I recently had the honour of speaking at the annual dinner of a local Probus Club.
The Probus organisation began in the UK in the late 1960s, with the first Australian club established in 1976.
The aim of these of clubs was to give retired and semi-retired people somewhere to socialise and meet new friends.
The importance of mainlining friendships, be they old or new, and staying active should not be underestimated, especially as we age.
Studies have found that socialising can strengthen the immune system, while also allowing you to recover more quickly from illness, lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, sharpen the memory and even help us get a better night’s sleep.
Socialising can also improve our odds of living longer and, according to at least one study, people with strong connections to family and friends have a 50% greater chance of outliving those with fewer social ties.
On the other hand, loneliness can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and depression. It also has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and elevated blood pressure.
The importance of staying active should also not be underestimated, with many medical professionals advising that regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
It can prevent or delay many of the health problems that seem to come with age.
It also helps your muscles grow stronger so you can keep doing your day-to-day activities without becoming dependent on others.
You do not need to be running marathons or climbing mountains, but some form of physical activity is better than none at all.
That said, your health benefits will also increase with the more physical activity that you do.
So, no matter what your age, I would encourage you to join a club or organisation in your area, where you can meet people and make friends to hopefully keep you healthy and active for many years to come.
