For most people, retiring means stepping away from a world of routines. Whether you worked a 9-to-5 job or shift work, the routine of getting ready to go to work, doing the work and coming home took up most of your life. But now that you have so much free time, creating a routine isn’t always easy. The best way to adjust to your retired lifestyle is to commit to a handful of activities each and every day.
To help you get started, consider these nine things retirees should consider doing daily:
Visit With a Friend
Daily contact, be it in person or online, is a way to stay part of your community and for others to stay part of your life. The chats can be a light-hearted session of catching up on one another’s life events or chatting about relevant industry news with a former colleague, but the goal is to stay connected with others on a regular basis.
Plan Your Meals
You don’t need to be a Cordon Bleu chef to plan and enjoy your meals. Whether you cook from scratch, rewarm prepared meals or you prefer the simplicity of a salad or a sandwich, plan at least one of your daily meals ahead of time. Use your nice dishes, set a place at the table and take the time to enjoy your food.
Be Physical
Being physically active is necessary for health of both body and mind , so get moving! Even a walk around the neighborhood can do a world of good. But don’t let a summer monsoon or extreme heat deter you. If weather conditions are preventing you from getting outdoors, pop in an exercise DVD or head to the health club.
Stretch
Stretching helps keep you flexible and can even help your balance, helping reduce the risk of falls. Simple, gentle stretching can also be a relaxing way to start your day.
Do Something Nice for Someone Else
Kindness not only benefits those around you, but a good deed will often improve your mood, too. Send an electronic greeting card, compliment a stranger, make a batch of cookies for a neighbor—anything that may make someone else smile will brighten up your day, too.
Meditate
Many people avoid meditation because they’re unsure of how to get started. But meditating can be as simple as lying in your bed when you wake up in the morning and just being in the moment. Focus on your breathing, listen to the sounds around you, embrace the sensations and put away thoughts of the past or future. Meditating is relaxing, can help reduce anxiety and can be the perfect beginning or end to any day.
Work to Improve at a Hobby
Do you enjoy doing activities such as jigsaw puzzles, cooking, sewing or woodworking? Having a hobby can give you something to look forward to every day as you see your projects progress. And with daily practice, you can quickly transform from novice to expert.
Rest
One of the advantages of retirement is you are finally in charge of your own schedule. So if you need to nap or rest, do it. And don’t feel guilty about snoozing for an hour after lunch if that’s what helps keep you going for the rest of the day.
Plan Your Next Day
In the evening, plan what your next day will be like so you can anticipate what’s to come and can make sure to slot in the things you want to do. Always having something on the horizon will help solidify your day and help you feel productive.
As active adults, you likely have grand plans for your retirement. You may plan to travel, volunteer, or take on those passion projects you never had time to complete while you were working. But don’t forget—it’s often these small things that make retirement enjoyable.
Looking for more advice on living your most enjoyable retirement? Reserve your seat at one of our educational workshops, and get all the answers you need about retirement and Life Care.
