Retirement from a lifetime of working can be intimidating, but it has the potential to be among the best times of life. Whether it is a great experience depends largely on attitude.
Growing older sometimes means you can’t do everything you used to. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, retirement offers an opportunity to try new things and experiences you might enjoy just as much or more.
You are retiring from a job, not from life. Here are some suggestions to make this stage of your life exceptional.
Make new friends
“As time goes on and your work life recedes into the past, it’s a good idea to make new friends,” explains Tom Sightings, in an article for U.S. News and World Report. If you’ve moved to a new home or area when you retire, it is essential. Sightings says men often have a more difficult time than women handling the transition to retirement because they typically invested more of their lives into a job. Volunteering, taking classes or even traveling are all activities to consider to find compatible friends.
Consider downsizing
Moving to a new home makes sense for many retirees. There are many potential benefits, including reduced cost, better location, less maintenance, lower utility expenses, lower property taxes and more. It’s also a great time to get rid of accumulated junk (much of which you can probably sell at a garage sale or online).
Enjoy discounts
One of the perks of growing older is senior discounts. Many retailers offer special pricing for seniors on everything from meals to hotel rooms to movie tickets. For example, Kohl’s offers in-store shoppers 55 and older a 15 percent discount every Wednesday. You can check websites like seniordiscounts.com for deals. It also doesn’t hurt to ask at checkout if a senior discount is available.
Upgrade your lifestyle
It might seem counterintuitive, but you can downsize and end up with a better lifestyle. For example, moving to a planned senior living community can give you access to fitness centers, pools, tennis courts, spas and more. At the same time, you have more free time because you don’t have to worry about yard care or home maintenance. You’ll have access to more activities and new acquaintances. More freedom and less responsibility — it’s like being a teenager.
Be active
During their working years, many people can’t devote as much time as they would like to physical activities like walking, biking, swimming or other types of exercise. Retirement is a perfect time to improve physical fitness. Research shows a wide range of health benefits for seniors who regularly do moderate levels of physical activity, reports caregiver.com. Those benefits include increased life expectancy, improved energy, better mental functioning, faster healing, better overall health and improved balance, which means fewer falls and injuries — a major health issue for the elderly.
Enjoy hobbies
Retirement allows many to devote more time to existing hobbies or to take up new ones. The result is a host of benefits, including reduced stress, improved self-esteem, mental and physical stimulation, opportunities to find friends and reduced depression. Hobbies can enrich your perspective on life and give you an opportunity for personal growth and development.
Whatever your plans for retirement, it is more than the end of a career. It represents a new chapter in your life when you can focus on making your life better.
AV Homes is a nationally respected builder with a long heritage of innovative designs and unsurpassed craftsmanship. This devotion has translated into both award-winning homes and prized 55-Plus communities. Formed in 1970, AV Homes has built and closed over 7,500 homes nationwide and is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol AVHI.
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