While many people associate retirement with ageing and slowing down, a recent study has found it can have many positive benefits for your health.

University of Sydney research shows people become more active, sleep better and reduce their sitting time when they retire.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, followed the lifestyle behaviours of 25,000 older Australians including physical activity, diet, sedentary behaviour, alcohol use and sleep.

“Compared with people who were still working, retirees had increased physical activity levels, reduced sitting time, were less likely to smoke, and had healthier sleep patterns,” lead researcher Dr Melody Ding, Senior Research Fellow at the University’s School of Public Health, said.

The data revealed retirees:

• Increased physical activity by 93 minutes a week

• Decreased sedentary time by 67 minutes per day

• Increased sleep by 11 minutes per day

• 50 per cent of female smokers stopped smoking

The differences were significant even accounting for factors such as age, sex, urban/rural residence, marital status and education. 

“When people are working and commuting, it eats a lot of time out of their day,” Dr Ding said. ​

“When they retire, they have time to be physically active and sleep more. In terms of sedentary time, the largest reduction in sitting time occurred in people who lived in urban areas and had higher educational levels.”

She hoped the research would encourage people to think positively about retirement and translate to better health in older Australians, preventing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

“Retirement is a good time for doctors to talk to their patients about making positive lifestyle changes that could add many years to their life,” she said.

There are many activities which can be enjoyed now that you have the time.

Sign up at your local golf course and play a round of nine or 18 holes. Golf is a wonderful (though frustrating) pastime which gets you out and about. Or look up some walking tracks, they make great day excursions – pack a healthy picnic lunch and head out for a walk by the beach or in the bush. You choose! 

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