Finding fulfillment in retirement: 5 ways to fill your days with purpose

Retirement is the exciting chapter in life when you can enjoy the fruits of your labour and dedicate more time to embracing new hobbies, adventures, and experiences. 

While relaxing and unwinding is an important and enjoyable part of your retirement lifestyle, there are many studies that suggest the key to staying happy and healthy in retirement involves keeping active and having a renewed sense of purpose.

At Applewood, we’re passionate about presenting our residents with opportunities to spend this chapter as they please – so they can find the perfect balance of invigoration and relaxation.

Applewood resident Bob, says that moving to our village created more opportunities to live a full life outside of work. “We were still working when we came here; but very quickly we thought, ‘there's too much else to do’, and so we retired about two months after we came here.”

With that in mind, let’s explore some of the ways you can stay busy (but not too busy) in retirement.

1. Move your body, your favourite way

Keeping your body active benefits so many aspects of your overall health – physical, mental, social, and emotional. One of the big benefits of living in a well-appointment retirement village like Applewood is having fitness facilities and classes at your fingertips.

Whether you prefer to swim laps in the indoor pool, work up a sweat at the fully-equipped gym, participate in a group fitness class like tai chi or yoga, or get your step count up by walking around the expansive community gardens, Applewood presents so many opportunities to effortlessly enrich your life – and your health – with physical activity.

2. Join a group or club

There are a range of social and sporting groups both within our village and within the wider community that you may like to join. From lawn bowls to walking groups, snooker teams and even a wine club, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with groups of people that share your passions and interests.

3. Discover a new hobby (or rekindle an old one)

Retirement is the perfect time to find renewed passion for an old hobby, or try your hand at something different. Rekindling your enthusiasm for an activity you once enjoyed can spark a sense of joy or freedom you forgot existed, while also unearthing fond and happy memories. Taking up a new hobby you’ve never tried before can help to challenge your mind and body, while doing something enjoyable and fun. It can also be an opportunity to meet new people and make friends.

The opportunities for engaging in a hobby are truly endless – cooking, painting, crafting, knitting, pottery, gardening, singing. The list goes on!

4. Pencil in community events and activities

Our village hosts regular social events and activities that are tailored to the interests of our residents. These include group outings, themed dinners, community BBQs, trivia nights, happy hour and so much more. By participating in these activities, you’ll have the chance to meet and interact with neighbours who share similar hobbies or passions. Most importantly, these activities and events are completely optional, and there’s never any pressure to join in.

5. Make time for self-care

Nourishing your mental and emotional wellbeing is just as important as keeping physically active. Retirement presents the opportunity to focus on your personal wellbeing, ensuring you are doing the things that make you feel relaxed, enriched, and happy. Whether it’s reading a good book, spending time with family or something else, remember to pencil in some ‘me’ time.

To explore the wide range of facilities and activities you can fill your time with when you call Applewood home, click here.