We spend most of our adult life working hard so that when the time comes, we can finally relax and enjoy the things that make us happy. Some find that the transition is more difficult than they originally thought, feeling lost about how to kill time or feeling like they lack purpose. While some of you may feel perfectly content spending the days relaxing, it is still important to focus on your overall health. As we age, our immune systems change and don’t work as effectively as they once did. What does this mean? We need to focus more time and effort on remaining active and engaging with others to remain emotionally and spiritually balanced. Here are five tips to focus on while making the transition from the rat race to the life of leisure.

1. Maintain Social Connections and Build New Ones: leaving the workforce means leaving a large part of your daily social interactions behind. It is easy to let work relationships dissolve and let yourself slip into social isolation and even depression. Stay connected by planning social engagements, join a new group or club that meets on a weekly basis like a church group or book club, and make it a point to maintain current relationships that are meaningful to you.

2. Pick Up Some New Skills: is there a hobby or activity that you always wish you had more time for? Retirement is the perfect time to learn a new skill. Not only will it keep you mentally sharp and improve cognitive function, but it may also help you cross some things off your bucket list. Even something as simple as learning how to use Facebook with challenge your mind and give you another outlet for remaining connected to friends and family. Getting into landscaping or starting a backyard garden will not only help you establish a daily routine, but putting in the work of planting and tending to a garden also helps you stay active.

3. Plan To Maintain Wellness: sleep is a huge factor in feeling well on a daily basis. It is recommended that aging adults get at least 7-9 hours of good sleep every night to stay in shape. A lot of retirees also establish lofty goals to exercise every day. Although the good intention is there, be careful not to overdo it. Exercise, a balanced diet and healthy choices can all be part of a wellness plan. Just make it a point to set realistic expectations so that you can stick with it long-term. It’s also never too late to kick bad habits such as smoking or drinking.

4. Volunteer: Getting out of your house and being active is the goal, so why not check the local community bulletin boards, libraries, museums, or animal shelters? Whether it’s a paid position or not, you’ll be getting out, doing something productive, and socializing—all of which can help in maintaining your wellness during retirement.

5. Travel: the best part about retiring is that you don’t need to wait for a holiday or time off requests to plan the trip you’ve always wanted to take. You have the time, energy and money to explore new places and check those must-see destinations off your list. Let go of any excuses that might be holding you back and plan the trip of a lifetime!