By Anne Haris (Guest Post) 

For many people, retirement is a chance to finally do the things they’ve always wanted to do that daily grind didn’t allow. And then, there’s that other group of people who don’t want to retire, because they don’t know how to handle all the time they will have on their hands.

That’s why it’s important to make a plan before you sign the retirement agreement. Naturally, this list of tips is a starting point for you, I encourage you to adjust these suggestions around your own preferences and desires. Here’s my advice:

1)     Establish an invigorating morning routine.

Your mornings have looked the same for the last 40 years – you’d get up, do some personal hygiene, have breakfast, get dressed, and go to work.

Now that you’re about to be retired, it’s important to reinvent that part of the day. The gist of these activities will still be done, but with a different end goal.

What you should aim for when you get up in the morning in retirement is to start your day in a refreshing way. One great activity is to go for a light morning stroll. While doing so, you can also work out a bit along the way. At some point of your morning walk, I recommend practicing some breathing techniques for better mental health. These activities can help you start your day with a fresh mind.

Those walking and breathing exercises can become a valuable part of your start-of-the-day routine, just like that cup of coffee you’re going to sip in the mellow morning sun after you’ve finished with your invigorating morning routine.

2)     Make your evenings purposeful.

Newly retired people often say that evenings are the most difficult part of the day. During that period people usually start feeling the fatigue and exhaustion from the daily errands and obligations. That’s why it’s vital to make your evenings purposeful.

In line with that, write down a few things you’re going to do every evening. For instance, if you like to read, you can schedule a daily reading session from 6-7 p.m. every day.

If you’re more into technical or practical stuff, you can work in your garden, water your flowers, or do some simple fixes around the house. For the more active retiree, look into or start a retiree sports league.

Moreover, if you like to do nothing, that is perfectly valid, but I recommend trying to find a nice spot outside to do nothing. Going outdoors in the evening can give you more energy and inspiration for new things. Also, it can improve your social life by giving you opportunities to meet new people.

3)     Think about your health in advance.

When we’re talking about health during old age, there are many controversies in the public domain. Medicare has improved some things when it comes to the expenses that seniors deal with for hospital treatments. However, many elements in that field still remain either unsolved or simply expensive for a large number of U.S. older adults.

Because of that, every pensioner-to-be has to check out the alternatives they can count on. If you’ve been saving to your private pension funds or you’ve collected assets for your life insurance, you can look into retirement homes.

Even if you haven’t saved that way, you can always go for some different solutions. For example, you can contact a live-in care agency or several care providers of that kind, to see what they’re offering. If you’re living alone as a retired person, create a plan for if you need immediate care and attention.

4)     Expand your circle of friends.

According to the survey conducted by AARP in 2014, a large number of older Americans suffer from loneliness. People get lonelier in their 40s, and that feeling of loneliness often gets stronger as they grow older. When they retire, it’s highly likely that they’ll have even fewer friends by their side than before.

I recommend signing up for new activities and classes. For example, you can start learning a new language. Apart from the social benefit of such an activity, learning a new language while retired is beneficial for your brain, as well. Also, as you’re making progress with the chosen language, you can visit a country where it’s spoken. This will help you establish new contacts and expand your circle of friends.

Further, visit several clubs for the retired in your vicinity in the months before retirement and check out what services they’re offering. They often provide tailor-made activities for pensioners that will increase the quality of your social life in retirement.

 Conclusion

When you prepare for retirement, your transition will be much smoother. Retiring will give you a new perspective on your life and open a whole new world of interesting things you can do. Still, make sure that you take care of your health and nurture your social life. Our tips can help you welcome your retirement without anxiety, as well as to start it in a positive and open-minded manner.

…

Author Bio: Anne Harris is an HR specialist working for londonlive-incare.com. She eagerly shares her knowledge with her audience on various blogs. When she isn’t writing or attending wellness conferences, she likes to pack her rucksack and ride her day away on her bike or spend time with her friends.