Ten tips to make your retirement years the best — and happiest — of your life.
Retirement is no longer a time to sit back, slow down and let the world race by. Today, retirement is seen as an opportunity to pursue the things we’ve always wanted to do. And, as it turns out, it also can be one of the happiest times in our lives. In a recent MONEY magazine survey, 48% retirees reported being happier in retirement than they imagined, while only 7% were somewhat disappointed.
So, how can you make sure your retirement is a happy one? Well, to get you started on the right path, here are ten tips to put your retirement on track to be everything you’d hoped for.
#1: Have a sense of purpose — and meaning
A meaningful, and purposeful life isn’t just aspirational — it also can help you live longer, according to a recent Oxford University study.
Feeling unfulfilled and restless is usually a sign that you lack some form of meaning and purpose. Often, we focus so much on the financial aspects of retirement that our personal vision can be clouded. This might be a great time to meet with a life coach, who can show you all of the possibilities of this next phase in your life and help you transition into retirement. There are also countless books and podcasts that can help you realize and understand your passions and goals. Whatever you do, be sure to keep an open mind, and follow your heart as you pursue this next adventure in life.
#2: Create a retirement plan that makes sense
OK, so perhaps you’ve always been someone who lives their life day-by-day. And tomorrow — or much further down the road — hasn’t quite been anywhere near your radar. Well, there’s no time like the present to do something about it. Creating the best retirement plan is essential to being able to achieve the things you want to do in your next chapter. The good news is there are a ton of resources available to you, from retirement calculators to financial advisors who can map out a plan for a healthy and happy retirement future.
#3: Spend time visualizing yourself in retirement
Imaging what your retirement will look like not only helps you get a better picture of your future, it can also help you chart and achieve a successful retirement plan. You might start by getting a mental image of your future self, asking yourself questions like what is your daily routine, where are you living, how do you dress and how do you spend your time. You could also write a letter to your future self, which is a powerful way to connect you with where you will be in the future. You could even try FutureMe.org, a nonprofit service that lets you email your future self — you type out your email and they deliver it on the future date you request.
#4: Be healthy to stay wealthy
What’s the secret to a happy retirement? Good health. Sure, increasing your financial health is important, but you also want to continue being physically and mentally healthy, too. This includes staying active through exercise, going to the gym, a healthy diet and challenging yourself every day.
#5. Hang out with people both younger — and older — than you
It helps to surround yourself with people you who aren’t just in your same age group. Having younger — and older — friends can provide you with increased energy, vitality and give you a new perspective on living, which all adds up to a more fulfilled outlook on life.
#6: Make exercise fun
When exercise is fun it goes from something you have to do to something you want to do. So if the thought of stepping onto a treadmill isn’t working for you, consider alternative forms of activity, like taking a walk through a park or a hike through a nature reserve. Also consider asking a friend to join you. Not only is it a great opportunity to socialize, but often you’ll find time to laugh and share your experience, too. And here’s another benefit: people who feel they are having fun when they exercise actually end up eating less than those who do it for exercise, according to research by Cornell Food and Brand Lab.
#7: Walk — briskly
Like to walk fast? You might find yourself living longer. In a number of studies, researchers discovered that the pace of your stride after age 60 actually can be a good gauge of your longevity, not to mention predicting things like dementia and depression. In fact, in a study done by Neurology, researcher Dr. Joe Verghese, studied hundreds of older patients. The ones who were observed to walk slowly showed a higher rate of abnormal cognitive tests. So, when you feel like you’re slowing things down, think about picking up the pace.
#8: Post your “retirement mantra” for all to see
It always helps to stay inspired. Especially when it’s a big picture goal, like your retirement plan. While some people like to write things down in a place they can refer back to, we suggest going one step further and writing down your retirement goals, or mantra, and putting it up on your refrigerator. It might be a funny quote about retirement, something inspirational or something you feel speaks to you in a meaningful way. But ultimately it’s going to remind you of your retirement journey in a positive light.
#9: Leave more behind than you started with
You may not think it, but you could actually increase your financial picture when you retire. Investing in the right places, with the right attitude and with sound advice, could very well help you enhance your portfolio and your overall estate, which ultimately means you’ll have more to leave to your children.
#10: Research the best places to retire — then go there
What’s the best place for you to retire? It all depends on what your needs and wants are. The reality is, when you retire you may find that relocating to a less expensive city or home may actually free up more funds for you to do more. At the same time, moving to an area surrounded by similar people — say, in a retirement-designated community — you may discover more like minded people with similar interests, too.
With the right attitude, the right focus and the right people, your retirement can be everything you dreamed of — and then some.
This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only, and should not be construed as financial or tax advice. For more information about whether a reverse mortgage may be right for you, you should consult an independent financial advisor. For tax advice, please consult a tax professional.
I WANT TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON RETIREMENT TRENDS
Follow Us.