Your Guide to Staying Active, Social, and Engaged in Retirement

Retirement goes well beyond financial planning. Staying mentally, physically, and socially active is a pivotal aspect of retirement.

For many, your place of work quickly becomes your main source of socialization. When you retire, we lose this outlet and routine. Many may feel lonely, lost and begin to lose that social connection and routine they had in their life for so many years. Luckily, you have access to a plethora of resources that can provide social connections. Throughout this blog, we will discuss the importance of being active and socially engaged along with a variety of outlets that are available to retirees.  If you are interested in learning more about identity shifts in retirement, please see Your Retirement Planning Simplified Episode 146: “What’s Next? How to Create Meaning and Momentum with Retirement Coach Nancy Collamer”.

Why Staying Active Matters

Staying active is a pivotal part of having a long and happy retirement. Regular exercise provides a wide range of benefits. Some of these benefits include:

·         Improved sleep

·         Increased physical well-being including balance, and reduced injuries

·         Disease prevention

·         Improved mental health

·         Lower levels of stress

Activities Promoting Strong Physical and Mental Health

Per the Government of Canada Health Department, it is recommended that seniors participate in 2.5 hours a week of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity. This can be walking, working out, swimming, riding a bike or any activity that requires a physical component. Simple tasks such as mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, or sweeping all contribute toward your physical well being.

Keeping our mental acuity is a critical aspect of a healthy retirement. When you retire, you may find yourself not having to use your critical thinking skills as often. To combat this, engaging in brain-teasing activities can be an excellent way to keep our brain active. Some activities include puzzles, reading, and continuous learning.

Staying socially active is as important as being physically and mentally active. Being socially active provides benefits such as:

·         Improved emotional wellness

·         Greater cognitive and mental health

·         Prevention of certain health problems such as dementia

·         Increased happiness and sense of belonging

·         Lower levels of stress

Staying socially active when you retire can be a challenge as you have less exposure to others due to being out of the work force and suddenly having a much greater amount of time on your hands. Luckily, there are many ways to stay socially active throughout retirement. Some ways to stay socially active include:

·         Starting/ increasing engagement in a hobby

·         Joining a community group or club that algins with your interests or hobbies

·         Volunteering

·         Taking classes/continued education

·         Engage in a team sport or activity

·         Leverage technology to stay connected

·         Reconnect with old friends

Community Centres and Programs

Reconnecting with old friends and finding new friends can be challenging as you age, especially when we spend more time at home. There are a variety of community centres and programs available across the province for retirees to participate in. Some examples include:

·         Recreation Centres

·         Public Libraries

·         Activity Havens

·         Acting, reading, or sport clubs

·         Signing up for recreational sports leagues

·         Volunteering opportunities

Local options for those in the Peterborough area:

·         Activity Haven

·         Mapleridge Recreation Centre

·         Peterborough Lions Community Centre

·         Lift Lock Golf Club Men’s/Women’s League

·         McDonnel Street Community Centre

·         Drop-in Programs- Bowling, Shuffleboard, Tabletop Games, Darts, & Group Fitness

To learn more about opportunities in the Peterborough area, please visit the Peterborough Website as they have a list of activities available to those who live in the community.

Volunteering

For some, the opportunity to give back to your community is a chance to stay connected to the community while providing a positive impact to your community. Some volunteer opportunities to keep in mind include:

·         Elections Canada- Poll Workers

·         Your local food bank

·         Charities such as the United Way

·         Festivals

For those living in the Peterborough area interested in volunteer opportunities, Volunteer Peterborough posts many intriguing opportunities. Some of these opportunities include volunteering for events, festivals, being a board of director member for a shelter, taking care of animals, and my personal favourite, volunteer with your dog to help those struggling with loneliness and mental illness with Sunshine Therapy Dogs! Yes, you can spend time with your pet while helping others in need. For those looking for more insight on Volunteer Peterborough, please see our podcast, Your Retirement Planning Simplified, where we sit down with Lois Tuffin from Volunteer Peterborough to explore the transformative benefits of volunteering for retirees.

For those living elsewhere, it is likely that your local city or township website will have a section highlighting all the volunteer opportunities available in your area.

Continued Education

You may believe that once we reach a certain point in our life, there is nothing new or anything worth learning. This is untrue, education lasts a lifetime and can be a fulfilling activity along with a great way to meet people with similar interests. Many colleges and universities offer continuing education programs and public lectures that span across a wide range of disciplines. Public libraries offer plenty of resources for those who enjoy continuous learning and reading.  Many communities offer art & music classes for adults. Some simpler options include educational topics on YouTube, government or .org websites. If you have a passion you would like to improve upon or learn more about, start with that and see where this takes you.

There are many options for lifelong learning in the Peterborough area. Trent University and Fleming College offer classes for continuing education for adults. The Art School of Peterborough offers adult art classes in areas such as drawing, glass art, painting, pottery, photography, and many more areas. If you have an interest in art, please see our podcast episode hosted by Joseph Curry, “Episode 152: Retire with Purpose: The Power of Art, Identity & Joy After 60 with Danny Gregory”. Danny discuses how creativity can bring you purpose and joy in retirement. 

Additionally, the Community Training and Development Centre offers a wide range of interactive courses that are available entirely online.

Online Resources

In the era of technology, being able to connect with others can be done without leaving the comfort of your home. Some of the applications you already have can be some of the best ways to socialize and meet people within your community. Facebook is a great place to connect with those in your community or that have similar interests. Explore the Facebook Groups section to see if there is a group that may be a good fit for you. Utilizing Facetime/video calls allows you to reconnect with friends in a face-to-face interaction that may live far away.

The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) is an organization that advocates for financial security and better access to healthcare for older adults. They are a non-profit organization that has hundreds of thousands of members. They have local chapters across the entire country. Being a member of CARP gives you access to educational webinars, the opportunity to volunteer with a local chapter, and to participate in social events. You will also receive discounts to 100+ everyday products including CAA, Rogers, and Vogue Optical.

Conclusion

Retirement is the beginning of a new chapter. It is full of new opportunities to create new connections, find or rediscover passions, and invest in your mental and physical well-being. While retirement comes with changes to your lifestyle, staying active and socially engaged can make these years some of the most fulfilling. This could be joining a club, volunteering in your community, exploring continuing education, or even reconnecting with old friends, the options are plentiful. By taking small and intentional steps toward being active and connected in life, you can foster a satisfying retirement that contributes to your happiness, health, and sense of purpose.