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Maintain a Social Life
Research has shown that the health benefits of social relationships may be as important as staying active. Social contact can reduce the damaging effects of stress and has been linked to lowering the risk of arthritis, depression, and alcoholism. It also satisfies the human need to have a sense of community and belonging.
You may no longer have daily interaction with co-workers, but you can still have an enriched social life. Retirees are finding many ways to stay connected socially.
Clubs
After leaving the work world, retirees often find they lack a satisfying social network. A good way to meet new people is to join clubs or classes where there are people who share your interests.
The Internet
Staying in touch with friends and family can be literally as easy as clicking a button. With the use of the Internet on the rise in the over-65 population, chances are your friends are also online. Though economic and geographic factors do affect Internet usage, for many Canadian retirees the Internet offers an efficient means of keeping in touch. According to Statistics Canada research, many seniors feel that email has improved their family connections and they communicate more frequently with relatives when email is available.
The Internet also provides an outlet for making new friends. There are many online communities geared to the retired population, and they encompass many topics, from support networks to hobbies. Always err on the side of caution: make sure you research the online community before signing up to chat. Never give out personal information or pay to join a community. If you meet someone online whom you think you would like to meet in person, take precautions like talking to them on the telephone first and then if you decide to meet in person, take a friend with you and meet in a public place.
Another way to be social online is to join a seniors' blog community. A blog is an online diary where you can post your thoughts or articles for other people to read and comment on. Blogs have been shown to keep your mind sharp, they connect you to people from around the world, and they are a forum for sharing life experiences. Type in a few key words like "senior blog community" and you'll get an idea of the abundance of blogs and blogging communities that exist.
Volunteering
Volunteering can improve your well-being by enhancing your social network. Volunteering can also enhance self-esteem and personal coping skills. Research suggests that volunteering improves nervous system performance, decreases blood pressure, and increases mental alertness, provided that you are already in good health.
Volunteering can be a way to continue using your skills and experience that you once applied to your career. For example, if you have experience in managing or leading an organization, you can continue to make contributions to non-profit and charitable organizations by serving on advisory boards, leading strategic planning, and acting as a mentor.
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