How to Keep Your Independence After You Retire

Once you retire, you will live a different life. You now have a lot of time to do the things work stopped you from putting all of your time in, such as new hobbies. This is a great way to keep yourself entertained and busy. You also have the time to explore the world if you wish to, or if you live in a house larger than your means, to move and settle down in a smaller, more comfortable home. You have a lot of independence once you have retired, but as you age, you also have to keep your physical and mental health in check. Here’s how to do just that.

How to Stay Physically Independent

1. Sign Up for a Low-Impact Exercise Class

The first thing you should do now that you have retired and have the time is to exercise. If you haven’t done anything in a long while signing up for a senior or low-impact exercise class is a good way to get in shape while still being kind to your joints. Swimming, for example, is a wonderful activity that can get your heart pumping, your muscles strong, all without inflaming the joints. By joining a class you also open up the possibility of meeting new people and making friends.

2. Start Yoga

Strength is crucial, especially considering that as you age your muscle mass is going to drop substantially. The second most crucial part of remaining physically independent is flexibility. Yoga is a great way to promote this flexibility and work on your strength. You can do it at home on your own, or once again attend a class so that you can add that social element to your exercise as well.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Aids

For some, even working on their strength and flexibility isn’t going to help. Advanced arthritis can subvert even the best intentions, which is why using an aid is not a failure. Whatever you need to get out there on your own is a win. You might need medically assisted aids, or just something personal like the Zoomer Chair that is portable and electric to allow you to reach beyond your physical limitations.

How to Stay Emotionally Independent

4. Invest in Your Hobby

Whatever you love doing, invest some time into it and see if there are options that will help you meet new people and make friends. If you love to create pottery, for example, then see if there is a community workshop nearby that you can sign up to and use their kiln and studio space. If you have always wanted to learn something, take a class. Now is the time to focus on what you love and are interested in.

5. Get Out and Explore Your Home

The best way to reconnect with where you live is to head out and actually explore it. Take time to try out the restaurants near you, or to go through all the shops and points of interest. The bigger the city you live in the more there will be to do, so get out there and experience new things.

6. Consider Moving into a Retirement Community

If you are living on your own and find it isolating, consider either selling your property or renting it out. Look instead for a retirement community. These communities are full of retirees just like you and focus on community events and activities. You’ll meet new people in the same stage of life as you and usually benefit from additional assistant care.

Thanks to Ellie