ItRetirement can seem like a daunting experience as your start to approach it and we find many people who initially express excitement as they head towards their retirement age, soon become overhwhelmed and daunted by the prospect of potentially less income and much more free time. Here are our top tips for preparing and enjoying retirement in 2023.
Get your finances in order
Speak to a professional who specialises in retirement finances. This can greatly reduce stress and worry and helps you head into retirement feeling informed and in control. The Citizens Advice Bureau have some excellent resources available and they can be found here.
Wind Down Gently
Don’t do too much too soon. Speak to your employer about whether you can begin to drop your hours to a day or two less per week, slowly spend more time at home and look for clubs to join in your free time. Sometimes people find ending work quickly can affect their mental health and confidence and they become bored quite quickly. Preparing for the free time ahead is a great way to prevent this.
Keep Physically Active
Look for specialist classes at your local gym or community centre which cater to those in retirement. While many won’t be running marathons, any movement provides a huge benefit for the quality of life of those in retirement. Silver sneakers, water aerobics and pickleball are all some amazing trends which those in retirement are enjoying in 2022 and 2023.
Keep Socially Connected
For those who were working, or those who are losing mobility, heading to retirement can feel daunting due to the possibility of a lack of contact with people on a regular basis. However, there are plenty of community movements which priorities the mental and social health of those in retirement and later life. Barclays offer internet classes, and you will likely find your local town council and Citizens Advice Bureau have fantastic resources for you to find groups, coffee mornings and classes to help you stay socially connected and mentally stimulated.
Eat Well
While it may sound like a broken record, eating well is vital for later life health. From brain health to joint health, what you eat can really affect your overall health. While you don’t need to have salad for every meal, making healthy choices a priority for your diet will drastically alter your later life health. Read our blog on the best foods to make you feel good here.
The Stratton Court Village way
The team at Stratton Court Village are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anytime you need them. We offer social groups, access to our gym, and restaurant meals as well as support to help you live an active and stimulating life in retirement. Our friendly team are happy to show you the village as well as recommend resources for those in the area who want to prepare for retirement.
