How I spend my retirement and Stay Healthy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Happy & Healthy Retirement

“Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick

I stopped my part-time work and call it a day in March during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was 72 and I decided not to continue working and avoid being infected with the coronavirus.

I still spend time productively even though I have retired.

I usually get up at around 6.00 am. while I am still in bed awaken I perform several stretching exercises such as knee hug, child's pose,  knee raise, and kegel. The first thing I do when I get up is to have a cup of warm water. After that, I tapped the lymphatic points of my body, swing my arms up and down 100 times, and walk on the spot for 100 steps.  The next set of stretching and breathing exercises is done at the car porch. This is to warm up my body before I perform tai chi. The taichi movements take about  15 minutes to perform. I feel calm and fresh upon completion. I wash up and brush my teeth. Next, I go for a walk and jog for 2km for about 30 minutes around the Kemunting field in front of the Indian temple.  I feel good breathing in the fresh air and basking in the morning sun

 Upon reaching home I prepare my own breakfast, I have mee hoon soup with broccoli and minced pork meat and one tomato or Maaggi curry mee mixed with broccoli, one tomato, and minced pork. Sometimes I have poa in the morning. My morning beverage is black coffee without milk or sugar. I love to eat breakfast at one of the hawker centers or coffee shops, However, during this critical period, I eat at home.

 At around 8 am I am ready to start work in front of my PC. I check emails and look for surveys to participate. If there are more surveys to answer it can take up to one or two hours. Answering surveys is a productive way to spend my time and make some pocket money at home. The next task is to review and check my previously written articles using Grammarly It is a fantastic tool to check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. After checking I upload the articles to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Scoopit

I have a good nap for about an hour in the afternoon from one to two o'clock.  Teatime is around 3 o'clock  I have a pao (a Chinese steamed bun). or wholewheat bread spread with peanut butter. I check emails for more surveys and upload more articles in the late afternoon.

At around 4pmm I do another set of stretching exercises and also push-up to strengthen my body. 

Dinner time is around 6pm. I help in the washing-up after eating

 In the evening this is the only time I watch TV. It is from 8-9 pm watching TV8 news. It is also a time to relax and ready to end a day peacefully. I have a cup of  Oat drink after the news. Reading a chapter or two is my routine before going to bed. I read until my eyes are tied and so it is easy for me to fall asleep.

I try not to go out and I connect with friends and relatives by WhatsApp and  Facetime. The only time to go out is to purchase household items and fresh goods.

I am happy with my life:

It is a healthy lifestyle and a simple life.

I am active daily to keep my body and  brain healthy and fit

I eat nutritiously with more vegetables and fruits and less meat

I sleep well and under no stress

I occupy my time fully and productively by blogging, reading, and answering surveys

I contribute to the world by sharing my articles about life, happiness, and money that are beneficial to everyone on the Net 

I have a pet dog Peanut the Poodle to share my life

If you enjoy reading my articles on my Facebook page please like, share, and join my group.

How to Live a Secure and Meaningful Retirement

A secure and meaningful retirement

Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money. Jonathan Clements

I am 71, I am a husband and a father to one son and one daughter. I have a part-time office job in the morning for six days a week. My son is working in Singapore and my daughter in at UTAR studying Economics. The purpose of this article is to share my thinking and the way I live my retirement now.

Retirement should bring happiness and contentment. You should be able to look forward to every new day with excitement. The following vital factors are crucial not only for a secure but meaningful life.

Health is Your Responsibility

Health is wealth. With good health, you enjoy the freedom and live life to the fullest. To maintain a healthy body is not only for your own good but is also a responsibility. Just imagine when you are suffering from a serious illness such as a stroke, who is going to take care of you daily? Your family members of course.  They may not have the time and resources to look after you. When they don’t, you blame them for not being filial. So the point I want to bring out is that life is already stressful for each and every one of us. Do not be a burden to those around you.as they have their life to take care of. You can look after yourself when you are healthy and fit.  

Daily Rituals

Every morning I wake up around six and after drinking a glass of water I do stretching TaiChi and breathing exercise at the car porch. This is my morning rituals. For about twice a week I do weight lifting ( I have a home gym) at home and jog around the field just opposite the Indian temple at Sri Kemuning. The only time I watch TV is the 8TV News at 8pm. in the evening. To get a good night sleep I read a few pages of a book. Reading stimulates your mind and promotes mental health. I borrow books from the nearby state library. In the afternoon, I enjoy a nap from time to time. To occupy my free time I do online surveys (https://creditcardlighthouse.blogspot.com/2016/03/top-10-survey-sites-in-malaysia.html) and earn some pocket money.

In the evening I pen a few lines in my diary to express my gratefulness and appreciation for a great day. On a regular basis, I invite a good friend of mine to a movie and tea. I live life with energy, serenity, peace of mind and focus.

Your house is your castle

Your son’s house is not your house and on;y your house is truly your own. Do not be so naive to sell your house and stay with your son upon request. Your daughter-in-law may not like the idea and if you are unfortunate to get chase out of the house you will be homeless. Your personal home means security, freedom and peace of mind. There again it is assumed that you are in good health and able to take care of your own self.

My part-time job  

A part-time job suits me well. I earn and I keep myself busy for half a day and get connected with the business world It gives me a sense of purpose and usefulness. I used to write one article for one day Now I do it only when I have important messages to share like this article. that you are reading now.

Money

I am not rich but I am debt-free. I hope, God willing, my savings and investment are able to outlive my life and not the other way round. I do keep a sum for emergency purposes because life is full of unexpected happenings and you need to spend money immediately.

Continuous Learning

The world is moving at a rapid pace with technology advancement. I read and learn continuous to update myself. I implement useful technologies such as e-wallet to keep up with the time. It is the best way to stimulate your brain.

Peanut the Poodle
A pet at home is a great companion. Peanut is the greatest source of inspiration, happiness and serenity. He is the best security guard in the world. He will bark loudly at the slightest noise or movement at the gate otherwise he is quiet and peaceful. He greets you warmly every time you come home. My pet has an Instagram account. Please follow Peanut the Poodle at https://www.instagram.com/peanut_thepoodle/. It's good to know that keeping a pet is good for my health too.

A quiet and simple life
Seeking excitement is for the youngsters. As for me, it is a fond memory of the younger days. Now a quiet and simple life suits me fine.

Happiness
The formula for Happiness:
Health + gratitude+ mindfulness+financial freedom+lifelong learning= Happiness
where Health =1 and the rest are zeros.
When you are not in good health the rest of the things are meaningless to you.

In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Frankl wrote, “Happiness cannot be pursued, it must ensue. One must have a reason to be happy.”

Summary

• Be healthy and fit
• Thank gratitude always
• You may have retired from work but do not retire from living an active and meaningful life.
• A house of your own
• Sufficient fund to live and enjoy your retirement

Be Active and Happy when You Retire

Retirement has been a discovery of beauty for me. I never had the time before to notice the beauty of my grandkids, my wife, the tree outside my very own front door. And, the beauty of time itself. ~Hartman Jule

Retirement is a time that you are able to do so much more than ever before. Time is by your side and it is up to you to live a full and active life and be happy. What can you do so that you can look forward to each new day eagerly and enthusiastically like a child?

1. Interest: What is your interest? What do you love to do but you have not been able to do until now? Doing something which you are interested to do will be a delightful way to occupy your time. Writing articles on your blog or publishing a book will be a challenging and rewarding thing to do. Writing stimulates your brain and promotes creativity. It exercises your mind. An article well written is a very satisfying experience. Start writing today.

Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to. ~ Harry Emerson Fosdick

2. Attitude: A positive attitude during your old age is an important mindset. When you think you are young you will be young at heart. Be cheerful, joyful, and hopeful to live life happily and freely.

No life is so hard that you can't make it easier by the way you take it. ~Ellen Glasgow

3. Friendship: Do not just mix around with people of the same age group. Join younger people to be influenced positively by their youthfulness and vitality. Feel the vibration of their alertness and energy.

Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief. ~ Swedish proverb

4. Gratitude, appreciation, and acceptance: Getting peace of mind is to fill your heart with thankfulness and love. Be appreciative of what you have got out of life. Accept those things that you cannot change and be flexible to make changes that are inevitable.

If you have lived, take thankfully the past. ~John Dryden

5. Belief: You may not be working anymore but feel good about yourself and maintain your self-image and look at life with a positive perspective. Life is still meaningful when you believe you still can contribute to society.

He does not believe who does not live according to his belief. ~Thomas Fuller

6. Learning: One critical area of life for baby boomers is not to stop learning. Be curious and inquisitive to explore new things and enrich the mind. Stop watching too much TV to dull your mind. Learning is for growth and self-development and to be young again.

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. ~Henry Ford

7. Healthcare: Health is the most critical issue for older people. Health is wealth and wealth is health. Be fit and healthy by taking a walk in the park, eating nutritiously, and resting sufficiently.

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want. ~Elbert Hubbard

8. Financial freedom: Health and money go hand in hand during a person’s retirement. The point is to have sufficient retirement funds and live within your budget. Another issue is to maintain good health and avoid huge medical expenses.

Money isn't the most important thing in life, but it's reasonably close to oxygen on the "gotta have it" scale. ~Zig Ziglar

9. Traveling and sightseeing: With good health and money you can go to places and see the world. It’s a marvelous way to observe how other people live their lives.

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

10. Relocation: Do you think you will gain a better quality of life when you relocate to a smaller town where the cost of living is not so high? There is less pollution and people care more for each other.

When you retire with good health and money, you will be the happiest person in this
world.

7 Things to Do Before You Retire

Preparation for old age should begin not later than one's teens. A life which is empty of purpose until 65 will not suddenly become filled on retirement. ~ Arthur E. Morgan

It is reported that the average lifespan of Malaysian is about 75 years. When you retire at age 55 there are still 20 years ahead of you to live. What should you do before you retire so that you are financially independent during your golden years?

1. Settle all debts: Settle all your housing loans and car loans and most important of all, your outstanding credit card debts. To be debt-free is the way to live a carefree life for senior citizens. 

2. Reduce investment risk: Assess your portfolio and rearrange to reduce risks. As a simple example, when previously your investment consists of 60% stocks and shares and 40% fixed income perhaps you should now change to 40% shares and 60% fixed income.

3. Stick to a budget: When you retire, there will be no regular sources of employment income except your own savings and investment. It is important to stick to your budget so that the fund can last you as long as possible.

4. Emergency fund: It is needed more than ever before, especially to cover unexpected emergency medical treatment and related expenses. The amount should be readily available. 

5. Cash flow: Determine the amount you require every month and ensure that there will be steady streams of cash to meet your monthly needs. 

6. Mental attitude: When you retire from work, you do not retire from life. The key is to live a meaningful life when you stop working. Continue to stimulate your mind by learning new things which you are interested in. Blogging is an excellent way to fill your time. You learn about blogging and write articles on your blog every day.

Don't act your age [in retirement]. Act like the inner young person you have always been. ~ J. A. West

7. Look after your health: When you need insurance the most at old age, insurers stop covering you or if they do, it is going to cost you a bomb. The key is to look after your health to avoid critical illnesses and falls.

After you're older, two things are possibly more important than any others: health and money. ~ Helen Gurley Brown

Are you ready to enjoy your retirement?

Live Fully and Happily after Retirement

Happy Retirement

You may have retired from work but you are not going to retire from life. In fact, you don’t retire at all. There are many ways to live life fully. Here are some wonderful things that you can do:

• Continue to work: If the work has brought you happiness, why not continue to work or rather enjoy doing the things that you are interested in and good at. Holding a job gives you pride, self-respect and confidence in life.

• Be a consultant: Previously you worked for others. Now you work for yourself. Be a consultant and enjoy the freedom that you have not enjoyed before. Utilize your expertise, experience and knowledge and offer your services. Work at your own pace and charge the fee that you think fit. Work when you feel like it.

• Take up a hobby: To spend time meaningfully, take up a hobby that gives you pleasure. Something you wanted to do   but you didn’t have time before. Hobbies like gardening or stamp collection.

• Community Services: It is another great way to be productive. You can teach adult classes about language or subjects such as marketing or business management that you are good at. You can also offer services to voluntary organizations.

• Start a blog: It is challenging to start a blog and share your wisdom on the Net. Write articles relating to your work experience to offer solutions to working problems. While you write and post articles you also generate earnings from Adsense.

• Going places: This is also a good time to go to places that you have not been to before. Broaden your outlook and learn the way of life of other people in faraway countries.

• Be creative: You can stimulate your mind by being  artistic in learning about pottery, carpentry or a musical instrument

The most important thing in life is to avoid emptiness but to do things that you are passionate about and live life fully, meaningfully and happily.

Pension and Retirement

In Malaysia, The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO)’s plan to introduce pension schemes for its contributors and the self-employed has been applauded by older working adults and for those who should be enjoying the golden years instead of working. These people are forced to work because they are unable to make ends meet and they have to support their children for their higher education.

How do you look at work in relation to retirement?


Work and retirement

Nobody should retire. If you do you will be bored to death. You can’t be doing nothing to pass the time. You still can find something interesting to do and at the same time create an income stream to supplement your retirement fund. If you are still working, just carry on. If it is something that you are interested in it is even better because it is not work anymore. The most important thing is to fill your time with useful activities even if you are no longer working.


Financial review
It is also necessary to review your financial situation in order to adjust your spending pattern according to available funds. Consider sending your children to higher education locally instead of overseas. You can also sell the bigger house and live in a smaller one if your children have a family of their own and they no longer live with you. Save the extra cash for future living expenses. Trim your budget to stay financially independent


Pension fund
Invest or save pension money when it is materialized. You can also accumulate the pension fund for an annual holiday. It can also be used to supplement your monthly spending should your monthly budget be overstretched. The best thing is to treat the pension as a bonus when it comes.