5 things to do in your first month of retirement
Category Lifestyle
On the one hand, isn't it a wonderful feeling to wake up in the morning and know that the days of work stress are behind you? On the other hand, however, this newfound freedom can be a little overwhelming and many new retirees have a hard time adjusting to their new-found freedom. As a real estate company that has helped many South Africans transition into their retirement homes, the CSi Property Group has put together a list of five things that new retirees should start doing in their first month of retirement.
- Create a new routine
The days of waking up, getting ready for work and heading off for a day in the office are behind you, but it's still good to have a routine in your day. The great news about retirement is that while a routine is still important, you now get to choose what goes into your daily schedule. It could involve going for a walk after breakfast every day, spending time keeping your garden in shape, reading a book at a specific time of the day or heading to your retirement home's clubhouse for a game of tennis. The object is to give your days purpose and structure.
- Explore new hobbies
Remember all those hobbies you wanted to pursue during your working years, but never had time for? Now is the time to get started. Whether your dream is to write a book, learn to play a particular sport or simply get fitter, now is the time to stop putting it off. Take a class, join a club or start a project that you've always wanted to do but didn't have the time for.
- Plan a trip
Gone are the days of 15 or 20 leave days per year. There is now no limit to the amount of time you can spend travelling. While your first month of retirement is probably best spent at home adjusting to your new routine, this is a great time to start planning future trips. You may want to travel the world and explore exotic destinations, or you may want to stay close to home and explore everything that Gauteng has to offer.
- Connect with friends and family
Spending time with friends and family is always a rich and rewarding experience - and if you have people within your circle who have also retired and had more time to adjust, they may have some useful hints about what they have done and how they have adjusted. Make plans to catch up, go on outings or simply spend time together.
- Set goals
Goalsetting is an important part of adjusting to retirement. This is a great time to think about life goals as well as financial goals. When it comes to life goals, think about things you want to learn and achieve. A goal may be simple, like spending time with your grandchildren and having a positive impact on their lives. A goal could also be to walk 5km every day, to get better at tennis or to write a book - the sky's the limit.
With regard to financial goals, you need to ensure that now that you are no longer earning a salary, you will be able to meet your obligations, both now and in the future. The best course of action is to speak to your financial advisor on a regular basis to ensure that your financial needs are met.
The CSi Property Group is here to help you adjust to retirement in every way possible. If you've just retired - or you're looking to retire in the near future - chat to us and let us help you find your ideal retirement home.
Author: CSi Property Group
