7 Steps to a Busy & Fulfilling Retirement

After a long and rewarding career developing skills and racking up accolades, the prospect of retirement can be daunting. You have known nothing but structure, routine, and regular interaction with others throughout school and your working life. Almost overnight, you are expected to adjust to a life with no schedule, reduced income, and possibly a much smaller social circle.

Of course, retirement has the potential to be an exciting time when you stand on the precipice of relaxation, joy, freedom, and endless possibilities. If you are getting close to retirement and how to make the most of the next stage of your life, here are seven steps to a busy, financially secure, and fulfilling retirement.

     1. Get your finances straight

A major concern for many new retirees is whether they will support themselves financially when they are no longer working. Before you retire, it is important to look at your finances to work out a budget for your living costs. When you put all your pensions, savings, and investments together, what will you have to live on?

If you are concerned that you will not have enough money to support yourself, other options are working slightly past your retirement age on a full or part-time basis. You may be able to delay taking your pension and receive a higher amount at a later date. Besides, moving to a part-time schedule before fully retiring will provide an easier transition to retirement.

     2. Start your own business

Another way to generate an income and embark on an exciting new chapter at the same time is to start your own business. Choose a field that interests you and complements your skills and see if you can find a gap in the market. Working for yourself enables you to control your own schedule and can be hugely rewarding in many ways.

     3. Set yourself goals

After retiring, many people experience a surge of positive emotion and satisfaction with their careers. This can last for months or years, but often this feeling does not last. Without structure and a sense of purpose, these feelings can dissipate and leave the retiree in a slump of demotivation. The dream of a problem-free and easy retirement starts to fade as reality sets in, and days start to become repetitive. It can be not easy to adjust to a new way of life, and it is important not to dismiss or deny these feelings.

To avoid becoming overwhelmed, it can be useful to set yourself goals that you would like to achieve by a certain point in time. Before you retire, make yourself a bucket list of both fun and serious achievements you want to aim for and make it your business to work your way down the list.

     4. Broaden your social circle

Our work is not just a way to make money; it is also where we do most of our socializing. We typically spend more time with our colleagues and the customers or clients we meet through work than we do with friends and family. When we retire, we lose a large part of our social circle, and we face the task of making new friends.

Also, as we age, it is only natural that we lose touch with friends and family, and we can find ourselves isolated, which can lead to loneliness. If you do not have many personal ties where you live, it is worth giving real thought to relocating and getting a fresh start.

Some retirees who have health concerns may decide to move closer to their families, while others might move into a Frontier Management owned community like Sunnybrook Assisted Living. In these communities, older people can live independently but have access to medical care, professional support, and an engaging social events program.

     5. Volunteer in your community

If you are financially stable, you might consider volunteering your time to a local organization, charity, or your community in general. You can volunteer as much time as you feel able to, but volunteering can provide you with structure, purpose, social interaction, and greater self-esteem.

It is important to keep in mind that volunteering for the sake of staying busy may not help your wellbeing. You should volunteer for a cause that you are passionate about, and ideally you should enjoy the work you do to ensure the role enhances your life.

     6. Discover a new hobby

Of course, retirement should not be all about working or money, as after so many years of working, you have earned some time to yourself. It is possible to fill your calendar with social events, vacations, and leisure activities. Whether you devote more time to an existing hobby, discover new interests, or learn new skills, investing in yourself is a wonderful way to spend your retirement. Starting a new hobby is also a great way to meet new people who have similar interests, and learning new skills is beneficial to your mental health and emotional wellbeing. You might even discover a talent that you can turn into a business or compete professionally at.

     7. See the world

If traveling the world is something that you have always wanted to do, and you have the money, now is the time. You could start your trip by exploring the many states of America before heading overseas to experience new cultures, take part in new activities, and enjoy breathtaking landscapes. Whether you take a cruise, train tour, or plan your own route, traveling is a great way to refresh your outlook on life. Visit www.loveexploring.com for tips on traveling alone for seniors.

Whether you are excited or apprehensive about your impending retirement, you must prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions. You will have wonderful experiences and plenty of challenges along the way, but with a proactive approach and an open mind, your retirement could be the most rewarding time of your life, so get out there and enjoy the experiences that retirement has to offer.