Posted on Aug 20, 2020 in Senior Activities
Retirement is challenging whichever way you look at it.
You’ll be undergoing a great deal of changes and you might be asking yourself how you’re going to live your happiest life.
Well, today we’ll guide you through 10 fundamental aspects of a happy, healthy, and lengthy retirement whether you stay at home, move abroad or enter an assisted living community.
As with most aspects of retirement, making a gradual transition is a lot less painful than trying to make huge changes overnight.
In the lead-up to retirement, try gently reducing your expenses in areas where you won’t feel like you’re making a sacrifice. By cutting down on needless expenditure, you’ll free up more money for the things that count.
Check up on how much you’ll get in monthly income from your 401(k), pension, and Social Security payments. Try to start spending in line with this before you actually retire.
While making provision for retirement is key, an Ameriprise survey showed that only 52% of those in pre-retirement had done so.
A gradual approach to retirement, often now labeled flexible retirement, works well in more senses than financially acclimatizing yourself to reduced income.
Sometimes, a gradual shift from full-time to part-time work can make for a smoother segue into retirement than an abrupt halt.
A slow and steady scaling down is especially valuable if you’re worrying about how you’ll fill your time with no sense of daily purpose. You’ll very quickly adjust and find yourself easing into retirement with consummate ease!
Even if you find your appetite declining as you get older, eating a balanced diet is crucial.
By choosing plenty of heart-healthy foods, you’ll minimize the chances of cardiovascular disease while giving your body all the vitamins and nutrients it needs.
If you’re otherwise doing well but struggling to keep up with the demands of cooking properly, you might consider an assisted living program. You’ll retain your independence but you won’t need to bother about nutrition since meals are provided.
Linked closely to nutrition is the need to remain active as you push into retirement.
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that older adults should aim for 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week if possible. Failing this, the recommendation is to be as active as possible.
By keeping yourself fit and active, you’ll increase your chances of enjoying a long and fruitful retirement.
Are you thrown into disarray when you’ve got absolutely no schedule in place?
If so, the thought of retirement might not seem particularly appealing.
You should consider implementing some form of schedule if you thrive when you’ve got a framework of organization in place.
You don’t need to conform to the same aggressive routine you did when you were working. Setting up a loose routine can help to keep you motivated and focused when you’re no longer heading to the office every day. Do what works best for you here.
While there’s nothing wrong with an evening spent reminiscing with family, don’t fall into the common trap of spending your retirement talking about the good old days while neglecting the present and the future.
Think about how many times during your working life you longed to wake up when you felt like to spend the day doing what you wanted. That time is now! Make the very most of it and take full advantage of spending your time just the way you want to.
And thinking of time, here’s a great way to make use of it…
If you always yearned to spend longer than a week or two in your favorite spot, why not put that to rights now you’re retired?
Assuming you’re still active and mobile, there’s no better time to explore at home and abroad. Get under the skin of those places you only scratched the surface of as a tourist over the years.
If you’re living somewhere with a colder climate over winter, why not vote with your feet and seek some sun?
If you find yourself feeling a little lonely on occasion, give some thought to getting yourself a pet.
It might be impractical for you to get a dog that needs regular walking so you could consider a cat. You’ll get plenty of interaction – especially at mealtimes – and stroking a cat has therapeutic qualities.
If you fear yourself become bored or stagnating in the same old routine, use retirement as the perfect opportunity to develop some fresh interests.
Joining clubs is a great way to widen your social boundaries and to form new friendships. Look in your local newspaper or search online for relevant clubs and give yourself a challenge.
If your neighbors have also eased into retirement, resist any temptation to try to keep up with what they’re doing.
Trying to match them trip for trip or car for car will get expensive and tired.
Living your happiest retirement is about doing what makes you happy and spending as much time as you can with your family. Keeping up with the Joneses is a rash thing to do when you should be focusing on yourself and your family.
Whether you’re just approaching retirement or you’re already embracing your golden years, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Landmark Senior Living if things get too tough on your own.
If you’re interested in an assisted living community where you’ll retain your independence and have all the help you need on hand when you need it, contact us today. We’ll be delighted to arrange a free tour of one of our five senior living communities so you can enjoy retirement even if you’re struggling on your own.
