Welcome to retirement! If you’re just about to embark on this new stage of life, you’ll find that it can be both exciting and scary. With your calendar suddenly wide open, how do you fill all your newfound free time?
If the freedom of retirement has your head spinning, read on below for some ideas about what to do now that you’re retired.
Spend time with your kids (and their kids)
If you never had very much time to spare for your children and grandchildren while you were working, it’s time to reconnect! Retirement presents the perfect opportunity for you to spend quality time with the people you’re closest to. If you’ve got adult kids with their own little ones at home, consider offering to babysit. This is your chance to form a very special bond with your grandkids! You could invite them over for a sleepover or plan a surprise party for them, have some fun making cupcakes together, play games or watch movies together on Saturday night. If there are any events coming up at school that require parents chaperoning (like dances), take the opportunity to step in!
Spending time with kids keeps life interesting, and research shows that interacting with young people can actually improve your physical and mental health!
Catch up with friends
Retirement is a great time to spend time with old friends – and make new ones! Socialising isn’t just for the weekends anymore. Without the worry of work the next day, you can catch up with friends any time you want! Go out to dinner, travel together, and try new things – this is your time to widen your social circle and get creative about the ways in which you spend time with your friends. At St Ives, we throw regular social events where residents can mingle and get to know one another. You can also spend time with others in our clubhouses and other facilities around the villages.
Travel the world (or stay closer to home)
If you always wished you could spend more time travelling, now’s your chance! Retirement is the perfect time to explore your own country – or head overseas to see the world. If you plan to regularly travel, a retirement village may be for you. At St Ives, you’ll have an easy lock-and-leave lifestyle where all the gardening and maintenance is taken care of for you, and you’ll always know your home is secure – there’s even space for storing your caravan or boat!
Spend time on hobbies
Hobbies are a great way to keep your mind sharp and engaged. Try learning a new skill or picking up an old one that you haven’t done in years. Just keep in mind that hobbies can be expensive, especially if you decide to take up something like golfing or skiing. Make sure your hobby is affordable by setting a budget before you begin!
St Ives residents have plenty of opportunities to try new things and spend time on the hobbies they love. Practice your crafting skills at our craft centres, practice your woodworking skills in our workshops, or challenge your friends to a regular game of lawn bowls out on the green!
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to give back and make a difference in the world around you. Consider volunteering for a cause that’s near and dear to your heart, for example, if you love animals, sign up with an animal shelter or rescue group. Or if you have experience in a certain field, it may be time to roll up your sleeves and donate some of that knowledge by teaching others how to care for their pets or plants. It’s not just about making a difference, volunteering keeps seniors active! Volunteering can also help keep seniors connected with other people in their community; forming new relationships is one of the best ways elders can stay mentally healthy as they age out of retirement into full-time seniority.
Exercise regularly
Exercising regularly can help you sleep better, lose weight, manage stress, reduce your risk of heart disease and live longer. In fact, a 2016 study found that people who were able to stay physically active in their later years had better cognitive function than those who didn’t exercise as much.
Look into classes at the gym or try something like cycling or swimming if you don’t want to pay money for exercise classes. When you choose to live at a St Ives retirement village, you’ll have great access to a range of facilities to help you stay fit and healthy, including the gym (and in some locations, swimming pools!).
Get out there and do it!
We know that retirement can be scary, but the options really are endless when it comes to enjoying your golden years. By starting with something small like volunteering or exercising regularly, you can start building up positive momentum in your life. And as those things become more ingrained habits over time, they’ll begin to influence other aspects too, like how much time you spend with family members or on side projects! If you want to make the most of your retirement, join us at St Ives! Our villages offer everything you need to enjoy hobbies, time with family, socialising with friends and travel! Book a village tour today.