Lake Living and Retirement

Most people do not have a clue what to expect when they retire. They work most of their lives and then, well, there’s nothing to do. That isn’t necessarily the case. You must first prepare yourself mentally for retirement.

It is important to stay busy and take the time to do what you love the most, no matter what that is. Retirement is the time to do the things you simply did not have time for when you were working. It is time to get mentally prepared and enjoy life!

Stay Active

staying active during retirementNow is not the time to get lazy, stay active! Get outside and do what you love to do. Some people spend more time on the lake while others work on their golf game. Now is the time to really dive into the things you love doing most.

But the most important thing to do is keep moving. Studies have shown that people who stay active during retirement live longer and healthier lives. Don’t be a couch potato, get out there!

Volunteer or Get a Part-time Job

A lot of people find it hard to not be working. This is understandable because most people spend a very large chunk of their lives working. If you are one of these types of people, you are in luck. Many retirees take up volunteer work.

Depending on what you did for a living previously, you may be able to put those professional skills to work for a local charity. You could volunteer at a homeless shelter or an animal rescue center. These organizations are almost always looking for people to help out and it can be very rewarding.

If you are looking for extra spending cash and just can’t get out of the habit of working, you can always get a part-time job. Maybe you have always wanted to work at a library or a coffee shop, there is no time like retirement to discover something else that you might love.

Hobbies

readingOkay, you don’t have to be on the go. Some hobbies don’t require a whole lot of physical activity, but will help prepare you on a mental level. Hobbies such as reading, writing, knitting, painting, fishing, and a number of others are all things you can do from home or in a group setting.

Check your local libraries and see if there is a reading group you can join or even a group of knitters to work with.

Retirement Should Be A Blast

Retirement can be so much fun, but most people are not mentally prepared for it. Staying active and doing what you love can help you in living a long and happy life. Set goals for yourself and do some things you have never had the opportunity to do before. There is no time like the present!

Fun Outdoor Games for the Family

Studies have shown the recent trend of indoor entertainment and various electrical technologies have an increasingly negative impact on children.

The multitude of gaming consoles, the plethora of new children-oriented television channels, and the emphasis on technology for every single activity directly correlates with overall poor health.

So, how can you coax the kids outside or pry your kids away from all of these devices? Take them to the great outdoors! Encourage your kids to stay active and inspire them to get up and moving! To do so, try some of these fun lake or outdoor games and activities for your whole family.

Cornhole

Outdoor Games: Corn hole
Photo courtesy of www.thesprucecrafts.com

Cornhole, also known as bean bag toss, is a yard game that’s simple and fun for everyone. Two boards with holes in them are lined up a set distance away from one another and people take turns trying to ring the hole with the bean bags.

A bag in the hole scores 3 points while a bag sitting on the board is worth 1 point. Players takes turns throwing and the first to reach 21 points is the winner!

For younger children, simply move the boards closer together, lessening the difficulty of the game.

Flashlight Tag

This simple and fun outdoors game is good for children and family members as well. The game rules are pretty simple and can be enjoyed especially if you are near a lake and trees.

To start out, choose who will be “it” by drawing straws, rock, paper, scissors, or any other similar game. The one who is “it” will then run around trying to tag anyone else playing the game, or trap them in the light of the flashlight.

Animal and Bird Watching

Outdoor Games: bird watching
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com

While this may sound a bit cliché, it nevertheless proves to be one of the best outdoor activities for the kids and family. If you are near a lake, you probably won’t need to visit any camping site or forest parks to do animal or bird watching.

This is because you can find many wildlife species around the nearby trees and many fish species in the lake itself. There may also be turtles, beavers, or frogs just outside your back porch!

In addition, you may also be able to hear the chiming of birds during the evening which proves to be relaxing for both kids and elders.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love to go on adventures and quests? What’s good about scavenger hunts is they involve physical activity and this means you and your kids will get a lot of exercise and fun at the same time. You can plan out the route first and perhaps take a tour around your nearby lake.

However, prior to the game, warn the kids to avoid things like prickly plants, poison ivy, and sumac which might be lurking in the trees around your lake.

So, now that you are familiar with the outdoor games mentioned above, getting your kids to leave their electronic devices and play outside for a change won’t be a problem. You could also designate an area in your yard to set up a simple pole for a game of horseshoes.

Use your imagination, and talk to your kids about their favorite activities in order to make getting outdoors more fun for the whole family!