After a life of raising children and growing careers, retirement should be your time! While this is an exciting chapter, it can feel a little vast and overwhelming. How do you discover yourself if you’ve been focused on everyone else for the last few decades? What’s the best way to make this time of your life fulfilling and fun?
Here are a few tips on how to enjoy this stage of the journey and create a life you love:
Ask yourself: what have I always wanted to do? Suddenly faced with more free time than ever before, you might feel lost on how to spend it. Spend your time wisely. What are the hobbies or activities you’ve always wanted to try (or do more of)? Travelling? Picking up a new sport? Reading? Learning more about art, wine, cooking, or something else? Write down a few ideas and explore opportunities to try one or two of them in the next few months.
Don’t shut the brain off entirely. The work period of your life might be behind you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to pursue stimulating activities and experiences. What have you done in your professional life that didn’t feel like work, that made you feel excited or energized (and you always yearned for more of it)? Whether it’s part-time consulting, volunteer work, or mentoring children or young professionals, there are lots of ways to keep your brain active without the stress of a full-time job.
Get active. Of course it is important to stay physically active for your heart and body health, but studies show that exercise boosts your mood and improves quality of life too. Make time to do something active several times a week, and remember that staying fit doesn’t have to mean hopping on the treadmill or elliptical trainer. If you’re not much of a gym rat, grab a neighbor or friend and get out for a walk on nice days. Try easy-entry sports like pickle ball, golf, or tennis. Or, you might check out classes like yoga, water aerobics, or Pilates.
Surround yourself with good people. Hopefully you’ve learned by now that life is too short to spend time with anyone who makes you unhappy or stressed. At this stage of your life, you should surround yourself with friends or family members who care about you, make you smile, and share the same goals as you. If you’re looking to expand your social circle, activities and classes are a wonderful way to do so—and a chance to get to know people with whom you have something in common.
Feed the soul. While it’s important to foster good relationships and engage in enjoyable activities, there’s something to be said about nurturing your relationship with yourself! Consider meditation, which has so many amazing benefits. Reap the healing benefits of nature by spending more time outdoors, which is a great way to get exercise and boost your spirits. Spend time discovering what inspires you—whether that’s taking photos, hiking, or painting—and commit to doing more of those activities.
Here’s the best news: all of this and more is available to you at Trilogy communities. We make it easy to create a life you love and savor that life each and every day!
Our communities across the country invite people to connect with others and live each moment to the fullest. We want Members to create incredible lifestyles, form lifelong friendships, and live extraordinary lives. If you’re ready for The Good Life, it’s waiting for you here. With gorgeous clubhouses, bustling social calendars, and awesome people, it’s easy to find your happy place at Trilogy. Explore what our communities have to offer and learn more about Trilogy.