Retirement is a significant checkpoint, and one that marks a significant transition. No longer do you have to worry about going to work every day, or stressing about the hustle and bustle of the rat race. It’s your time to finally relax and enjoy activities and hobbies that you’ve never had the time to do. However, although it’s associated with being a time of relaxation and enjoyment, retirement can be not so enjoyable if you don’t play your cards right. You’ll need to carefully organize your finances, and decide where you plan on living, and how you’ll look after your health.

If you can manage to do these things, then your retirement years can potentially be some of the best times of your life. If you want to ensure a happy and healthy retirement, then here are some of the best secrets to keep in mind.

Define Your Purpose

It helps if you define exactly what your purpose is. How do you want to live your retirement years? Is this a period of her life that you plan on spending committed to physical fitness? Perhaps you’re ready to become the painter you always wanted to be.  

Define what your sense of purpose is, and how you plan on bringing fulfillment to your life. The more you can do that, the more likely you are to define a sense of structure into how you plan on spending your time.

Nurture Relationships

One of the most common concerns with retirement is a sense of loneliness and social disconnection. It’s important that you maintain your social connections and relationships, whether it’s with friends or family. See everybody regularly, and also make sure you keep up on your phone calls. The more you can engage with the people you love and care about, the more you’ll have a sense of belonging and camaraderie that will enhance your sense of self worth and value.

Be Flexible

The more flexible you are, the more content you’ll be overall. After all, life is not a one-size-fits-all experience. There are all sorts of surprises and twists and turns that can come up along the way. Flexibility allows you to adapt to even the most unexpected of circumstances and allow yourself to evolve. Part of being resilient means approaching every situation with an open mind and willingness to try something new.

Whether it’s trying new foods, or visiting a new place you’ve never been, being open minded can totally transform your life and happiness overall!

Don’t Forget Mental Health

Over a certain age, we are incredibly focused on our physical well-being, yet we forget the importance of mental health as well.  Take note of how your behavior is promoting positive mental and physical health, and make changes where needed. Stimulate your mind as well as your muscles, and you’ll find you enjoy your retirement that much more.

While everyone’s version of what happiness means can vary, most of us can agree that happiness is one of the best ways to be. We feel more motivated to get up every day, our relationships improve, and we experience less overall stress. Yet, one of the greatest mysteries in human existence is how to achieve a sense of happiness. 

Many of us find ourselves over the age of 80, looking back and wondering how we could have done things differently to be happier.  Believe it or not, experts have found that happiness often comes down to your daily habits. Here are some simple yet effective things that you should do every day if you hope to be happier overall.

Be Grateful

So many of us spend time thinking about what we want and what we don’t have that we forget to be grateful for the things we already do have. Living in a constant state of feeling like we need more to be happy only leads to dissatisfaction. 

Take time every day to be grateful for things that are important to you. Even the simplest things in life that we take for granted are incredibly important in the big picture. Often it’s not until we lose them that we realize how incredibly important they actually were. 

Every day, take the time to write down things you’re grateful for. Whether you jot it down on your phone or keep a paper gratitude journal, get into the habit of writing down things you’re grateful for every single day and watch your happiness expand.

Get Active

Physical activity plays a critical role in our brain’s chemistry. Get physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, and you’ll release those things called endorphins that naturally boost our mood. 

Not only will your brain’s chemistry be altered for the better, but you’ll also feel more confident. When we exercise, we build muscle and become more physically fit. As such, we find ourselves more confident and proud of our physique.

Spend Time With Others

One of the leading causes of depression is loneliness. It’s important that we connect with other people every single day, even if it’s as simple as going to the store and talking to the cashier. Human interaction is a critical part of our well-being, so make sure that you engage with the world around you by fostering your relationships and nurturing your connections.  By spending time with others every day, you’ll find that you have a greater sense of belonging and overall happiness. 

The next time you’re sitting on your couch watching TV, try this— consider taking 5 minutes to call an old friend. You may just find that your entire mood is transformed with just a few minutes of chit-chat.