Once you’ve retired, you’ll have more free time than you ever imagined. Retirement is the ideal moment to catch up on things you may have put off and pursue new hobbies and interests. But if you’re unsure of what to do with your newly found time, it can seem like an endless void.

Just because you’re no longer working doesn’t mean your life has to be uneventful or without purpose. You can live your best life even in retirement. Instead of seeing your new status as a blank space, look at it as a chance to be inspired and happy by following these tips. 

1. Have a Routine

One of the greatest parts of being retired is that you don’t have to wake up to an alarm clock anymore, and you can sleep in without having to hit the snooze button. Even though you’re no longer working, you can still have a routine that balances out your days.

Being up and out of bed, having your meals, and going to bed by a certain time each day is a great way to establish a routine. It not only adds a sense of continuity to your life, it also gives you the space to plan other activities as you want to. 

2. Stay Active 

There’s nothing wrong with getting your rest while you’re retired. You’ve certainly earned it after a lifetime of working. Resting so much that you become inactive is something that should be avoided at all costs. 

You don’t need a gym membership to be physically active. You can take a brisk or leisurely walk around your neighborhood, a local park, or a hiking trail. If the weather isn’t suitable for walking, exercise along with YouTube indoor fitness videos. 

3. Work Out Your Mind

It’s normal to lose a step or two with aging, but keeping your mind active helps you stay sharp. Different kinds of mental activities help improve your memory, enhance your focus, and increase overall brain health. 

Doing puzzles like word searches, crosswords, Sudoku, and Wordle stimulates the mind. Learning a foreign language, learning how to play an instrument, reading, taking up a new hobby, and socializing with others also work. 

4. Finish Projects Around the House

When you were working full-time, you probably had a long list of projects to do around the house that you just didn’t have enough time to finish. Now that you’re retired, you have more than enough time to finish them up. 

Dust off that to-do list and identify which projects you can finish on your own and which ones you’ll need outside help in completing. Start with the smallest, easiest tasks and work your way up from there. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment getting them done. 

5. Mindfulness

Even though you’re retired and your schedule may be less hectic than it was while you were working, your brain may still be racing at a million miles a minute. You probably have a lot of things on your mind, ranging from the mundane to the serious. 

Practicing mindfulness, like meditation, is a way to improve your well-being and mood and to reduce stress by being in the present moment without being preoccupied or overburdened by all of the things that are going on around you. 

6. Eat More Healthily

A big part of feeling your best is to eat healthier meals and snacks. When you were working full-time, you might not have had as much time to devote to preparing the healthiest foods, but retirement is a great time to get started.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean all your meals have to be bland. Pick up one or more healthy eating cookbooks and try out some new recipes. Check cooking websites and online videos for healthier alternatives to your favorite dishes.

7. Stay Well Rested

There’s no specific number of hours that’s needed to ensure that everyone will have a well-rested night of sleep. Some people may need seven or eight hours of sleep a night, but others may require more or even less. 

Once you've determined how much sleep you need to feel your best, then try and stick to the same schedule as much as you can, going to sleep and waking up around the same time each day. There’s also no harm in taking a nap if you need one.

8. Get Social 

You may or may not have realized it until after you retired, but a major part of your social interactions was with people you worked with. In retirement, those daily interactions are no longer there because you’re not part of the workforce.

Keeping in touch with a few close colleagues is fine, but you’ll need more than that to fill your social calendar. Enroll in a college course or a hobbyist class that’s of interest to you. Join an online or in-person club or group. 

9. Travel 

In retirement, you don’t have to submit a request to have your vacation time approved. Your time is your own to claim. If you want to plan a long or a short trip, you’ll have the freedom to do so, based on your new schedule. 

Traveling doesn’t mean you have to plan a month-long trip to an exotic location around the world or even a week-long trip domestically. You can arrange for a long weekend away from home or set up regular day trips to local places you’ve always wanted to visit. 

10. Create a List (or Two)

Making to-do lists is an effective way to keep yourself organized by having your tasks documented in front of you. That's not the only list you can create for yourself. How about making a list of all the things you want to accomplish? 

Writing down your goals makes them more real and attainable. Your list doesn’t have to be a literal checklist unless that’s what you prefer. You can write down a different goal on a separate Post-It note and place the notes on a board that you can see each day.

11. Treat Yourself 

After spending years or even decades in the workforce, don’t you think you’ve earned the chance to treat yourself to something nice? You don’t have to break the bank to splurge, but you can indulge in giving yourself a break. 

Catch a movie and order yourself the biggest bucket of popcorn you can manage, along with a drink and a box of candy to get the full movie experience. Buy a ticket to watch a live play or concert. Book a spa day to relax and luxuriate. 

12. Challenge Yourself 

Having a routine that you follow is a good thing, but when your routine becomes tedious, it might be time to shake things up a bit. It doesn’t take anything drastic; just a few small changes here and there can make all the difference. 

Do you always exercise at the same place? Switch it up by doing a new exercise routine or going to a different location. Read a book from a different genre than what you normally read. Change your hairstyle or hair color. Try a new recipe or eat at a new restaurant. 

13. Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering your time to others is a wonderful way to give back to your community, but also makes you feel good inside. You can perform an online search for nonprofits in your area and choose one or more that appeal to you. 

Examples of volunteering opportunities include working as a youth mentor, beautifying public places by painting buildings, cleaning outside areas, or assisting with an animal shelter. Organizations appreciate any help they can receive. 

14. Experience Nature

After years of being on the work treadmill, it’s understandable if you want to slow down and relax for a while. Just don't become a couch potato or a hermit who never leaves the house. Get outside and enjoy nature!

Find an arboretum or public garden to visit, taking in the various types of trees, shrubs, and flowers. If you have a garden at your home, spend time tending to it. Visit a wildlife preserve to see animals in their habitats. Getting outside does the mind and body good. 

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