6 Keys to a Happy Retirement

You’ve worked hard your whole life—waking up early, staying late when you’ve needed to, and saving everything you could to make sure your retirement was well-funded. While all the “money stuff” is extremely important, there are a few other things you may need in order to have a happy retirement.

When you retire, you’ll get back over 83 days each year of time you previously spent working. Now, you might have some projects to catch up on to fill your first month or two, but in all likelihood, you are going to need something to fill your newfound free time. Many people dream of days of leisure, travel, and, perhaps improving their golf game, but few actually make a plan for how they’ll spend their retirement days.

We’ve compiled six secrets to a happy retirement, so you can start making your plan for a retirement well-lived:

(Prefer to print this out? Grab our free guide to enjoying your retirement!)

1) Good Health

Have your busy work schedule and keeping up with your family’s extracurricular activities prevented you from prioritizing your health? Well, now is the perfect time to make a habit of exercise and even spending a little more on healthy food. If you’ve never been a good chef, you might consider taking a class or getting a private cooking lesson to help you invest in your health.

To enjoy your wealth, you need your health! It’s important to find ways to stay active in order to enjoy your retirement years to the fullest.

2) Companionship

When you leave the workforce, it can be difficult to maintain some of your previous connections you had naturally through the workplace. You’ll likely need to create new rhythms that help you forge social connections.

You might consider joining a club or finding other people that you share a common interest with. If you need some inspiration, consider working at your community garden, volunteering at an animal shelter, taking a class for a new skill, or regularly grilling out with your neighbors. The possibilities are endless, but this requires intention!

3) A Sense of Purpose

Many of the goals you’ve been working toward your whole life are finally met when you reach retirement. It can leave you without a sense of purpose. Now is the time to create new goals and find a new sense of purpose.

What dreams did you put aside in your work years? Take some time to consider what you are passionate about and hope to invest your time and energy into during your retirement.

4) A Grateful Spirit

It’s common for many retirees to use their retirement to accumulate more things that may not add a lot of value to their life. There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to have nice things, but the danger comes when we are more focused on what we don’t have than what we do.

This is a great season to carefully cultivate a grateful attitude. When you wake up in the morning, think of all the things you appreciate in your life. Either try to make a list of all the things you appreciate or spend 10-20 minutes meditating on what you are grateful for. You’ll be surprised how much your attitude changes for the better!

5) Continuous Learning  

Learning is a lifelong journey. Retirement is the time to explore new topics and discover new interests. In addition, learning is scientifically proven to help slow the onset of cognitive decline and forms new neural pathways in your brain.

Plus, it’s really fun to expand your skills, and you’ll meet new people as you take a class for woodworking or cooking, volunteer with a local organization, or learn a new sport!

6) A Passion for Adventure

Likely, you’ve had to put off some things to provide for your family and reach your retirement goals, like that big vacation to Hawaii you’ve always dreamed about. When we don’t lean into our desire for adventure in retirement, it can leave us feeling disappointed and even directionless.

Now is the time to revisit your passion for adventure. Take the time to create a bucket list of all the things you want to do and experience, then start checking things off one-by-one!

You’ve worked hard to be able to retire. Now your focus should be on making it a fulfilling and joy-filled season! If you’d like to know more about the secrets to a happy retirement, be sure to download the full guide here. As always, if you need some help creating a roadmap to reach your retirement, please consider scheduling a complimentary one-on-one consultation with one of our financial advisors here at 210 Financial. We’d love to talk with you about your financial plan to achieve a happy retirement!

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210 Financial is an independent financial services firm that utilizes a variety of investment and insurance products. Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and 210 Financial are not affiliated companies. 1344181 – 5/22

Content prepared by Savage Content Collective