Retirement represents a major life transition that can be one of the most exciting and rewarding times of your life. As you stay physically, mentally, and socially active and fill your schedule with activities you love, you can get more out of your golden years while also reducing your risk for common health problems.
Are you recently retired or planning an upcoming retirement? Here are positive ways to redefine your retirement and make the most of the years ahead!
Consider Moving
If your career has kept you from living where you want, now is the perfect time to consider moving to the place of your dreams. You could move closer to your kids, grandkids, or best friends or to a place that offers your ideal type of weather or activities. For instance, you could move to the Rocky Mountains if you enjoy hiking or fly fishing or to a coastal city if you enjoy the beach and ocean views.
Improve Your Health
Working full-time hours over decades can get demanding to the point it leaves less time for you to practice good self-care. When you retire, you can start focusing on ways to improve your overall health, whether it involves starting a new exercise routine or cooking nutritious meals using fresh ingredients. You could also see your doctor more frequently and learn new tips and tricks for reducing your risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and other health problems common among older adults.
Exercise Your Brain
Keeping your brain sharp and active can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. But exercising your brain can also help you get more out of everyday activities, given how it can increase your mental clarity, focus, concentration, and memory.
Some activities you can do to exercise your brain include reading, learning a new language, and putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Being social and talking to others daily can also help stimulate your brain.
Volunteer Your Time
Volunteering your time can make you feel less isolated and reduce your risk of developing depression, especially if you’re not as social as you were before retiring. Evidence suggests that doing volunteer work can also reduce the risk of functional decline and a variety of chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and heart disease.
Look for volunteer opportunities in your community, such as those available at local churches, community centers, and shelters. Give yourself a chance to try a variety of volunteer activities until you find the ones you enjoy the most.
Discover New Hobbies
One or more hobbies can keep you busy if you’re looking for fun ways to spend free time after retiring. Many hobbies are also social — such as dancing and attending book club meetings — and can open up the doors to new friendships and new experiences.
Hobbies can stimulate your brain and give you a sense of purpose so you can wake up looking forward to the day’s activities. Retirement is an opportune time to resume old, favorite hobbies or to take up new hobbies you always wanted to try but never had time for when you worked.
Stay Social
Stay connected with your friends and loved ones, and look for fun ways to stay socially engaged after retirement. A fulfilling social life can help ward off depression and isolation and reduce your risk of developing dementia by about 50%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some fun ways to stay social include joining a book club, attending events at a senior center, volunteering your time, and joining a fitness class.
Take a Fun Class
Is there a skill or trade you’ve always wanted to learn? Whether it’s gardening, cooking, or learning a new language, mastering a new skill can boost your confidence and help you discover new interests. For instance, a new skill can lead to the development of your own vegetable garden, the ability to prepare new gourmet meals, or the chance to vacation in a country where you can speak its native language.
Ask for Help
Don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family for help at times you need it. With retirement comes aging, and you may need help doing certain chores and activities. Asking for assistance when you need it can help you stay socially connected and allow you to age in place if your goal is to live at home.
Knowing how to make the most of life after retirement can help you maintain optimal health and well-being. Stick to doing activities that make you happy and that keep you well-connected to others, and you can thrive during your golden years.
Resource Links
“Can I Prevent Dementia?” via the National Institutes of Health
“Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-being in Older Adults: An Outcome-wide Longitudinal Approach” via the American Journal of Preventive Medicine
“Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions” via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention