Retirement is called the golden years for a reason.

No matter how much we love our careers, we all look forward to retirement. It’s the crowning achievement in every working person’s life. Plus, it’s a time to relax and enjoy the life we’ve built for ourselves. In the United States, the average worker retires between the ages of 63 and 65 and enjoys at least 20 years of retirement.

So how do you get the most enjoyment out of your retirement years? The key to having the best retirement possible is to have a plan.

Luckily, we’ve outlined some helpful tips and tricks below. Keep reading to find out how you can have the retirement you always dreamed of.

Put your needs and wants first.

Thanks to 40 years of self-discipline and sacrifice, you’re used to prioritizing the needs of others. You needed to support your household, children, and loved ones, so it was only natural to put others first.

But once you’ve retired, it’s time to think about what you want for a change. Are you torn between helping your child cover a downpayment on a house and a bucket list vacation?

Choose the vacation.

At least 50% of retired Americans use their own savings to help their adult children. But you worked hard for that money and it needs to last you through retirement. Think about what you want to do with your own money before deciding if you can realistically help someone else.

Build health and wellness into your daily routine.

If you want to have the best retirement possible, start eating right and exercising regularly. A healthy diet can help you feel better and improve your oral health, while exercise can boost your mood and improve your strength.

Start each day with a healthy breakfast and a brisk walk. This routine will jumpstart your metabolism and you’ll feel ready to tackle the day. Plus, this kind of structure can help replace your former work routine.

Retiring is a major life transition, so it’s common to feel stressed or even aimless at times. Mental health is a critical part of overall wellness, so if diet and exercise aren’t helping, you should reach out to a mental health professional for help.

Invest in your social life.

Retirement comes with a lot of freedom. But that freedom also means you’re losing some of your routines that put in you front of people on a regular basis. You probably had the chance to connect with your work friends each day without much effort.

Without those social connections, it’s natural to feel a little lonely. So cultivate your friendships once you retire. You can make lunch plans with a coworker, go for a walk with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or call a loved one. With a vibrant social life, you’ll feel happier and more connected to others.

And feeling connected to others has shown to increase our longevity and result in better health overall.

 Keep up with your healthcare.

One of the best retirement tips is to keep up with your healthcare. Maybe you’ve been neglecting your yearly physicals, your dental cleanings, or your eye exams. Now that you don’t have to coordinate your appointments with your days off work, it’s a great time to prioritize your wellness checks. Make sure to get yearly blood work and take care of your cancer screenings.

The more frequently you visit the doctor, the sooner you’ll be able to catch any potential problems.

Do things you’ve been putting off.

Whether it’s working on renovation projects around the house or cleaning out the garage, retirement is the perfect time to cross things off your list. It’s a great way to give yourself a sense of purpose and accomplishment that you may be lacking without work-related goals.

Try to get to those fun projects, though, sooner rather than later. Something that is more of a hobby than a project even. If you’ve always wanted to learn Italian or start a vegetable garden, try it out now. You can use retirement to do the things you’ve been putting off, whether it’s a household project or an exciting new hobby.

Try out some local activities.

You don’t have to go on a major trip right away if you don’t want to. Stay close to home and enjoy what the area has to offer.

If you call the Philadelphia area home, there’s a ton of great local activities to enjoy. You can go hiking, enjoy a park picnic, and check out a local farmer’s market, all without leaving the metro area.

Book your dream trips.

But if you have been dreaming of traveling the globe, make a plan. While you have unlimited vacation time, make sure you’re back for the important moments in the kids’ and grandkids’ lives, too. And by important, we mean graduations and weddings and christenings. Don’t feel bad for scheduling a trip that coincides with the loss of little Timmy’s first tooth. The grandkids can video chat you to stay connected.

If the trip includes something physically demanding like hiking or skydiving, work up to it, especially if you’re like most of us who spend our work days sitting at a desk. Start an exercise routine that will get you into shape for your big plans.

Spend your retirement savings (wisely).

A happy retirement needs to strike the balance between spending wisely and enjoying your money. After all, this is what you’ve been saving for all your life. And, of course, you don’t want to run out of money, either, which can cause stress and frustration.

If you’re not sure how to strike this balance, talk to a trusted financial advisor. They can help you decide how to balance your social security check with your pension, 401k, or any other savings you might have.

You deserve the best retirement possible.

After decades of hard work and sacrifice, you’ve earned the right to enjoy the best retirement ever.

While you’re having the time of your life, don’t forget to make time to visit the dentist. At Bentz Dental Implant and Prosthodontic Center, we offer everything from preventative cleanings to smile restorations.

We’ll see you soon.

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