Embracing Retirement-How to Maximize Enjoyment
Volume 1- My First Summer of Retirement Is Treating Me Well
For those of you who have recently retired, I hope you are enjoying it thus far and adjusting to your new adventure. For some it is hard to adjust to the new norm. Luckily I haven't had any difficulty adjusting and I wanted to share some tips to those that might be struggling. Of course, the pandemic may have thrown a monkey wrench into your plans and made the changes more difficult. Following are some tips and some photos from my summer thus far.
This has been a crazy summer weather-wise here in the US and also abroad. From heat waves to tropical storms to droughts to floods to tornadoes and wildfires the list goes on. Here in my little part of the world (central New York state), we have received 11.1 inches of rain thus far in July, the wettest July I have ever witnessed with flooding occurring in some areas.. However, we have had some decent weather in between. Enough for plenty of fun activities.
I entered into the world of retirement at the end of August 2020. To be honest, it didn’t take me long to adjust as I keep busy with my house, yard, and many hobbies. It’s amazing how time flies, as I already am approaching one full year of being retired.
Relax
First of all, the most important thing is to relax. Breathe in, breathe out. Repeat. You're retired! Again, you are retired! The pace has changed. You don’t have to go go go. Enjoy. It’s OK. You can set your own pace and do things you enjoy.
Embrace the Change
Things have changed, but for the good. It's hard to change. You can now set your own pace. Don’t feel guilty. Slow down for a while. Don’t feel like you have to be busy every second. You can do as much or as little as you want. You now control your pace and thus your happiness. You earned it!
Establish a Routine and Set Goals
You’re probably thinking that the last thing you want in retirement is a routine. Isn’t that what you are retiring from? This is true, but it is always good to have at least a soft routine. In my eleven months of retirement to date, I have learned that it is good to keep your sleep schedule roughly the same each day. I find that I tend to stay up a little later and also sleep in later. But my waking/sleeping hours have stayed fairly consistent.
I also have found that setting goals each day or most days helps you to get things done. Believe it or not, I quickly learned to relax and it can become addicting. So I try to accomplish tasks each day and also give myself plenty of time for relaxing and/or fun activities. If you don’t finish a task, just remember, tomorrow is a new day and you are still retired!
Hobbies
Luckily I already had quite a few hobbies before I retired. They include gardening, photography, birdwatching, biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, baseball card collecting, and more. I think hobbies are important to a successful retirement. Yes, you have to complete your daily tasks, however, it is essential that you have hobbies to look forward to make your life well rounded.
Part Time Job?
Some people retire and never work again. Some never retire. Others take on part-time jobs. It’s up to you. Of course the extra income may be necessary or allow you to take vacations, etc. Retirement gives you an opportunity for different types of work, perhaps more enjoyable then your career work was.
Take a Break -- Mix it Up
Even though establishing a routine is important, it it also important from time to time to take a break from your retirement routine, just as it was when you were working. Take a day trip with your spouse, take a day off from chores, have people over for dinner, anything to keep life interesting. If will help your mental outlook, trust me. The great thing is you can chose what you want to do and when.
Conclusion
To all of you that are retired, I hope you are enjoying it. To those working towards this goal, hang in there, it will come quickly and is worth the wait. I hope this article is of help to those struggling to adjust to retirement.
