4. Delaying doctor visits
Since we are talking about the worst habits to carry into retirement, it was impossible to skip this one. Not going to the doctor even if you know that you should is one of the biggest mistakes you can make at any age, but once you retire, you should stop doing this and try to seriously take care of your health.
For financial reasons or out of a dread of hearing unfavorable news, many people delay routine medical checkups. Out of 1,000 American men who were surveyed by the Cleveland Clinic in 2022, 55% admitted to not getting regular health checkups, indicating that men are frequently the ones who usually delay getting medical attention.
But not going to the doctor as soon as you notice that something is wrong can result in complications and even more severe health problems that will put your life in danger and also cost much more to treat.
Fidelity estimates that in order to pay for healthcare in retirement, a single 65-year-old could need to save around $157,500 (after taxes). Just think about how much you can prevent with one single doctor visit at the right time.
Illness can lower the quality of your life, which means you will not enjoy yourself to the fullest during your golden years. Therefore, taking preventative measures for health issues can guarantee a higher quality of life while also saving money.
Do your best and build the habit of doing regular checkups at the doctor. Maybe, with some preventive treatments, you can enjoy a happier life for longer. Imagine that this is just like your routine car maintenance.
Keep in mind that not visiting the doctor from time to time is one of the worst habits to carry into retirement. If you don’t know where to start, you can try checking a list of the recommended annual screenings, just like the one you can find on the website of Mayo Clinic.
If you want to learn more about procrastination and find out how to stop it, this book might help you: Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less
You should also read: Funeral Expenses: 5 Best Ways to Lower Them
