Everyone is different when it comes to giving up work to retire. You may have loved your job and feel that you lack identity when you stop working, or you may feel relived as it was getting too much. You may be very organised and have a plan, or you may think that you had enough planning at work and it’s time to chill out. Whatever your feelings, you will probably find that some days you are feeling a little lack lustre and lacking direction, so read my top ten tips for an enjoyable retirement.

1.      Get your finances in order. Check out old pensions and get a quote for your state pension. You may have to adjust your spending so check how much you are worth. Free pension advice is available from Pension Wise

2.      Keep in touch with neighbours, ex colleagues, family and old friends. You may have to make more of an effort but it’s easy to become isolated and bored.

3.      Go for a walk. Regular exercise, especially outdoors is great for keeping you fit and for your mental health. Even better, go with a friend.

4.      Start a new hobby. Pick up that guitar you’ve always wanted to play, or look out for new activities near you, such as sewing. Scrapadoo run some fabulous workshops that are fun and will bring out the creative side in you.

5.      Get your hands dirty. Spend time appreciating your garden, or balcony and start looking after your plants. Dig over your beds, prune your roses and visit gardens for inspiration. If you haven’t any outdoor space, then indoor plants can be very rewarding.

6.      Make time for loved ones. Family are so important for some people so now’s the time to show how much you care for them. Get to know your grandchildren better and enjoy spending time with them doing activities. Give the parents some time off and offer to babysit. If you haven’t got any grandchildren, borrow somebody else’s!

7.      Travel more. Buy that camper van you’ve always wanted (or rent one for a week), go on a cruise to the med, have a mid week trip to London. There’s no better time to treat yourself!

8.      Keep your mind active with new activities to stimulate your brain cells. Keep learning new things to prevent getting stuck in a rut.

9.      Eat healthy food. Make time to learn new recipes with lots of fresh ingredients such as vegetables and fish. Try a new ingredient every week and enjoy browsing through recipe books for inspiration. Enjoy leisurely meals with a loved one or a friend.

10.  And finally, relax and be open to new opportunities in your retirement. Say yes to things, become a volunteer and the time will fly. You will wonder how you ever had time to work.