Retirement: Your Next Adventure Awaits

Retirement is a major life change that, like any other significant transition, can be all at once exciting, stressful, and challenging. If you’re getting ready to embark on this next chapter in your life, a little preparation and motivation will ensure you enjoy the adventure.

Create a Plan

• Get your finances in order: Money is one of the biggest concerns for new retirees. When making any decisions post-retirement, such as considering a move to a community for older adults, it’s important to assess your assets, how long they will last, and what type of lifestyle you hope to enjoy after you retire. You might find it helpful to consult a financial advisor to help you make these crucial decisions.
• Develop a new routine: After retirement, you may feel overwhelmed by your sudden surplus of free time. Establishing and adhering to a new routine can help you stay productive and keep your days filled with meaningful activities, such as voluntary work, exercise, weekly lunches with friends, and hobbies.
• Make a list: You likely have many goals or new things you’d like to try now that you’re retired. Make a list of what you’d like to devote your newfound time to, such as traveling more, finishing a home project, or learning a new skill, to get yourself motivated and have things to focus on achieving in retirement.

Process the Transition

• Acknowledge your emotions: Most people associate retirement with freedom and relaxation, but it can also be challenging and stressful to adjust to. You may feel depressed, isolated, anxious about finances and the future, or unfulfilled and without purpose. These feelings are all perfectly normal and common, especially at the start of your transition into retired life. By acknowledging and accepting these feelings, you’ll find that they will likely soon pass.
• Embrace change: While change can be difficult for some of us to accept, it can also be inspiring and fun. Retirement is a journey – you can always change direction if any aspect of your new lifestyle isn’t working for you. Setting new goals, trying new things, and making new friends are all exciting changes to look forward to and embrace after retirement.
• Seek support: Reaching out to other retirees can help ease your stress about the transition as well as help you make new, meaningful friendships. Explore opportunities to expand your social network by visiting your local senior center, joining a fun club or local class, or finding a retirement support group to talk with others who are newly transitioning into retirement. Make sure to also keep in touch with your old work friends, too!

Enjoy the Adventure

• Cultivate new hobbies: Retirement opens up a world of possibilities – with so much new time and freedom, you can fill your days with whatever you wish. Stay active with a new fitness activity or sport, such as golf, biking, or pickleball; get creative with a new expressive hobby, such as learning to paint or play an instrument; or enjoy the great outdoors by taking up hiking, birdwatching, or gardening.
• Give back to your community: Many retirees feel a lack of purpose after they leave the workforce. Volunteering can restore that sense of meaning, usefulness, and connection to your community, boost your self-esteem, and provide many opportunities to socialize and make new friends.
• See the world: Grueling work schedules often inhibit our ability to travel and enjoy all the adventures the world has to offer. If you have always dreamed of traveling more, retirement is the perfect time to start. Even if a life of jet setting isn’t in your budget (or to your liking), visiting more nearby cities or points of interest can be fulfilling and enriching as well.

Adventure Awaits at Our Senior Living Communities

Each one of our independent-living options for older adults offers a vibrant social life with exciting classes, fun events, and friendly neighbors to help you fill each day of your retirement with endless adventure.

If you are interested in learning more about our independent senior-living options, please visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/IndependentLiving.

Volunteer at Christian Health

Are you interested in volunteering in retirement? To learn more about the fulfilling volunteer opportunities at Christian Health, please call (201) 848-5797 or visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/Volunteer.