When it’s time to retire, you have mixed emotions of fear, happiness, and sadness. Retirement is your time to do all the things you’ve wanted to do and relax. Use these three tips to help you embrace your retirement.
When you retire, you have the opportunity to do a lot of things. Many changes will occur in your life now that you don’t have a 9-to-5. Having a lot of time on your hands can do more harm than good. Did you know people live healthier lives when they establish routines and patterns? You don’t necessarily have to go out and get a part-time job to pass the time. You can engage in a variety of activities and try different hobbies. You can enroll in arts and crafts classes, which can help you remain social and active.
Personal growth occurs with change. You may not fall into the flow of things immediately, and that’s okay. Take the time to get used to the recent changes and go from there. Take baby steps. Everything will fall into place.
Don’t let negative thoughts ruin your retirement. People often associate fear with retirement because of the fear of the unknown. Enrichment is part of making things better. Assess your retirement situation and determine what you want to do. One of your retirement goals may be to downsize, to relocate, or to change other things.
Is downsizing during retirement in the future for you? Would you like to save money on mortgage payments? Is one of your goals to travel during retirement? Relocating is a good idea, especially if you’re interested in a change of scenery.
If you’re downsizing, there are a variety of factors you need to research and consider. Your neighborhood research should include location, crime, convenience, and safety statistics. For example, if you’d like to spend your retirement golfing in a warm, safe location, start by researching homes in golfing communities.
You also need to consider the amount of space you need. You can consider one or two bedroom homes or apartments that are less than what you are paying now. You don’t have to live with the bare minimum of everything in retirement, but cut expenses when you can.
If your considering apartments, look for convenience features. Modern convenience features can include a dishwasher, elevators, and handicapped accessible facilities.
Embracing retirement can be difficult, but it doesn’t mean you can’t adjust. Give yourself time to adapt to the new changes and follow these three tips to help you embrace retirement.
Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2