How to create a balanced retirement lifestyle

Let’s take a look at how you can build a balanced retirement lifestyle. One that will keep you involved and stimulated, staving off boredom and depression.

1. Entertainment

Entertainment stimulates your mind and provides healthy diversions and amusement; laughter is good for the soul. There are many activities that fall into the entertainment category. The activity should be something meaningful, but this doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. Suitable entertainment includes:

• Attending concerts, films, plays, and sporting events

• Watching your favourite films and TV shows at home

• Attending fairs, festivals, or other special events

• Going on a regular date night (or day)

We’re very lucky to live in an area with lots of entertainment, including plenty of low-cost or free entertainment. We go to street fairs, see community theatre, attend “afternoons at the opera.” Turns out we quite like opera!

—Susan M., former accountant

2. Education

You need to continue to give yourself opportunities to learn. This not only gives your brain stimulation; it also energizes your sense of adventure and discovery. Common educational activities include:

• Learn a new language

• Learn a new craft

• Research your genealogy

Most communities in North America offer many resources for educational activities. These opportunities become even more diverse when you include online options.

My family emigrated from Ecuador to Canada when I was just a baby. My parents were fluent in both Spanish and English but purposely used English to help my siblings and me assimilate quickly. Your comments about education have reawakened an interest in improving my Spanish.

—Arturo W., architect

3. Travel

Most successful retirees I’ve interviewed mention the importance of including travel as part of a balanced leisure lifestyle. Learning more about our world, and its people and events, enriches our lives. Travelling also helps us develop mental and emotional flexibility because we usually encounter the unexpected along the way.

Travel opportunities are numerous. Although some people love to take a cruise a couple of times a year, or participate in group tours to exotic destinations, there are many inexpensive ways to travel, including:

• Participating in bus tours of nearby places

• Driving a few miles to stay with old friends

• Taking an annual camping trip

My wife and I decided to act as if we were tourists in our own city. We made a list of all the places we’d take guests but didn’t necessarily go to on our own. It’s been great fun to see the sights again and rediscover the entire region. We also take day and overnight trips to new places described in a “tourists” guide.

—Wilson G., former machinist

4. Exercise

Every retiree needs regular exercise. You should include at least one exercise component in your leisure plan. Whether you choose to hike, bike, golf, swim, fish, play tennis, do yoga, or power walk, you will benefit from some activity that helps you stay physically fit.

Don’t let physical or financial limitations hold you back. There are many options for inexpensive exercise you can do at home, including types for people with limited mobility. Tai chi, yoga, and chair- and water-based exercise are just a few.

Though I was fairly fit until my late forties, I developed asthma and lost the desire to push myself. Once the newness of retirement had eased, I forced myself to take regular slow walks around the local park. I made friends with others doing the same, which helped me follow through and develop a good habit. The walking also had a surprising effect in that my asthma became less of a problem than it had been in years!

—Bo W., former restaurant owner

Be sure to consult with your doctor before beginning any new exercise. You might also want to ask for activity suggestions. Many health centres offer exercise classes, light equipment (e.g., resistance bands), and discounts for gyms. When choosing your exercise, consider choosing one for the warmer months and another one for the colder months. That way, inclement weather will not become an excuse to stop.

5. Social Activities

Interacting with others is important at all stages of life. When we retire, we leave many associations behind, and we also lose convenient places to build friendships, share common interests, and enjoy the company of others.

It’s important to replace, as best as possible, the shared time you had through work with other social activities that provide fellowship. Joining a service or social club can be a great way to

fill this need. Consider groups such as Lions Clubs International, Optimist International, or Rotary International. You might want to consider Probus Clubs, an offshoot of Rotary intended for retired and semiretired people.

There are plenty of non-business social groups too, including book clubs, ham radio clubs, knitting circles, hiking clubs, motorcycle clubs, etc. Last but certainly not least, regular attendance in an exercise class means socializing with others who do the same.

Our church has an unusual Bible study group. Since we read and discuss books on many religions, it’s closer to a comparative religion course with a good deal of political discussion thrown in. The group is open to anyone over the age of eighteen, which makes for an interesting mix in the discussion.

—Mitchell O., former carpenter

6. Hobbies

Successful retirees emphasize the importance of having at least one hobby. One of the greatest benefits is the pleasure of working at something without having any obligation to do so.

As with choosing an exercise activity, be sure to make the effort to see if you do indeed enjoy a particular hobby before making any expensive purchases. In addition, don’t expect a hobby to interest you forever. If your interest wanes, try to find a new hobby.

My husband used to tease me about the amount of fabric in our spare room—my sewing room. I convinced him to apply his new hobby of woodworking to make some quilt hangers and stands. They are beautiful! We’ve been selling my quilts and his stands at local flea markets, farmers’ markets, and craft fairs. Doesn’t make us a mint, of course, but it’s enough to feed our hobbies and keep him quiet.

—Marsha Z. fabric designer

Finding the right combination of entertainment, education, travel, exercise, social activities, and hobbies to match your lifestyle and personality takes time and effort. It might take some practice to develop the inward discipline to get yourself up early to join the local mall walkers. You might find that at first it takes extra effort to turn off the TV and go to the lunch meeting of a local volunteer group. Regardless, if you make the effort, you’ll be glad you did.