Staying Young in Spirit By Jane Farrell Mohr Keet of South Africa bungee jumped when he was 96, landing himself in the Guinness Board of World Records. Yuichiro Miura of Japan climbed Mount Everest when he was 80. Not everyone in the golden years of life will attempt and accomplish such extraordinary feats, but most people can take steps to keep themselves young ΓÇô at least in spirit ΓÇô when they reach retirement. Unfortunately, for many people retirement planning remains fixated on finances, so when the big day arrives theyΓÇÖre not quite ready to segue into lifeΓÇÖs new chapter, says Ann Vanderslice (www.annvanderslice.com), president and CEO of Retirement Planning Strategies, which specializes in advising federal workers about their benefits. ΓÇ£After youΓÇÖve planned for the money, there is still anxiety about retirement,ΓÇ¥ she says. ΓÇ£You donΓÇÖt know what itΓÇÖs like to not work and so there is that emotional part of retirement you need to manage. Sometimes people arenΓÇÖt ready in any way, shape or form.ΓÇ¥ She says a few ways to hang onto youthful exuberance while aging gracefully in retirement include: Be a lifelong learner. Making the effort to learn about new things keeps our brains young. Read something you wouldnΓÇÖt normally read. Sit in on a lecture that a college opens to the public. ΓÇ£Some of my clients mention they took classes in philosophy or in a foreign language,ΓÇ¥ Vanderslice says. ΓÇ£ItΓÇÖs proven that those who are lifelong learners have a greater sense of optimism and a lower chance of dementia.ΓÇ¥ See the world ΓÇô or at least some of it. There are no doubt plenty of places you havenΓÇÖt ventured out to, some close by and others far away. Traveling and enjoying new experiences is a great way to keep you feeling young and enthusiastic about life, Vanderslice says, whether you head to a state park just an hourΓÇÖs drive away or you board a plane bound for Paris. ΓÇ£Part of the fun of traveling is deciding where you want to go,ΓÇ¥ Vanderslice says. ΓÇ£The sky should be the limit.ΓÇ¥ DonΓÇÖt eliminate anything from your initial list just because of expense, she says. You might be able to find bargains, and because youΓÇÖre retired you can travel any time you want, which allows you go in the off season when prices are lower. Remember your doctorΓÇÖs advice. Activities such as enrolling in a college class can help keep you mentally young, but you want your body to cooperate, too. ΓÇ£WeΓÇÖre always looking for that magic bullet, the easy and quick way to feeling younger,ΓÇ¥ Vanderslice says. ΓÇ£The truth is that those things your doctor tells you ΓÇô exercise, eat a healthy diet, get the appropriate amount of sleep ΓÇô are about as close to a magic bullet as youΓÇÖre going to get.ΓÇ¥ ΓÇ£People think that money is the most important aspect of retirement, but itΓÇÖs really No. 2,ΓÇ¥ Vanderslice says. ΓÇ£You can have more than enough money, but if you arenΓÇÖt healthy or doing the things you enjoy, the money wonΓÇÖt matter.ΓÇ¥ Ann Vanderslice (www.annvanderslice.com), president and CEO of Retirement Planning Strategies, helps federal employees understand their benefits, maximize the value of their benefits, and plan for retirement, as well as organize income planning and IRA distributions. Vanderslice holds the Registered Financial Consultant designation from the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation from the College for Financial Planning. She is author of ΓÇ£Fedtelligence 2.0 – The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your Federal Benefits.ΓÇ¥