Photo by Esther Wiegardt
When you retire, your whole life changes drastically. You go from going to work and spending your days with other people to staying at home, without any obligations. To avoid feeling depressed, you should find a sense of purpose and maintain a positive attitude towards what’s ahead. When you achieve that, you can start working on improving your lifestyle and enjoying your newly-acquired free time. Here are some ways how to do that.
Maintain good health
Before making any decisions, make sure you’re in good health so that you can enjoy your retirement. See your doctor for regular checkups and visit your dentist to see if you have any dental problems. Your diet should be high in nutrients and low in calories since your metabolism slows down with age and your body doesn’t need as much energy as it did when you were younger. Also, a good choice of food can help you keep your weight in check. Foods like fish and leafy greens are rich in nutrients, but won’t cause any weight issues, while whole grains and other foods that contain fibre will improve your energy levels. Avoid junk food and have balanced and healthy meals instead. If necessary, take mineral and vitamin supplements, in accordance with what your doctor tells you.
Photo by Edward Cisneros
Decide where you want to live
Your surroundings are extremely important to the state of your mind and can influence your life greatly. That is why you should carefully choose where you reside and with whom. You might want to stay close to your children and grandchildren, or even live with them if that’s an option. On the other hand, you might rely more on some friends of your age, people who make your days more pleasant and cheerful, so you might want to live near them. The third option is to move to an over-55 community, such as the attractive Lake Macquarie Retirement Village, where you can live comfortably and socialize with other residents. Here you would be able to enjoy the perks of amenities, such as a gym, cinema, heated indoor pool, and if you enjoy your books, there’s even a library you can join. In places like this one, you will find an abundance of activities you can choose from so that you are never bored and you can fully appreciate your life.
Photo by Seth Hays
Be physically active
You can add years to your life if you stay fit and exercise regularly. More importantly, you’ll make those years more enjoyable and significantly healthier. Through exercise, you can boost your vitality, strength and mood, which can increase your quality of life. It can make you more optimistic and self-confident, and maintain your mental health more easily. If you don’t know which type of exercise would suit you best, talk to your doctor, but the general advice is to walk as much as you can. For instance, you can set a goal to make about 10,000 steps each day and make it a part of your daily routine. Also, if you have an exercise partner or you work out in a group, you will be more motivated and less alone. And finally, physical exercise can improve your sleep, which is great for your overall health and a sharp mind.
Photo by Lucie Hošová
Socialize
Staying in touch with people and having company can have a crucial effect on your mental health, and can make your life much more interesting and fun. Spend as much time as you can with your family, friends or anybody else that makes you feel good. You can even use social networks to reach out to old friends that you’ve lost contact with. Visit your friends or invite them over for a game or movie night, or simply for a conversation over some drinks. You can broaden your circle of friends by volunteering or joining a club where there are people of similar interests to yours. You should also consider signing up for a senior trip so that you can meet new people while exploring the places you’ve always wanted to see.
If you think about it, retirement is simply a new beginning. So, may it be a beginning of something wonderful and exciting! Now it’s your opportunity to have fun and live your life to the fullest, so use it well.
About the author:
Claire is a personal and professional development expert who believes that a positive attitude is one of the keys to success. You can find her online writing and giving tips about mental health, well-being, and healthy lifestyle at ripped.me. Claire on Facebook and Twitter.