What’s the most important indicator of a long and healthy life?
You may think it’s blood pressure or heart health. Maybe it’s genetic components or physical activity levels.
Here’s the thing: It’s none of those.
The most important indicator of a long and healthy life is social connection.
Researchers, including the well-known Harvard Study of Adult Development, have found that strong social connections are one of the most important predictors of long-term health and well-being. Loneliness and social isolation can lead to health issues, including heart disease and dementia.
Social connection is that important, especially in retirement, when the structure of your life changes significantly. When we talk to retirees in our office at Flynn Wealth Partners, many don’t know where to start. In this blog, we’ve outlined a few simple ways to stay socially connected in retirement.
When Work is Done: Finding New Purpose in Your Life
For most Americans, one-third of our lives is spent working. Work gives our days structure, relationships with coworkers, and often a sense of purpose.
When retirement arrives, that structure changes. The calendar opens up, the daily interactions with coworkers fade, and many people find themselves asking a new question: Where will purpose and connection come from next?
So where do purpose and meaning come from once your working years are done? That’s a question many retirees wrestle with.
In the video above, Nathanael talks about how social connection often becomes one of the most important ingredients for a healthy and fulfilling retirement.
Purpose for your life in retirement can come from a number of different areas, including:
- Volunteering for an organization you care about.
- Becoming more active in your religious community, if you’re part of one.
- Spending more time with family and friends.
- Taking a part-time job.
- Starting a new hobby, or picking an old one back up.
What’s most important about finding new purpose and meaning in your life in retirement is being intentional about how you plan to spend your time.
What Not To Do When Planning for Social Connection in Retirement
Before we cover more about what to do when preparing for more social connection in retirement, let’s first talk about where a bad starting point would be:
- Thinking more about what you’re retiring from than what you’re retiring to. This is foundational in planning how to spend your days in retirement. Many retirees focus on what they’re leaving behind—a long commute, 40+ hours of work, or a short lunch break. But you have potentially decades of time ahead of you, so what will those days look like when work is done?
- Endless scrolling. More free time can easily turn into more time scrolling on your phone. We’ve all seen the stereotype of retirees camped out in front of their TV all day. Our screens have just gotten smaller and easier to use! Consider setting screen time limits before you start making social plans.
- Hold off on planning. You’ve probably worked hard on the financial side of retiring without considering the social side. No matter where you’re at—whether you’re five months or five years away from retirement—there is time to get even a rough plan in place.
- Think you’ll “figure it out” as you go. If you don’t prioritize your time, someone or something will prioritize it for you. Many retirees have the mindset of, “Once I retire, I’ll figure out how to use my time.” Not having a plan is not a good plan!
So let’s dive into the options you have for staying involved and tips for staying socially connected in retirement.
| Moving in Retirement? As your family has grown up, some of your children and grandchildren may have moved to different parts of the country. Many couples see retirement as an opportunity to move closer to their children and grandchildren, and family is what will occupy their time. There is nothing wrong with moving to be closer to family, but consider a few things: – Eventually, your younger grandchildren will be in school for most of the day. How will you fill your time when they do? – Your adult children have probably developed social circles in their new city. How will you spend your time when they are not available? – If you move a significant distance, you’ll be moving away from your existing social structures, like friend groups, churches, and volunteer opportunities. What is your plan to develop new social connections in a new city? |
Simple Ways to Stay Socially Connected in Retirement
- Stay Physically Active
The National Institutes of Health recommend older adults get at least 120 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week—about the pace of a brisk walk. That means your options are endless for physical activity, and there are plenty of ways to make it social, like:
- Join an exercise group. Your neighborhood or retirement community might have a running, walking, or cycling club.
- Join a gym or fitness center. Joining a gym or fitness center can help you get out of the house, especially if you live in a cold climate. If you are on Medicare or Medicaid, some fitness centers offer a discount on memberships.
- Plan time for physical activity every day. Even if it’s just a walk around the neighborhood with a friend, spouse, or pet, your social life will benefit from a little bit of movement every day.
| What if I have physical limitations? If you have physical limitations like limited mobility, plan your activity around what you can do. Short walks, gentle mobility exercises at the gym, or even joining a pool fitness group can help you stay active physically and socially, even with limitations. |
- Start or Continue a Hobby
During our working years, there’s not always time for the hobbies we used to enjoy. Retirement is a great time to try again! Starting or continuing a hobby is great for both your social life and your mental health. Research has found that mentally stimulating hobbies increase cognition and executive function.
New, mentally stimulating hobbies don’t have to be anything extravagant or expensive. Retirement can also be a great time to return to things you once enjoyed but didn’t always have time for — reading, music, woodworking, photography, gardening, or learning something completely new. But new hobbies can be enjoyed socially, too!
- Look for local classes and events. Community centers might offer classes for hobbies like cooking, painting, music, or crafting.
- Join a club of others who share your hobbies. Your local library might have a book club, or a local community center might have club options.
- Ask your friends! If your friends share hobbies, consider meeting with them to enjoy it together, whether that’s solving puzzles, visiting museums, or making a meal.
| There’s always time to start something new! If there’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, retirement is a great time to start. The beauty of hobbies is, if one doesn’t work for you, there’s always another one to try! |
- Invest in Causes You Care About
Only about 26% of retirees volunteer in the United States—but there are so many opportunities to do so in your own community. Pick any area of your life you’re passionate about, and there is probably an opportunity to serve somewhere, such as:
- Your local library (shelving or administrative work, helping with community events)
- Food banks (stocking shelves, helping with food drives)
- Animal shelters (socializing with animals, helping with back office work)
- Your church (hosting a Bible study, serving coffee on Sunday mornings)
- Arts organizations (ushering at a community play, greeting guests at a museum)
At Flynn Wealth Partners, we encourage our retiree clients to serve where they can, how they can. We’ve had clients who spent several years in retirement traveling to areas impacted by hurricanes and tornadoes to help with disaster relief and rebuilding efforts. Retirement can create space to serve others in ways that simply weren’t possible during your working years.
- Reach Out!
One thing we tell our clients at Flynn Wealth Partners is, don’t wait around for a friend or family member to reach out to you. Take initiative with your time and availability! Maybe there’s an old friend you haven’t caught up with in a while, or a coworker you’d like to stay in touch with. It could be as simple as offering to pick up the grandkids from school a few days a week. Whatever it is, reach out first.
- If You’re Concerned About Staying Socially Connected
It’s not easy for everyone to stay socially connected. You may be unable to drive or face physical limitations. You might live far from family or in a remote area. You may even find yourself caring for a loved one or facing a significant life event, like the death of a parent or a spouse.
If this is your situation, there’s additional help available for you, too. Consider talking with your doctor or a trusted friend about what you can do, and make a plan for it, such as:
- Arranging transportation a few times a week to go to a fitness center or volunteer
- Invite a friend or family member to your home a few times a month
- Reach out to a counselor or therapist to help you through difficult transitions or life situations
Have More Questions About Retirement? Talk with Us.
You’ve worked hard to prepare financially for retirement. Now it’s time to think about how you’ll spend your money and your time.
At Flynn Wealth Partners, we take a holistic approach to financial planning. When you meet with us, we want to understand your goals for retirement, including how you’ll stay socially connected. We can help you set those goals, too!
If you’re thinking about retirement and wondering what this next chapter might look like, we’d be glad to talk it through with you. You can schedule a complimentary consultation with our team to start the conversation.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult the appropriate qualified professional prior to making a decision.
Investing includes risks, including fluctuating prices and loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.
Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss.