How to Keep Yourself Active, Engaged & Happy in Retirement

Retirement is often what we feel we’re working towards, not only to sustain ourselves in the now, but hopefully to enjoy multiple years of freedom, our wealth built, our families thriving, enjoying our golden years in indulgence.

Of course, what your retirement does look like can depend on various factors, and aside from your state pension, then are rarely any age limits as to when you can retire and decide you have the funds to do so. However, sometimes, too much freedom can be a bad thing. We often see that retirees who don’t keep the momentum moving after leaving their jobs may struggle to find purpose.

That can sometimes lead to depressive feelings, the drive you used to have falling away, and thus feeling less connected than ever. But luckily, you don’t have to suffer this outcome. If you’re focused, and figure out a few lifestyle tricks, your retirement can be the best period of your life, bar none.

In this post, we’ll discuss how to achieve that outcome:

Set Your Weekly Routine

There’s a pretty nice new freedom in waking up and knowing the day is completely yours, and you no longer have to deal with meetings, work deadlines, or rushing out the door with a half-finished coffee. However, that blank slate can also feel a little much to adapt to, especially if you had a regimented routine before. It’s easy to slip into the habit of sleeping in, watching a little too much TV, and suddenly realizing the whole day has disappeared without much to show for it. If it can happen to students it can certainly happen to us, especially if we’re a little tired.

Having a loose routine helps you overcome this. Don’t make it too strict, as after all, the point of retirement is enjoying your time, not filling it with obligations. But setting a general structure, be that morning walks, a weekly coffee meetup, or an afternoon hobby session will give your days some shape. It keeps things moving, which makes everything feel more intentional and satisfying. It’s also good to set things to look forward to, be that events or treats or days out with your partner.

This way, the days feel more structured and won’t blur together as they usually do.

Consider Your Living & Family Proximity Arrangements

Where you live shapes your retirement experience more than you might initially assume, and of course, if you choose to live abroad you’ll have to manage that with your family back home. Some retirees find themselves in the same home they’ve been in for decades, which can be comforting, but it can also feel isolating if friends and family aren’t close by.

You may decide to downsize to a smaller place, move closer to loved ones, or relocate somewhere entirely new for a fresh chapter. What’s important is considering your needs now and not being afraid to consider what that might imply for the next five years.

It’s worth thinking about what makes the most sense for you. If being near grandkids is a priority, a move might be on the table, or if the idea of community appeals to you, a neighborhood with other retirees could be a good fit. Perhaps you want to live in a holiday home in a summer with a holiday let mortgage and rent that out in the winter. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but a little planning ensures you’re somewhere that truly supports the life you want.

Keep Your Social Life Active

As much as we can tire of work, it does often provide us with built-in social interaction, because even if office small talk wasn’t your favorite thing, it kept you connected. Once retirement kicks in, though, your social circles can shrink fast if you’re not actively maintaining them.

There is some worth there however, as friendships at this stage of life tend to be more intentional because you spend time with people because you want to, not because you happen to work in the same place.

However, you do need to make an effort to reach out to them. You might have dinner parties and invite them, contribute to a book club you’ve been invited to, enjoy a fitness class, or perhaps just enjoy a standing lunch with old colleagues..Don’t be afraid to reach out, talk to people, or be friendly. Once you get into the habit you’ll have a good time with it, and you’ll likely bust through any social anxieties you had.

Work on Creative Projects

As any 19th-century wealth artist knew, having time on your hands makes creativity easier to tap into. Retirement means you don’t have to squeeze in hobbies after a long workday, as now, you can be indulgent with it, getting deep into that woodworking project, picking up painting, or finally writing that novel you’ve always talked about.

Moreover, creativity can help stretch your intellectual muscles and make you feel a sense of active engagement and novelty, which is something you may be worrying about in retirement. It’s a good way to fend off that sense of the cobwebs building, and you may come out with something great at the end of it. You wouldn’t be the first retiree to publish a celebrated novel, for example.

Consider Living Abroad

If you’ve ever dreamed of living somewhere new, perhaps in a nicer climate than you do now, living abroad might be your chance. It’s okay if you do the cliche thing and settle into a beachside town with lower living costs, because you’ve earned it, and it’s fun.

It’s a big decision, of course, as you have to consider healthcare, language barriers, and cost of living, which all matter. But if you’re willing to take the leap, it can be an adventure. Even if a permanent move isn’t for you, spending a few months in a different country each year can be a refreshing change of pace, and helps you come back to the normal flow of life you’re used to with a little more rejuvenation. Some retirees enjoy taking time on cruises and stopping off in different countries for that reason, as it’s a change and a longer vacation they don’t have to feel too bound to.

Think Through Your Investments

It’s of course true that finances don’t stop being important once you retire. If anything, they matter even more since your income is usually coming from fixed sources. It’s worth taking the time to make sure your money is working for you, which may mean adjusting investments, shifting your spending depending on the time of year it is and what you have planned or even picking up a small side income if it’s something you enjoy.

A financial check-in every so often helps avoid those worrying surprises, and if managing all the numbers feels a touch too much, working with a financial advisor can be a good move. It might be that you reinvest some of the money you’ve earned in relatively safe places such as gold, and withdraw some of that later on.

Be There for Your Wider Family

While retirement is about enjoying your time, it’s also a great opportunity to be there for family in ways that weren’t always possible before, because people do look up to you if you’re a grandparent. If you’ve retired early and have the means, now could be a good time to start that family even. Don’t forget, you can be a parent at most ages, as you can adopt or potentially go through IVF treatment if you need, and if that matches your values.

For some, retirement just means helping out with grandkids, offering wisdom to younger relatives, and being there more of the time. If you’re older, you start to realize nothing means more than family, and so it’s not exactly a sacrifice.

Work on Your Fitness

There’s a reason people say movement is medicine, as staying active makes everything feel better, including (but not limited to) your energy levels, mood, and sleep. This is especially important if you’re reaching your golden years for obvious reasons.

Of course, this approach can be decided on through your own preference, be that walking every morning, taking up swimming, or trying a yoga class. Strength training is also worth considering since it keeps your bones and muscles strong, and even well-formed compound lifting can help those in retirement.

Conclusion

Retirement can seem like a luxury experience, and it really can be nice to have all your obligations somewhat fade away. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have responsibilities, or that you don’t owe yourself the ability to stay active, even if you do rest a little more.

We’re creatures of habit after all, and so it’s important to use this time not to fade away but to become more connected, to enjoy and feel nurtured by life, and to open yourself to a world of love and possibility. You may be surprised just howe well you do, provided you stick to the tenets in this post. We wish you a long and lovely retirement!