There are plenty of activities that you can do every day to improve your mental wellbeing in retirement. Everyone’s unique so it’s important to choose activities you enjoy. We’ve put together some of our favourite types of activities that can help your mental health. 

Get creative 

Getting creative is a great way to help you relax and calm your mind, in today’s world things can very go, go, go so dedicating some time out of your day to just enjoy something creative can be a great way to boost your mood and release some happy hormones. Being creative doesn’t just have to be painting or art-related, it could be building something, playing an instrument, gardening or even cooking. Creating something can be really empowering and give a real sense of achievement and can boost your self-esteem.  

Exercise 

We all know the importance of exercise and many of us understand the benefits of improving your wellbeing. Often when we start exercising, we go all in, but it is important to remember that you don’t have to be exercising for hours to reap the benefits. A simple walk in the countryside or even a quick 20-minute at-home Tai Chi workout every day is enough to boost your physical and mental health. It is important to be consistent, so choose something you enjoy doing, you could even try a fun dance class! 

Get cooking 

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat' and to an extent it’s true. Eating food that’s high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants help nourish your body and even your mind. Eating a balanced diet can help to improve mood, increase energy levels and help you think clearer. Cooking your own meals from scratch can be a fun but also a relaxing activity, why not put some of your favourite music on and have some fun while cooking.  

Read our blog on five food that makes you feel great for inspiration on ingredients to include in your cooking.

Play games 

Whether it’s a board game, chess or an online game they can be a great way to boost your mood. Online games have got a bit of a bad reputation over the last few years, but when playing them in moderation they can provide many benefits, including providing a distraction and allowing you to take your mind off things for a while. Playing board games or chess with other people can be a great way to boost relationships with your friends and family as well as release more happy hormones.  

Read, read, read 

Getting lost in a good book is found to reduce stress levels – fiction or non-fiction the choice is completely up to you. Research by Dr David Lewis showed that reading for six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 60% by reducing your heart rate, easing muscle tension and altering your state of mind. So, if you’ve had a stressful day then why not get comfy on the sofa and get lost in your favourite book. 

We have got a number of other article surrounding mental health that is great if you’re looking for more information, including how to how to look after your mental health in later life during a pandemic and how we support mental health at Inspired Villages. 

How we can help!

Here at Inspired Villages, we have many different types of properties in retirement villages all over the UK. We can help you find the perfect property whether you choose to downsize or not or if you’re looking to rent or buy in retirement. 

If you’d like to find out more about us and the benefits and attractions of renting or buying a home in an Inspired village, get in touch today.