Making Your Later Years Truly Enjoyable

Your later years are so full of potential, and it’s so important you see them this way! Retiring from work means you have loads more time on your hands to do fun activities, from fitness to travel. And being classed as a concession means discounts galore!

With this in mind, read on for eight ways that you can make your later years the most enjoyable ones you could ever imagine!

Develop A Routine

It is so important to have a routine, no matter what age we are. Routines give our day structure and help us find a purpose in every day. Develop your own routine. If you’re retired, you’ve got ultimate flexibility, so can do whatever you like. The basics are to try your best to wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day. This gives you strong parameters for your day and helps keep your body clock in tune. Eat meals at the same time each day for the same reason. Also, don’t just think about your daily routine, but your weekly routine also.

Get A Pet

The company of your very own pet could be just the ticket! A cat is ideal if you spend a lot of time in the house and want somebody to watch TV with. Or, getting a dog will give you great motivation to get out the house every day to take them for a walk. Don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your home or garden before bringing them home.

Find A New Hobby

Later life often means you have far more free time on your hands than usual. This is great news as it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Have you always wanted to learn a specific musical instrument? You now have the free time. Would you like to buy a villa in Spain next year? Hire a private tutor to come to your house once a week and give you Spanish lessons. On the topic of learning new skills, what can you do with this time to find a new way to keep fit? Consider joining a cycling or hiking club. Or join your local fitness centre. You might be able to get cheaper rates, or get an off-peak membership as you can go during the daytimes. Here you’ll find lots of classes. Yoga and Pilates are especially good for keeping you nimble, supple and bendy!

Get Home Care

Home Care is available for those that need full support right through to those who just need a little help around the home. Whichever category you fall into, or any in between, there will be a solution for you.
Amana Living is one such organisation who provide both. Getting help, whether it be a little or a lot, has multiple benefits. It takes some of the pressure off you and frees up more of your own time. It may also work to put the minds of other family members at rest, and take some of the responsibility from their shoulders. You could just have someone come in once a week to help you in the garden, or to change your bedding. Or, have a daily visit to make each day easier.

Make Your Home More Accessible

If your mobility has started to decline, or you predict that it might do in the near future, make your home more accessible. You might want to consider installing a stair lift, or an elevator, so you no longer need to use your stairs. Or, move your bedroom downstairs.

Enjoy Group Travel

There are some tremendous group travel packages out there for older people. Here you will find a comprehensive list of travel websites that provide holidays suitable for you. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable using the internet, visit a travel agents in person. Sit down with a friendly advisor and explain what you are looking for. They can then talk you through the options face-to-face. Be sure to discuss your preferred method of travel. Are you happy on a coach or would you prefer to take flights? Or how about a cruise? Cruises are a perfect option because you’ve got all your amenities in one place. Plus, you can decide from day to day whether to relax onboard or go exploring! Don’t worry if you want to travel but are single or alone. There are dozens of options just for people like you. These are geared around helping you meet new, like-minded friends. You’ll be able to enjoy an incredible experience together as a group.

Get An Allotment

Always wanted to try your hand at gardening but don’t have a garden of your own? Hire an allotment space. This is then yours to do whatever you wish with! You can grow your favourite flowers, or even make a herb or vegetable patch. You’ll meet like-minded people in the adjacent allotments, and it will be great motivation to get out of the house and keep it maintained. The RHS has some handy advice.

Make The Most Of Discounts

There are dozens of discounts out there for older people; you just have to know where to find them. First up, travel. Most train, bus and coach companies will do travelcards for older citizens. You usually pay a small fee for one, and then you can use this to get a set discount on each journey you take. Next, entertainment. In your later years, you most likely count as a ‘concession’. This can mean money off things like cinema and theatre tickets. Wherever you go, ask if they do discounts for your age group. Chances are they’ll say yes!

Volunteer

Free time also means time to give back to the community you’ve spent your most recent years in. Volunteering is an ideal way to do this. You could help out in a local charity shop. Or, if there is a particular charitable organisation that has helped you or your loved ones in the past, get in touch. They will probably be so grateful for your kind offer. You could also set up a group where you teach people a skill free or charge. Maybe you know about writing poetry, and want to show others how to knit.