First off, you can’t buy love and you can’t buy health. Taking care of yourself and feeling good will make it easier to have an active social life.A happy retirement is no longer really about sitting with your feet up and watching the rest of the world whiz by. Many people now think that retirement is a time for embarking on one of life’s greatest adventures. This is the time to do what you want with the experience-laden good sense to appreciate it.Friends, family and fun are some of the bedrocks of a happy retirement.

A big net worth alone won’t likely ensure a joyous retirement. On the other hand, loneliness and boredom will increase your chances of a depressing retirement. Don’t let anyone fool you, a retirement without financial security sounds miserable.Money might not be everything, but a steady source of retirement income can go a long way to reducing retirement stress.Many people plan to dedicate time and money in retirement to giving back. That generosity doesn’t just benefit those you help, but it also can increase your own sense of well-being.

Eat more fiber. Fiber is essential for keeping your digestive system happy. However, it also may keep your cholesterol down, an important consideration the older you get. In addition, it can decrease your risk of developing certain types of illnesses, such as cancer and diabetes.

• If you’re over 50, you need 21 grams (0.74 oz) of fiber daily as a woman and 30 as a man.
• Whole grains, vegetables, and fruits are all a great source of fiber.

Downsize your living. After you retire, you may realize you don’t have enough income to meet the demands of what you want to do. If so, you might consider downsizing to a smaller house. Even if your house is already paid off, you can use the profit to invest, allowing you to have more income in your later years.

• You may also consider moving to an apartment. That way, you can invest all the profits from your house, and you have a place to live where you don’t have to provide upkeep.

Take small side jobs. Maybe you just want a little extra cash for the occasional dinner out. If that’s true, think about taking small side jobs. For instance, you could offer tutoring services to local high school students. You could also put your expertise to work by still consulting in your professional field. Another option is pet sitting or house sitting. All of these side jobs will give you the extra cash you need to help you enjoy retirement.

Take some time to travel. If you’ve always loved adventure, retirement is a great time to travel. You now have all the time you need to visit the places you always wanted to see. Plus, seeing the world will keep you engaged and interested in the world

• Unfortunately, as a retiree, money may be a problem for you. If it is, try traveling on a budget. For instance, some websites allow you to do travel exchanges; you allow someone to stay in your home for the opportunity to stay in someone else’s home in another location.
• Similarly, think about other cheaper places to stay, such as hostels and even dorm rooms. Some hostels limit their guests to young people, but others accept people of all ages and even offer semi-private rooms. Also, some universities offer dorm rooms up for people to stay in for cheaper than a hotel.
• Another option is to explore places close to home. Most people don’t take the time to see the attractions within an hour or two of their homes, so take day jaunts to nearby places.

Pick three to four hobbies. While that number seems arbitrary, it’s not. With just one or two hobbies, your schedule won’t be very busy. However, having more hobbies will create a busier schedule and make you happier overall.

• Think about what you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe learn the violin, or take a dance class. You could also learn how to play chess or take up gardening.

Keep up with old friends. Whether it’s work friends or just neighbors or church friends, make it a point to have social engagements with your friends. Try to schedule an evening or afternoon out at least once a week.

Plan for change

When your new adventure starts, plan A doesn’t always work out. And when it doesn’t, you’ll need to fall back on plan B or even C and have a good dose of resilience. In Sally’s case, two months into her retirement, her husband’s declining health forced them to alter their plans of traveling abroad. So, have some flexibility in your gameplan.

“Instead of going to Europe for a month, we plan around shorter weekends,” she says. “We did relocate so I can be around family and have some assistance with caregiving. Health issues are not necessarily the primary reason to move from plan A, but at our age, that is something that we do need to keep in the back of our minds.”

Here are some retirement tips that can help you have a really good retirement. Make this the best time of your life!

• Create the Best Retirement Plan Possible
• Make Friends with Your Future
• Think Health Not Wealth
• Trade Time for Money
• Make Exercise Fun
• Keep a Schedule and Structure
• Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality
• Avoid Depression-Spend Time With the Grandkids
• Make Sure Your Retirement Planning Includes Your Spouse and Loved Ones
• Protect Yourself From Fraud
• Be Social with People Outside Your Age Group
• Get Out and Do Something Amazing-It Is Not Too Late
• Think About the Big Picture

Retirement ought to be a happy time. You can set your own schedule, take long vacations, and start spending all the money you’ve been saving.Busy retirees tend to be happier.When you retire, you may be wondering what to do next. You want to have an enjoyable life after working all those years. The first step is making sure you are healthy enough to enjoy your free time. You’ll also need to ensure you have the funds to pay for what you want to do. Finally, you need to find activities you enjoy and people you enjoy doing them with so you have an active life.