longevity

11 Ways to Find Happiness in Retirement

~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ Leave a comment

Denise’s Viewpoint

Retirement is defined as an action or fact of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work. Or, the withdrawal of a jury from the courtroom to decide a verdict. I am not a fan of the word ‘retirement’ because both definitions sound so ending. I prefer Recreate, Reenergize or my favorite, Repurpose.

We repurpose everything to achieve something better from something that was already good and needed before. Why can’t we decide to have a new purpose? One that we recreate from our talents, career, work, hobbies and/or interests?

At Craft LifeStyle Management we work with our clients for who they are at the moment. We did not cause or create the life they had when coming under our care. Some clients have accomplished amazing things in the second chapter of their lives by finding new purpose and energy. Others have health issues and openly share they wish they’d have done more in life when they were physically able to. We also have clients who’ve chosen to rest, causing much atrophy to their minds and bodies. Sadly, they often think this time in their lives has no meaning.

The choices we make are ours. What we choose to do will determine how we live and our purpose in this stage of life. There is not a wrong or a right way. There are simply choices that belong to us.

Many think that when they retire, they are done. Thus, they withdraw. If this is what you choose, that is your choice. Maybe you don’t want to do anything more than hold down the recliner. Your health will deteriorate much sooner, but again, this is your choice.

We are at the age where many of our friends are dealing with this topic. It is invigorating to see what most of our friends are choosing in retirement. Things like joining gyms or other activities they never had time for prior to retirement.

Plan ahead for retirement. Make meaningful choices. Choices that are right for you.

Ways to Ensure Your Post-Career Years Are Filled with Purpose & Fulfillment

Find Meaningful Ways to Volunteer. Seek a cause you’re super passionate about and volunteer a couple times a month. It’s a very satisfying feeling giving back. BONUS: You may connect with a new social group-fellow volunteers.

Keep your brain working. Find something to stimulate your brain: Games on the computer, card or board games, sewing, writing, reading, photography, playing a musical instrument, trying a new recipe, learning a foreign language, etc.

Be social and reconnect with family and friends, including your spouse or partner. It may have been challenging to consistently connect when you worked full time. Heck. Live on the edge. Go out on a weeknight now and do your household shopping together mid-day, mid-week. Also, you are guaranteed an increase to your happiness by spending time playing and telling stories with your grandchildren. Take time to mend and renew valued relationships. Perhaps set up a weekly online chat with long-lost college, child or work friends. Reconnect.

Update your home. Does your house reflect the current you? If not, maybe it’s time to refresh your space with a new paint color or change up the furniture. This is a perfect time to declutter each room. This takes time but at the end you will feel proud of your updated space and more comfortable living there as it now reflects the present-day you.

Travel. Be adventurous. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Learn something new by exploring new places, even if these are in your own community and state. Set a goal. Maybe visit all major league baseball stadiums or all national parks. Create a bucket or “no regrets list” and then start crossing items off the list as you complete them.

Renew or discover hobbies & interests. Maybe there’s something from your younger years that’s been dormant. Now is the time to re-engage and see if you still enjoy this hobby. Or, find a new one. Take an online course to test it out. Dig into your family history or write your own memoire.

Get moving. Regardless of age, exercise is always a mood booster. Staying active is important for all aspects of your health: physically, mentally and socially. Set a daily step count for your walks, attend regular exercise classes, and go swimming. Just do something active daily.

Research relocation. A growing trend is relocating for retirement. Make sure you’re clear about what makes you happy and that your finances allow this. Will happiness come from a warm climate, an urban landscape or something else? Do you desire to be near family, including grandchildren? Make a careful plan to boost your retirement happiness.

Simplify and limit distractions. Reflect on what matters most. Prioritize what is really important to you and limit worry, frustration and distractions affecting your sense of peace. Focus on the present by fully engaging in and enjoying the moment.

Stay positive. By now you know problems and health challenges arise. But you also have the life experience to navigate through these with confidence and grace. Happiness comes from this seasoned experience and understanding that things are not always going to be perfect or to your liking. There’s maturity in accepting the outcome anyway.

Seek help. Retirement offers a newfound sense of freedom and flexibility but also the realization that you may not be able to do everything on your own. Asking for help may allow you to stay in your own home, keep doing activities you enjoy and connecting with others. Don’t be too proud to seek assistance.

And, if there’s anything Craft LifeStyle Management can do to ensure a smooth transition for you or your loved ones, Contact – Craft Lifestyle Management (craftlifestylemgt.com)

More Information

Fun Classes for Senior Citizens to Take | Senior Lifestyle

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute | Nebraska (unl.edu)

Entrance Passes (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Spring events & festivals | VisitNebraska.com

Events | Travel Iowa

Events | Official North Dakota Travel & Tourism Guide (ndtourism.com)

Events in South Dakota | Travel South Dakota

Calendar of Events in Kansas, Kansas Events & Things to Do in Kansas (travelks.com)

©March 2023 Craft LifeStyle Management.

All Rights Reserved.

As always, a share is appreciated.

Written for Craft LifeStyle Management by Linda Leier Thomason.

5 Ways You Can Combat Loneliness for Aging Parents

~ Linda Leier Thomason ~ Leave a comment

Stay Connected & Engaged

Isolation and loneliness are serious problems for older adults.

Sadly, 43% of people over 60 are reporting that they are suffering from loneliness. 

It may be due to

  • Loss of a spouse
  • Physical decline like decreased mobility, hearing and vision, resulting in loss of driving ability
  • Death of peers
  • Reluctance to make new friends
  • Limited social outings and interactions
  • Unfamiliarity with technology

Remaining in one’s home is often a goal but it can result in extreme social isolation. Even if caregivers stop-in to check on the aging person, life often lacks fun and excitement.

Geographically distant family members become overwhelmed with guilt and uncertainty of how to help combat the loneliness from afar.

It becomes worrisome when they hear aging relatives express enthusiasm about social connections in offshore countries and optimism about winning lotteries.

While contests and social media platforms can be fun, they can also cause multiple problems, especially if your loved one begins sending money to unscrupulous ‘connections’ from afar.

Loneliness is linked to disease and even death. Those who feel isolated and alone are sicker and often die sooner.

It’s important to build safe social networks, in person or digitally, at all ages, but especially for older adults living alone.

5 Tips

1. Stay in Touch Frequently & Regularly

Put yourself in their place. Imagine living alone and never speaking to or connecting with anyone other than a retail clerk or medical staffer.

Make it a point to call or visit regularly. Maybe you check-in with a phone call every day at a certain time or every Sunday, for instance, you meet for lunch. Your senior will look forward to each of these contacts.

Increase your contact volume and keep a regular schedule.

While you’re there in person, go through the mail.

Do you see anything that looks suspect, like phony offers of prizes from lotteries and sweepstakes or envelopes from foreign countries? If so, talk about this and remind them of the possible risks of these sorts of activities.

Remember, anytime you’re asked to send money to collect a prize, it’s not legitimate.

2. Introduce & Teach Technology

People of a certain age may not own or even use technology like those younger than them.

This doesn’t mean they don’t have the ability to learn.

Investing in a computer or tablet with a camera is a great way to help an aging relative feel connected.

Let the grandchild teach them how to use it, establishing a memorable bond.

Check out community education classes for seniors.

A whole new world can open up to an aging relative willing to learn how to use technology.

3. Attend Events Together

Few older adults want to learn a new craft or be pushed into an activity they never enjoyed or participated in while younger.

Instead, go down memory lane with them.

Ask what activities they fondly recall from day’s past. Maybe it’s the annual fall festival or the church fish fry, or even the Christmas concert at the elementary school. Whatever it is, make plans to attend together.

Be sure you get the tickets and make the travel arrangements so the event is worry-free for them.

4. Relive the Old Times

Make a date to sit with them a look through family scrapbooks, home movies and photo albums to relive memories. You may be amazed what new information you learn.

Or, pull out a favorite recipe to make together. Or find a card or board game and play it.

Let them take the lead and tell you what activity from their past brought them the greatest joy, and then do it together with patience.

Doing these beloved activities with grandchildren will only heighten the experience.

5. Community

Maybe your aging loved one was never a “joiner” but it doesn’t hurt to try and encourage them to participate in the many community events for senior citizens.

Get online and research availability and maybe even join them for an activity or two to ease the transition.

It’s proven that social interaction and activity extends one’s life span. This is a great, easy way to start them getting more social interaction.

© May 2020. Craft LifeStyle Management. All rights reserved.

Written by Linda Leier Thomason for Craft LifeStyle Management.

Denise Craft founded Craft LifeStyle Management in 1988 to ease the burden for families of the aging, veterans, and special needs adults during times of transition. She understands what’s involved in transitioning any individual from their personal home to their next home and to end of life. Her seasoned knowledge of available placement services, housing options, eligible benefits and payor sources, and community resources is endless. 

Please contact Denise Craft LifeStyle Management for all of your transitional needs.