8 ways to stay in touch with friends and retired family

Experts offer advice on how to stay social and connected when you are no longer on the job market.


One of the unexpected results of the pandemic is what has become great retirement. "According to recent studies, nearly 3 million people have taken an early retirement from 2020 when the pandemic was raging wild. And although this phenomenon has provided millions of more people, it also has the potential to lead to negative impacts on their mind and their physics well-being ", explains Paul Hokemeyer, Ph.D. , author of Fragile power: why all this is never enough . One of the main things he assesses when he begins to work with a new patient recently retired is the way they manage their social networks and if they are socially isolated and alone. "From a medical point of view, we know that social isolation and loneliness lead to a multitude of negative physical and emotional results which include depression and anxiety, dependence, suicidality and dementia, the diabetes of Type 2, heart disease and cerebral vascular accidents. " Here are 8 ways to stay in touch with friends and retired family.

1
Plan the time to connect

A group of five seniors taking a selfie in a retirement community lounge
Istock / Drazen Zigic

Dr. Hokemeyer suggests planning the time to connect. "Take a look at retired social contacts as a part-time job. Do not expect them to materialize," he said. "Spend at least three hours a week stretching your hand proactively to people who are currently in your social network and to reconnect with people in your previous life and make new friends." AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

2
Get out of your comfort zone

senior man and woman dancing and laughing about old people jokes
Wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock

Do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, says a little Powerful health Tequisha McLaughlin health coach, NBC-HWC. "Retirement is a whole new chapter of life, which means that your interests and objectives can be different. Take this new moment in life to learn and grow," she explains. You can do so by getting involved with your community by volunteering or joining a club of interest. "Plan regular telephone or video calls with family and friends, and for a very funny rotation, write letters to dear beings."

3
Network on Linkedin

Person working on a computer on LinkedIn
Dropout

Do not delete your LinkedIn profile simply because you are no longer on the job market, explains Dr. Hokemeyer. "Although I do not recommend spending a lot of time on social networks, I recommend creating a LinkedIn account and spending a measured time." He recommends spending 30 minutes three times a week on the site to stay connected with colleagues and to stay informed of the developments that occur in your field.

4
Set social media limits

sithiphong // Shutterstock

Avoid spending an excessive amount of time on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, suggests Dr. Hokemeyer. "Of course, it is normal to connect a few times a week and scroll, but the newly emerging data indicate that obsessive spending leads to feelings of isolation and insufficiency," he explains. "Retirement is an opportunity to live your life according to your terms in the real world, not attached to a computer screen as a voyeur in the varnished life of others."

5
Find fitness hobbies

people playing pickleball
BHPIX / Shutterstock

A sure way to connect with others similar to you is to exercise, explains McLaughlin. "It is of the utmost importance not only to exercise your body, but also from your mind that you age," it says.

6
Find a spiritual, recovery or religious community

Senior friend group eating treats
Dropout

The data indicates that people who have a spiritual life where they actively participate in something bigger than them lead a happier and healthier life, explains Dr. Hokemeyer. "This does not mean that you must join a religion that you find discovered or that rejects the fundamental truths of who you are." He explains.

7
Make walks in your neighborhood

Group Of Active Senior Friends Enjoying Hiking Through Countryside Walking Along Track Together
Dropout

An easy way to get or stay connected with your neighbors? To take a walk. "For decades, I have advised my patients who have anxiety or depression to" move a muscle and change a thought ". To retirement, we must find constructive means to channel our intelligence and our ambition in something productive and healthy. Your neighborhood regularly will allow you to generate a multitude of wellness hormones and meet your neighbors and establish a relationship with them, "he said.

In relation: 2 alternatives which are just as beneficial as walking 10,000 steps

8
Initiate

A senior latinx couple enjoying a picnic on a blanket in the woods and playing cards
istock

Overall, do not wait to connect, recommends McLaughlin. "Take the initiative and be active to maintain the connections. If you can't find an event that suits you, try to host. Configure a card tournament or ask others to bring refreshments and food to just take advantage of the company of others "," she says.


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