Myth # 7: Annual or regular Doctors appointments and tests are not necessary. Wrong. Early detection of most diseases can be much more easily dealt with. It will save you money and it will save your time. It may save your life. Regular preventative care will keep you living longer and healthier.
Are you up-to-date with?
• Mammograms
• Colonoscopy
• Prostrate exam
• Mole check
• Ob/Gyn
• Regular check ups with your primary Doctor

Being sick is expensive, stressful and certainly not desirable. Your health is in your hands. Act responsibly for yourself as well as for your family!

Myth # 8: No one in my family has ever had cancer so neither will I.
Granted, if you have a family history of cancer you must be more astute and proactive. Putting your head in the sand will do make it go away. There are varying opinions of why people get cancer but one you must be smart and savvy.

Experts believe the following may cause cancer:
• Growing older
• Tobacco
• Sunlight
• Ionizing radiation
• Certain chemicals and other substances
• Some viruses and bacteria
• Certain hormones
• Family history
• Alcohol
• Poor diet, lack of physical activity or being overweight

This list is from the National Cancer Research Organization. The only one that you have no control over is your family history. The rest may be up to you.

Myth # 9: Brain Health is just silliness. Not at all! Keeping your mind active and sharp is part of aging well. Challenging your mid with crossword puzzles, Sudoku and even dancing. As Boomer you are just as capable of learning new things as a child. You not only become wiser because of your
accumulated years, but you can become smarter as well.

Things you can do to keep your brain healthy:
• Engage in active learning through out your life
• Exercising your body is good for your brain
• Stay socially active with friends, family and community groups. Long term isolation is not healthy
• Keep a positive attitude
• Manage your stress
• Eat well
• Lose those extra pounds is you need to, watch your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers
• If you drink do so moderately. One drink per day for women, two drinks per day for men

Myth # 10: I don’t need 7-8 hours sleep each night. Baloney. Getting a good nights sleep is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Reducing your sleep by 1.5 hours for just one night reduces your daytime alertness by one third.

Without a good night of shut eye you become sleep derived. Doctors now believe that this is a new risk factor for diabetes. You may be less alert, have slower reaction times and have mood swings.

Benefits of a good nights sleep include:

• Clearer thoughts
• More energy
• A positive mindset
• Healthier weight
• More muscle strength
• Less stress
• Better decision making
• A stronger immune system

Are you feeling healthier now? It’s really not all that difficult to take good care of yourself. Your future depends on it! You have worked too hard all your life to not have the best Life After Work you possibly can. It’s time to take charge, if you haven’t already.

Author's Bio: 

Kim is an ACC, CMC ICF Certified Life Coach, as well as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has a highly diverse professional background which includes over 20 years in Private Practice.

She is a senior faculty member of Mentor Coach (www.mentorcoach.com) an ICF (International Coach Federation) accredited coach training program. Kim is a graduate of Dr. Martin Seligman’s Authentic Happiness Coaching Program, using Positive Psychology as a framework for change.