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Many people look forward to retiring. But as your retirement age gets closer, it is common to feel a little anxious and untethered by it too. Here are some plans you can make to ensure your retirement is fun.

More than 50% of people aged 55 and over are now retired in the United States, with more people than average retiring since the Covid-19 pandemic started. A growing number of people are planning their retirement given the fact we live with an ageing population, and an increasing number of people are planning to retire earlier than they originally planned too.

Retirement is something every person looks forward to throughout their working life. The idea of working hard in order to enjoy retirement later on brings comfort and a sense of wonder about the next chapter in life. But when the reality of retirement gets a bit closer, many people start to feel like they’re not ready for it to happen. The feeling of getting older, not having a routine anymore and worries about filling the days are all very present in future retirees’ minds. While it’s totally normal to have mixed feelings about retirement, it’s important to try to embrace the next steps in your life.

To help make retirement as good as it can possibly be for you, here are some things you can plan for when you retire.

Try Something New

Most people have something they wished they had always done, but never got around to when they were busy with working and raising a family. It’s never too late to try most things, and this is an important mantra to have when you begin your retirement. Prove it to yourself by trying something you’ve never done before. Take a dance class, book a lesson to fly a plane, or drive to a city you’ve never been to before and explore. You might love or hate the experience you choose, but it will help to make you more of a ‘yes’ person when it comes to trying other new things after you retire.

Surround Yourself With Likeminded People

When you retire, you might not keep the same schedule and friendship groups as previously, depending on how your life is already set up. Embrace the opportunity for a little change in your retirement and find some new friends who are at the same stage of life as you. An over 55 community is one great option, as you know that other people will be of a similar age, and you can fall into new circles that way. Over 55 community building is currently a strong area of the homebuilding world, with a lot of care and effort put into creating communities ideal for retirees. Even if you don’t move into a retirement community straight away, you can still seek out likeminded people through hobbies.

Travel

You may have travelled a lot during your younger years. Or you might never have been that interested in visiting foreign places. For both types of people, travel is a great idea when you have retired. Getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing a new culture, climate and way of life for a little while can be reinvigorating and inspiring. If you are well-travelled, go back to a place you used to love, or find somewhere you have never been before. Either option will bring an exciting new experience. If you haven’t travelled much, just go for it! Talk to a travel agency to help find a trip that would suit you, or book something that is partly organized, such as a cruise or coach trip. You’ll awaken the senses and feel ready to take on the next steps of your life by the end of the trip.

Learn A New Skill

It’s really important to keep the mind active when you retire, and learning a new skill can help you to do this as well as focus on something different. Learning a musical instrument or a different language are both good options for this. And don’t worry, the latest research shows that age doesn’t make a difference to your ability to be able to learn something new!

Bring Back Some Nostalgia

Just because you have reached a new phase of your life doesn’t mean you should forget all the fun you had in your younger years. Instead, relive some of the good old times by planning to do something nostalgic. Seeing a band you used to follow back in the day is one great option. There are plenty of classic old bands doing tours these days; but even if you can only find a tribute band, you will still enjoy a blast from the past. Other nostalgic things to do could be to visit the neighborhood where you grew up, or the store where you had your first job. And find somewhere nearby to raise a glass to the good times still to come!