<!–[CDATA[As retirement draws near, many older adults fantasize about how they will spend their free time. While a few months of vacation is probably in the plan, having purpose during retirement is one of the keys to living well. Once you leave the working world behind, however, what can you do to create purposeful days?
We have a few ideas to help you live your best life during retirement.
Creating Purposeful Days during Retirement
- Follow your heart: If you’ve spent a lifetime conforming to an employer’s schedule, having the freedom to create your own daily agenda can be empowering. But it can also lead to unhealthy habits, such as watching too much television. After you give yourself a few months to relax and enjoy life, try to shape your day in a more purposeful manner. Follow your heart and your core beliefs. Doing so might lead you to volunteer your time for a local nonprofit, plant a garden, or take a class at your local community college.
- Reconnect with an old passion: The days can be busy when you are working and raising a family. Favorite pastimes and dreams often fall by the wayside when life’s realities feel like a higher priority. Take time to think back to what you loved doing as a child or young adult. Did you want to be a famous opera singer or write a best-selling mystery novel? Now is the time to uncover old dreams and desires and find a way to make them happen.
- Practice healthy self-care: You’ve worked hard to earn your retirement. Don’t let a preventable health-care crisis derail your plans. Eat a healthy diet. Adopt an exercise plan that incorporates weight training, stretching, and cardiovascular activity. Get eight hours of quality sleep each night. By taking good care of yourself, you may be able to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer. This may allow you to enjoy a longer, healthier retirement.
- Live in the moment: After spending so many years looking ahead to retirement, you might have a tough time adjusting to and living in this new stage once you are retired. Try to cherish each moment and not worry too much. Some seniors find meditation, yoga, journaling, or swimming can calm the mind and help ease this transition.
- Learn to say “no”: Some retirees find their schedules quickly fill up with tasks and favors for everyone else. While it is important to lend support to friends and family when you can, it’s okay not to take on every request for help. Learn how to say “no” without feeling guilty or making an excuse as to why you aren’t available.
Independent Living at Five Star Senior Living
If you would like your retirement years to be free from the responsibilities (and expenses) of home ownership, a move to an independent living community might be something to consider. From housekeeping to snow removal, team members handle all of the tasks you don’t want to—giving you a chance to find your purpose!
Call us at (853) 457-8271 to schedule a private tour of an independent living community near you!