Moving into retirement living is a big lifestyle change. Whether you’re reluctant to move or excited about your new lifestyle, you’re going to experience a lot of changes that can impact your wellbeing. At Arenburg Legal, we understand your concerns extend past selecting a retirement village. In this blog post, we’re outlining what you need to know about your first year in retirement living to go from adjusting to thriving in your new environment.
- Expect to ‘go through the motions’
Many people refer to retirement as your ‘golden days’, but in truth moving into a retirement village can be a rollercoaster of emotions. At first, it might feel like you’re on a permanent vacation. But when that novelty wears off, you might feel less excited. A lot of retirees can feel like they lose their identity somewhat when they enter retirement living. This is perfectly normal. Our next points outline our recommendations to ensure you retain your sense of self and happiness in the long run.
- What you put out, you get back – invest in hobbies and friends
A huge appeal of retirement living is the sense of community it offers. Most villages offer a large range of social activities, and there’s generally something for everyone.
But as with all things, you only get back what you put out. Keep in mind that it’s entirely up to you how involved you choose to be. We recommend investing in hobbies and meeting like-minded people, as a strong sense of community can improve your mental health, wellbeing and overall satisfaction of living.
- Structure your days
You may have just gone from a 40-hour working week to retirement. Or maybe you’ve been out of the workforce for a while and just moved into a retirement village. Whatever the case, we recommend structuring your days, particularly if you’re the type of person who gets bored easily. Make time for social activities, as well as your own downtime and visits from family and friends. Of course, your schedule doesn’t have to be rigid. You can change it as much as you please, but it’s a great way to keep yourself busy.
- Set goals for yourself
You’re retired; it’s time to have fun and relax! Having said that, it’s always a good idea to set new goals for yourself, whether it’s meeting new people or honing a new skill. Research from Harvard Medical School shows that challenging your brain with mental exercise activates individual brain cells and stimulates communication among them, and pursuing a hobby or learning a new skill can have similar effects.
- Examine your spending habits
Towards the end of your first year in retirement living, it’s worth examining your spending habits and how they align with your personal budget. Take a close look at your retirement expenses and the services you ended up using the most in the past year to get on top of your financial obligations.
- Determine what’s working and what needs to be changed
Reflect on the past year. What worked in terms of expenses, lifestyle and overall enjoyment, and what didn’t? Because moving into a retirement village is a lifestyle investment, it’s worth reflecting regularly to make sure you’re happy.
While there are all sorts of changes to get used to into retirement living, it can be a great lifestyle choice. At Arenburg Legal, we’re dedicated to ensuring your transition into retirement living is as smooth as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding retirement living, please don’t hesitate to contact Arenburg Legal on (07) 3181 5554.