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happy-retirement

Want a Happy Retirement? Do These 6 Things Now

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Key Takeaways

  • Money is not the only or even the most important piece of a happy retirement.
  • Focus on the 6 goals below for a happy retirement.

Goal 1: Focus on staying healthy.

  • Be deliberate about exercising at least 30-60 minutes per day.
  • Good health is the most important ingredient for a happy retirement.
  • Studies show that exercise and a healthy diet can reduce the risk of developing certain health conditions, increase energy levels, boost your immune system, and improve your mood.
  • See tips on active living from the “National Institute on Aging” https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-physical-activity
  • You will reduce healthcare costs as you get older if you maintain your health.
  • You will get greater value out of social security as you will live longer.

Goal 2: Get Social

  • Happier retirees were found to be those with more social interactions.
  • Further, social isolation has been linked to higher rates of heart disease and stroke, increased risk of dementia, and greater incidence of depression and anxiety.
  • A low level of social interaction is just as unhealthy as smoking, obesity, alcohol abuse, or physical inactivity.
  • Live close to family and friends if you can.
  • Join groups such as retirementmonthlyincome.com/communities – where you can meet like-minded retirees that share the same interests as you.
  • Make an effort to join meetups in your area around people your own age.
  • Join classes or groups in activities you might be interested in (golf, poker, yoga, book clubs, etc.)

Goal 3: Find a sense of purpose

  • The happiest retirees perform activities that give meaning to their life.
  • In a Gallup poll, nearly 3 in 4 Americans said they plan to work beyond the traditional retirement age, with the majority planning to do so because they “want to,” not because they “have to.”
  • Volunteering is another way to gain sense of purpose. Consider VolunteerMatch.org to find volunteer opportunities in your field of interest.

Goal 4: Keep your brain sharp

  • Play brain games like chess, read books, learn new things, travel.
  • Studies have shown that doing the above keeps you mentally active and sharp.
  • You could take free college courses from many top universities, such as Yale and Stanford, through an online learning platform like Coursera.

Goal 5: Practise mindfulness

  • Practicing mindfulness has become more popular than ever in the last decade as a strategy to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • Research, such as a 2009 study from Goethe University in Germany, has shown that meditation strengthens the hippocampus, the area of the brain that is important for memory and slows the decline of brain areas responsible for sustaining attention.
  • There are no set guidelines for how often you should meditate for optimal results, but a handful of experiments suggest that a mere 10 to 20 minutes of mindfulness a day can be beneficial—if people stick with it.

Goal 6: Push your boundaries

  • It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, both health-wise and in general, and doing something different can be a refreshing change.
  • Some people have found that simple changes, such as trying a tasty new recipe, finding a different hairdresser, or joining an exercise class they haven’t done before give them a new zest for life.

Conclusion

  • Staying happy in retirement takes work.
  • Don’t be 1 of the 55% of retirees that are lonely and unhappy.
  • Use the 6 proven techniques described above to lead a happy and fulfilling retirement.

See also:

The Best Strategy for High Retirement Income

 

Join Our Forum -> Meet Seniors & Early Retirees Near You

 

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