After decades of working hard, raising children, and celebrating everything beautiful that makes your life feel full, crossing the threshold into your golden years will feel like the reward you deserve. And what better reward for your tireless years of making things happen than spending the rest of your lifetime enjoying endless relaxation.
Whether you have dreams of cozying up by the Florida coastline or want to see all that the big-wide-world has to offer, making the most of your golden years starts with figuring out what will make those days the most memorable.
Retirement is about indulging in all of the slow-paced life you deserve to life. Now the golden question is: where to begin? Using this guide, we’ll let you in on the best-kept secrets on how to make the most of your golden years.
Pick up a hobby
Hobbies are a great way to channel your passions into something that brings you joy. Whether it’s a group activity or a solo activity, picking up a hobby is an amazing way to spend your down time, open your social circle, and give your brain a break.
Without a 9-5 job bogging you down or holding you back from scheduling daytime hobbies like surfing or gardening, you’ll have plenty of time to ruminate over how you’ll tackle your next project or skill.
Not sure about what hobbies or activities are most interesting to you? It never hurts to experiment with a few pastimes before settling on the single one that you could never get sick of. Try these retirement-friendly hobbies:
- Woodworking
- Sewing
- Knitting
- Writing
- Jewelry-making
- Dancing
- Cross-country skiing
Save up
In order to make the most of your retirement, you’ll likely desire some peace of mind in terms of your financial situation. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can stabilize your income and savings without any nagging fear of falling below the poverty line. Even in retirement, there are a number of ways to stabilize your income and savings—no work necessary.
Consider these fruitful options:
- Invest in the stock market
- Earn money on the side selling homemade goods
- Create an IRA account to capture big tax breaks on your retirement savings
- Use a reverse mortgage calculator to see how much you could earn using the equity in your home
Open up your social circle
If you’re like most retirees who find transitioning away from the work world to be rather lonesome, there are a number of ways you can keep your social circles intact without any of the desk jockeying. Opening your mind and heart to new people is a great way to keep a zest of something fresh in your life.
For some retirees, joining a lively retirement community is an easy way to surround yourself with people whereas others may choose to join a book club with like-minded retirees. What matters most is the effort you put toward establishing healthy relationships.
Work on finding your happiness
With so much time at your disposal, there’s no time like the present to figure out what makes you happy. Listening to your heart may have been a bit of a cliché when there was money to be made and children to be raised, but your golden years are about you. Focus on engaging your mind, body, and soul and immersing yourself into the thing that spark joy.
- Learn something new
- From studying Mandarin to learning how to bake, adding another skill to your already impressive collection of abilities will activate your mind and keep you young.
- Exercise
- Staying active is a crucial part of getting older as it helps you keep your mind and body in tip-top shape. Finding a form of exercise that is equal parts fun and challenging is sure to bring a smile to your face every time you do it.
- Volunteer
- Volunteering is a great way to utilize your free time as it gets you involved in your community and it leaves you feeling good, knowing you’ve contributed to making the world a better place.
Your golden years are meant to be the happiest and most relaxed of your life. With these tips, you’ll have all of the insight you need to make your retirement years the best yet.
