By Police1 Staff
On Saturday, Oct. 19 from 4-5 p.m. ET, Lexipol’s Dr. Jaime Brower, Psy.D., ABPP, and Mandy Nice, will participate in a panel discussion titled “Retiring from Your Law Enforcement Career: Achieving Wellness Throughout the Emotional, Psychological, and Physical Transition to Your Next Best Chapter,” at IACP 2024 in Boston, Mass.
The panelists will provide real-world experiences, share expert advice and suggest recommendations to achieve a successful transition to life after policing, focusing on the psychological, physical, and emotional issues that arise before, during, and after retirement. In this Q&A, Mandy Nice shares some of the key points the panel will review during the session.
Police1: What will the IACP panel discussion cover?
Mandy Nice: The panel will feature highly successful law enforcement leaders who have accumulated decades of experience and successfully transitioned into retirement. These leaders will share their personal journeys in creating a fulfilling, enriching, and inspiring life after law enforcement. They’ll highlight the paths they’ve taken to help today’s generation of leaders follow in their footsteps.
In addition, industry-leading health and wellness experts will offer critical, tangible steps that law enforcement professionals can take today to physically, emotionally, and financially prepare for retirement. The goal is not just to survive retirement, but to thrive, achieving a higher level of well-being than ever before.
Police1: What steps should officers take early in their careers to ensure a healthier transition to life after policing?
Mandy Nice: One of the most effective ways to prepare for retirement is to visualize the kind of life you want to lead after retiring, then start practicing daily habits that will help bring you closer to that vision.
For example, if you dream of enjoying vacations to the beach or mountains, it’s wise to maintain a daily exercise and stretching routine now, so you’ll be in good enough shape to fully enjoy those activities later in life. Additionally, practicing healthy nutrition habits and undergoing routine physicals and heart health screenings can reduce the risk of heart disease, one of the top causes of premature death among first responders.
Remember that every day leading up to retirement counts. Each healthy choice — whether it’s exercising, eating well, or getting enough sleep — builds up over time. These choices determine your physical capacity to lead the energized, high-quality life we all aspire to in retirement.
Police1: How can family members support their loved ones as they move into retirement, and what resources are available for families during this transition?
Mandy Nice: “Family” doesn’t just mean blood relatives anymore — it can include close friends, colleagues, or anyone in your support network. Here are some ways family members and loved ones can support officers in this transition:
- Start the retirement conversation early and keep it positive.
- Take tangible steps to create a retirement plan and show your loved one how proud you are of their achievements. This can help alleviate any fears they may have about retirement.
- Establish a weekly routine of healthy habits, such as physical fitness, stretching, proper nutrition, and getting enough sleep. This will help your loved one feel their best, both physically and mentally, before and after retirement.
By reminding your loved one how much they mean to you — outside of their career — you can help ease the transition and affirm that their purpose in life goes beyond their profession.
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Police1: What role does maintaining physical fitness play in ensuring a successful and fulfilling life after policing, and how can officers prioritize their health post-retirement?
Mandy Nice: Maintaining physical fitness is crucial for officers, both before and after retirement. As some of the most selfless and courageous professionals, officers deserve the best quality of life in retirement, and physical fitness is a key factor in achieving that.
Research consistently shows that physical fitness plays a foundational role in maintaining well-being throughout the aging process. For instance, incorporating mobility training ensures that officers can move freely without experiencing pain or a limited range of motion. Stability exercises help build an internal bracing system of muscles that reduces injury risk, while strength and cardio training provide the overall health needed to continue hobbies like hiking, biking and basketball — or even explore new activities like surfing or rock climbing.
Ultimately, physical fitness empowers officers to enjoy life to the fullest, enabling them to stay active and engaged in the things they love most during retirement.
NEXT: Follow all of Police1’s coverage from the IACP 2024 conference here.
How does your agency measure up when it comes to wellness? Lexipol’s Wellness solutions help agencies deliver anonymous, 24/7 support, enhance peer support team readiness, and build a culture of wellness. Contact Lexipol at 844-312-9500 to learn more or request a demo.