work towards our health goals and make them a reality. It's great to know that by staying mentally engaged, healthy, and active, we can increase our chances of staying strong and thriving!
Improve your Social Engagement
Engaging with people as we age can have a positive impact on our lives. First, enjoy staying engaged — with SOMEONE! Staying engaged with people from different generations can bring new opportunities and experiences to your next phase of life. This engagement could provide an opportunity to create new memories and strengthen bonds with the many generations of your family. It can come by being intentionally engaged with other generations - by choosing to live in a community that values intergenerational connections, finding volunteer opportunities that allow for interaction with people of all ages, and engaging in social activities that bring together people from different generations.
Start Now!
Most of us ought to consider, expect, and prepare for a life span of 95 years or more. How can we begin making preparations now to ensure that we live the most interesting, fulfilling, and long life possible? One in which we enjoy great success throughout our lives, make significant contributions to those around us, and have enough money to take care of ourselves monetarily for as long as we live? We can only be ready for a long life span if we begin making preparations today. Create a strategy for living a long and healthy life with the help of your expert planners. Plan for a life expectancy of 95 and up!