You’ve waited a lifetime for your golden years and have worked hard to afford a comfortable retirement. The big day has arrived – you’re officially retired.

But now what?

Jumping into retirement may not be as easy as it seems. In fact, going from a 40-hour work week to fulltime retirement can be a real leap of faith. Fortunately, taking just a few small steps can make the transition to retirement much easier and more fulfilling.

How to Make Your Retirement Golden in 5 Simple Steps

1. Talk about your plans with your significant other and family

If you are approaching retirement age, chances are good that you have a spouse or partner who will retire within a year or two of you – and they may have a very different vision of what retirement should be. You might want to spend your retirement traveling to exotic lands, for example, while your partner would prefer to while away the hours in the backyard garden. Your children and other family members may also have different ideas of what your retirement should look like.

Take ownership of your retirement by talking with your family and describing what you would like to do with your time.

2. Stay social

You may not realize just how much of your social life was tied to your workplace – after all, you spent most of your waking hours with your coworkers. After retirement, you’ll need to create new social circles.

Seek out people you truly enjoy spending time with. Your new social circles could include your children and grandchildren, an eccentric fun-loving relative, or other retirees who share your interests.

3. Create a schedule

Maintaining a schedule is one of the toughest parts of working – long commutes, tight deadlines, and urgent business always seemed to gobble up time. If you are like many workers, you look forward to the day when you can just kick back, relax, and do nothing all day.

Once you retire, though, you may find the endless inactivity mind-numbingly boring. Days and nights start running into one another, and lack of structure can increase stress. Creating a schedule helps keep life on track and exciting.

4. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to make the most out of retirement. The benefits of volunteering are nearly endless: it can be good for mental wellbeing, help reduce isolation, promote physical activity, and can even bridge the generation gap.

5. Take a class

Taking a class can help keep your mind sharp; it can also be a great way to meet others, maintain a schedule, and share what you know. Some colleges and universities offer tuition waivers for seniors or even allow older adults to audit classes at no charge.

Retirement is truly the best part of life! Make the most out of your retirement by deciding what you want to do, when to do it, and who you want to do it with.

Support healthy brain function with Prevagen, a pharmacist-recommended supplement that helps with mild memory loss associated with aging and supports healthy brain function. Prevagen ingredients include Vitamin D and Apoaequorin, a safe and unique ingredient originally discovered in jellyfish. Does Prevagen really work? Check out some Prevagen reviews from real customers here.