Guest Post by Stewart Scothorn

Alright, retirement has started!

Everything that needs to be done is finally done. You’ve found the ideal place to retire and you’re all moved in… It’s time to relax, take a deep breath, and think about the things you really should make time for now that you’re retired.

We know you’ve got most things planned out by now but here are seven ideas that we feel could help us all to have a more full and prosperous retirement.

Treasure Family Time

Your adult kids might be even busier than you were, but retirement is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your grandchildren. Babysitting or just hanging out with your grandkids if they’re local can boost mental health for both of you.

A Boston College study of 376 grandparents and 340 children showed that the closer the relationship the two experienced, the less likely either the grandparent or the child was to develop depression.

Love the Library

If you”re a geezer that loves books but spent a huge chunk of each week commuting to work or rearing a family, you probably didn’t have nearly enough time to read.

Retirees 65 to 74 read for 45 minutes every day. Those at least 75 devote an hour a day. Check out the local library and keep taking home irresistible titles.

Find That Special Hobby

It might finally be time to learn sailing, become the neighborhood table tennis champ, or master couponing. Exercise those pipes by joining a chorus or consider taking up line dancing.

If you’ve only been talking about tracing your family tree for 15 years, now’s the time to try genealogy. According to USA Today, it’s the second most popular American hobby, behind gardening.

Volunteer

Now’s the time to check out local volunteering opportunities. One great place to start is a nearby school, animal rescue, or hospital. You could also give rides to medical appointments to those who don’t drive, work at elections, or mentor a teenager.

A study of more than 4,500 retired volunteers revealed that 86 percent of those at least 65 felt younger than their actual age.

Recycle a Vacation

Many retirees look forward to traveling but find it more expensive than they envisioned. Instead, think about that one wonderful vacation that stands out from all the rest and plan to re-visit the destination.

Driving an RV less than 250 miles can save as much as $75 a day compared to paying for meals out and renting a typical hotel room.

Fine Tune the Budget

While picking your retirement home, you undoubtedly nailed the dollar amount of your basic living expenses. Now it’s time to get real about paying for extras like that sailboat or line dancing outfits.

The average retiree spends around $3,600 a month, or nearly $44,000 a year. Be sure to take the time to figure in so-called non-essentials like charitable contributions, travel, and the cost of a hobby.

Take Care of Yourself

We feel like this one could be the most overlooked on our list and more often times than not, the most important one. Retirement is the time to reconsider health insurance needs. Of course it all starts with a good routine of healthy eating and excursive.

To make time for everything on your list, you’ll want to stay as healthy as possible. Medicare alone can’t meet all of them. Be sure to review Medicare supplemental health insurance in light of your medical needs. This could help out tremendously with your budget as well.

Conclusion – It’s Your Turn

Retirement is when you stop living at work and start working at living!

Let us know in the comments below what things YOU are planning to make time for after retirement.