| RETIREMENT TIP OF THE MONTH |
FOUR SECRET INGREDIENTS
TO A GREAT RETIREMENT
If you study retirees who seem to be happy and genuinely enjoying
their retirement, you will notice four elements in their lives which
together make their retirement lifestyle work for them. Essentially,
they have a Balanced Lifestyle.
A Balanced Lifestyle is a cluster of activities that satisfy four basic
elements: the mind, the body, the soul, and the human need for
social interaction with the world around them.
(1) There must be activities in your lifestyle that challenge you
intellectually. It may be general problem-solving, fixing electrical
or mechanical things, researching and writing a book, playing
bridge, designing a website, learning vacations, workshops, or
being part of a book discussion group. Something that keeps your
mind active and alert and growing.
(2) There must be physical activities in your lifestyle that keep you
fit. These might include going to the gym three times a week,
swimming classes, T'ai Chi, dancing classes, yoga, nature walks, or
bicycling. The activities, hopefully are enjoyable, frequent, and
active enough to prevent you from turning into a hippopotamus.
(3) There must be one or more activities in your life that nourish
your soul. Something that gives you great joy to do. For some, it
may be gardening, traveling, oil painting, entertaining, playing a
musical instrument, or helping others. It differs for each person.
But it is that special hobby that gives you inner joy, pride, or a
feeling of accomplishment.
(4) There must be people in your life who care about you and like
sharing your hobbies, vacations and activities. Friends affirm our
existence. They praise our accomplishments, listen to our troubles,
and lend a helping hand when necessary. Talk to people. Join two
or three hobby groups. Have people over for a chat, or a card party,
or a supper club. Those people, in turn, will generate more
activities for you to be involved in.
If you succeed in getting all four elements into your new retirement
lifestyle, happiness and joy will soon follow.
For a printable check list of theses items click here
Copyright @ Rob Kelley 2004
TO A GREAT RETIREMENT
If you study retirees who seem to be happy and genuinely enjoying
their retirement, you will notice four elements in their lives which
together make their retirement lifestyle work for them. Essentially,
they have a Balanced Lifestyle.
A Balanced Lifestyle is a cluster of activities that satisfy four basic
elements: the mind, the body, the soul, and the human need for
social interaction with the world around them.
(1) There must be activities in your lifestyle that challenge you
intellectually. It may be general problem-solving, fixing electrical
or mechanical things, researching and writing a book, playing
bridge, designing a website, learning vacations, workshops, or
being part of a book discussion group. Something that keeps your
mind active and alert and growing.
(2) There must be physical activities in your lifestyle that keep you
fit. These might include going to the gym three times a week,
swimming classes, T'ai Chi, dancing classes, yoga, nature walks, or
bicycling. The activities, hopefully are enjoyable, frequent, and
active enough to prevent you from turning into a hippopotamus.
(3) There must be one or more activities in your life that nourish
your soul. Something that gives you great joy to do. For some, it
may be gardening, traveling, oil painting, entertaining, playing a
musical instrument, or helping others. It differs for each person.
But it is that special hobby that gives you inner joy, pride, or a
feeling of accomplishment.
(4) There must be people in your life who care about you and like
sharing your hobbies, vacations and activities. Friends affirm our
existence. They praise our accomplishments, listen to our troubles,
and lend a helping hand when necessary. Talk to people. Join two
or three hobby groups. Have people over for a chat, or a card party,
or a supper club. Those people, in turn, will generate more
activities for you to be involved in.
If you succeed in getting all four elements into your new retirement
lifestyle, happiness and joy will soon follow.
For a printable check list of theses items click here
Copyright @ Rob Kelley 2004