by B. B. James

Created on: November 01, 2010   Last Updated: November 02, 2010

Retirement is one of those times when our lives change. In theory, it should change for the better, given that the hours and the stress of work are eliminated. A retiree can pursue the things that he or she wants to pursue, without having to live by the clock of an office, factory, school, or other place of employment.

Unfortunately, many people are severely unprepared for retirement, and they find that they struggle to adjust to new circumstances. The thing they have been looking forward to for a long time suddenly confronts them - and they don't know what to do.

Here are 10 ideas to help with the transition to a happy and healthy retirement.

1. Get finances in order. Obviously, one's finances should have been handled long before retirement.  But few people have given enough attention to whether they have saved enough money, or whether their income from retirement plans and government support will be sufficient.  So, take some time and take a good, hard look at your income, expenses, and savings.  Figure out where you stand, because there's still time to do something about it.  While you might not like what you see, you will feel better about your retirement if you know where you stand than if you are just guessing about your financial future.

2.  Look for savings.  While looking into your expenses, figure out if there are things that can be cut out of your budget. Do you need to buy work clothes or pay for dry cleaning if you're not going to an office?  Will you be eating lunch at home instead of at cafeterias every day? Do you need two family cars if neither of you is commuting?  If you can improve your financial picture slightly, you will ease any pressures you might have.

3.  Get a health checkup. Go to the doctor and get a good physical.  It's a cliche that "you can't buy health," and it's true. But it's also true that you can improve your health if you pay attention to it. Your physician will likely have some suggestions about what you can do to live a long, active life. 

4.  Get physical. After you've seen your doctor, take his or her advice about exercise.  You've got the time, so there's no excuse.  If you have the money, you can join a gym; most gyms have senior discounts that will make the cost very affordable.  You can join exercise classes, many of which are run inexpensively by city, county, and state agencies. You can simply go walking in

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