What one factor surpasses all others when it comes to the quality of your post-employment experience? Your health. When we’re working, we often neglect putting our health first.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, sitting for long periods increases the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. If we’ve had a desk job for decades, the results of inactivity are most likely already evident.

Illness often appears when the adrenaline rush of meeting deadlines, finishing projects and working stops, illness appears. We have all pushed ourselves to the limit to meet a deadline or finish an important project at work. During this time we don’t eat well, exercise goes out the window, and we skimp on sleep. Once the project is over, we often come down with a cold or other illness because we’ve overtaxed our bodies. The same can be true when we stop working.  That’s why it’s important to begin improving your health while you’re still working.

Schedule a physical and get an accurate assessment of your health. Begin to make the changes your doctor recommends. Activity is key to good health.  As the cliché goes, when you rest you rust.  Find a source of exercise you enjoy and incorporate it into your routine along with healthy eating. It’s important to remember that you didn’t get out of shape overnight. Set fitness goals and a reasonable timeframe for yourself.  An accountability partner (preferably someone other than your spouse) can help you stay on track.  This way, when you’re ready to retire, you should be healthy enough to do the things you want to do.

Investing in your health pays huge dividends in happiness, mobility, and longevity and helps ensure a long and enjoyable retirement.