A happy retirement means different things to different people. To make the most of your new-found freedom and time, you need to take a holistic approach towards ageing and take care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. As one of the leading retirement communities in India, we share with you some key ingredients for an active and happy retirement life: Social connection: Feeling socially connected is one of the most important aspects of life. According to a study, maintaining social connections may help reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. Being socially connected to family, friends, or neighbours can help you feel happy and content. Spend more time with people who make you feel positive and happy. Giving back to society:  When you volunteer, you can make a true difference in the lives of others. This gives you a sense of purpose and helps you become part of something greater in life. It has been found that volunteering not just improves life satisfaction but is also associated with reduced depression. Physical and mental well-being: Exercising is good for mind, body, and soul. According to a study, even 6 minutes of physical activity can improve mood and boost energy levels. By exercising daily, you can boost your health and happiness over time. Ongoing learning: There is a famous saying, “if you are not growing, you are dying”. This adage is true for everyone, irrespective of age. A key aspect of fulfilling retirement is to keep yourself engaged in a creative and productive manner. Growing a vegetable garden, creating an artwork, learning to speak a foreign language, or playing a musical instrument are some great ways you can find passion in life and boost happiness levels. The best part is the more hobbies you have, the wider your social circle will become. Looking for senior living communities in Bangalore? Want to know more on community living in Bangalore? Our premium community living facility will be designed to help you live your retirement life on your terms. When you move into our premium community living, you will have nothing to worry about. Housekeeping, maintenance, and daily meals – all will be handled by our on-site staff. While we take care of your chores, you will be free to enjoy amenities such as a clubhouse, swimming pool, spa, salon, restaurants, and indoor and outdoor games facilities. To know more about our facilities, book a virtual tour or call us +918884555554.  

There are plenty of hobbies that you can try at home for the first time, many of them can fend off a decline in brain power and are good for relieving stress. As one of the leading retirement homes in India, we have put together a list of virtual hobbies that you can try with your friends:  Book clubs: If you are a bookworm, start your book club with your friends and schedule a time for a video chat and share your thoughts over books. Each month, you and your friends can choose a book to read. Check out this list of inspirational books for seniors that can get the conversation started.  Online games: Whether you are looking to sharpen your cognitive skills or an easy and enjoyable way to pass the time, there are several virtual games that you can play with your friends. In fact, a study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that playing online games such as sudoku and crosswords prevents cognitive decline.  Movie parties: There is nothing like watching a movie with your friends. There are several apps that let you and your friends watch a movie together and share thoughts in a live text chat. Karaoke: Whether you and your friends are professional singers or amateurs, singing your favourite songs from the comfort of your home can be fun and therapeutic at the same time. To enjoy online karaoke, schedule a video call and sing your heart out.  Work out together: If you love the feeling of healthy competition, connect with your friends and video chat as you pedal your stationary cycle or do yoga moves. Schedule a time in advance with your workout buddies so that you can exercise together and have fun at the same time.  Join a hobby class: From painting and cake decorating to gardening, there are many online hobby classes that you can join with your friends. Hobby classes also present a great opportunity to make new friends who share the same interests.   Discover new hobbies or revive forgotten hobbies at Columbia Pacific Communities There is no dearth of things to do in our senior living communities. Whether it has been a hobby you have been passionate about or an exciting new hobby that has piqued your interest – we fully encourage you to get started and rejuvenate your mind and soul.

When you trust yourself, you feel confident. Trusting yourself makes it easier for you to make decisions. However, when you are in doubt about yourself, it causes anxiety and increases your stress levels. It is therefore important to build a healthy relationship with yourself. As one of the leading senior citizen homes in Pondicherry, we share a few useful tips on building self-trust:  Spend time with yourself: Take out at least 10 minutes a day for yourself. Spend the time to process thoughts and feelings that would otherwise go ignored. Overcome victimhood mentality: Every person has choices about how they can move forward in their life. Always remember that you can choose to take responsibility for your life whenever you want. Instead of waiting for others to make you happy, make yourself happy. Do not indulge in negative self-talk. Whenever you are surrounded by negative thoughts, take charge of the situation and do things that make you happy. Set realistic goals: Self-doubt and negative thoughts arise when you set yourself up for unrealistic goals and constantly see yourself from others’ perspectives. Setting realistic goals in your life will help you feel confident and remain motivated. When you set attainable goals and achieve them, you will be confident, and your self-esteem will get a boost. Also, when you are clear about your goals, you feel less overwhelmed. Be gentle to yourself: When you are constantly comparing yourself to others, pressuring yourself to be perfect, and doubting your capabilities, you end up with negative thoughts. Be kind to yourself and challenge negative thoughts with positive ones. Get moving: Whether it’s yoga, walking or aerobics, adding regular exercise to your schedule boosts your emotional well- being. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good hormones called endorphins that boost mood and promote positive feelings.  At our community living facilities, we host regular workshops on mental and physical well-being. The aim of these workshops is to help our residents gain a wider understanding of the issues surrounding mental and physical health.

Healthy ageing means more than just eating well-balanced meals and exercising regularly— it also means spending quality time with like-minded people, nurturing one’s emotional self and stimulating the mind through various creative activities. We all know that participating in creative activities helps seniors tackle stress, face new challenges and feel good about themselves. Particularly, when they learn new hobbies or skills, it can help them find their purpose and liberate the mind from negative thoughts. As one of the leading senior living facilities in India, we believe that when seniors engage in creative activities, they benefit in many ways. That’s why you’ll find a host of events, amenities and cultural opportunities and programs held regularly at our communities. Here is a list of common activities that boost a senior’s creative side: Art classes and workshops: From learning pottery to painting, you have countless possibilities to pursue creative activities. At the same time, you get to enjoy the camaraderie and companionship of other like-minded residents who are of the same age as you. Also, when you show your work of art to others, it gives you a sense of accomplishment which can affect your sense of wellbeing. Senior living communities like ours understand the importance of this, hence we highlight artwork, poetry and short stories by our residents and encourage them. Field trips to historical places, art museums and galleries: Many senior living communities arrange for trips to local museums, music concerts, sports events, movie theatres, plays and musicals and galleries to help their residents discover their creative side. Regular exercise: Studies show running enhances one’s creative inspiration. Haruki Murakami, a renowned Japanese writer, in one of his interviews said “I try not to think about anything special while running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometime. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.” Activities like dancing, yoga and deep breathing let you connect with your creative side and help you express your thoughts through different forms of art. No matter what your level of skill, don’t hesitate to pursue creative activities that interest you. So, if you’ve been thinking about attending an evening workshop at your community, or giving a new hobby a try, go for it!

There are plenty of reasons to seek happiness. Seniors who are happy show a better response to vaccination, according to a study by the University of Nottingham. Another study found that happy people tend to live a longer and healthier life than their unhappy peers. Living a happy and fulfilling life is a goal that applies to everyone. However, as one ages, one becomes isolated and often depressed. Living in a senior community ensures that residents enjoy a fun and active lifestyle with like-minded people of similar age. Here are a few activities that help increase happiness – Walking: Physical activity is an important part of remaining healthy and happy as one ages. Brisk walking has been associated with a multitude of health benefits such as better heart health, better emotional health, better memory, and a longer life. Many senior living communities have beautifully landscaped grounds with senior-friendly walkways. Seniors can participate in the walking groups and meet other residents who are enthusiastic about health and fitness. Reading: Though reading can be solitary, it is shown to improve happiness and wellbeing as per a study by the University of Liverpool’s Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society (CRILS). Our senior living communities have well-stocked libraries offering stories that take the readers from the world of Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective in novels by English writer Agatha Christie to the exciting journey of successful entrepreneurs. The community library also offers residents an opportunity to socialise within the community. With wide-open spaces and comfortable seating arrangements, the library and reading rooms at our communities provide an ideal setting for the bookworms to enjoy their favourite books. Travelling: New travel experiences is associated with positive emotions, according to a study by the journal Nature Neuroscience. Living in a retirement community offers its residents the security that a gated community offers which means they can ‘lock up and leave’ any time the travel bug gets them. With 24*7 security and maintenance staff, senior residents know that their home is taken care of and their neighbourhood is secure. Many senior living communities arrange for exciting outings for their residents. From organizing day trips to museums and art galleries to arranging weekend trips to the rural countryside – the best senior living communities in India are helping their residents enjoy new experiences that make them happy. With less worries and no household chores to tend to, you are free to do more of what you enjoy. If you are planning to move into a retirement community, we hope you will visit us. Our residents lead active and fulfilling lives through participation in activities related to fitness and health, arts and crafts, reading and spiritual faith, cooking and baking, music and movies and much more!

Old age is a great time to sit back and enjoy life as you have all the freedom to do things that you have always wanted to do. But to enjoy your golden years to the fullest, you need to stay healthy and happy. By adopting the following 6 tips, you can take baby steps towards happy aging:    1.Get active: Physical activity has many benefits, regardless of age. But when you grow old, the body’s metabolism tends to slow down. Being physically active can help you rev up your metabolism. There is a long list of health benefits when it comes to regular exercising including boosting your strength and balance. At a community living facility like ours, we encourage seniors to be as active as possible. We have trained physiotherapists who customize exercise plans as per your physical ability and your interests. Our community living facilities also have a fully-equipped gym, yoga, and aerobics deck.    2.Eat a healthy diet: As you age, your diet needs change. Having a diet that caters to your nutritional needs is the best way to stay healthy. At our retirement homes, we make sure that the residents get fresh and nutritious meals cooked in home-style. The food is prepared in hygienic conditions and made keeping the health of the residents in mind. There are regular review meetings with the F&B team so that you can give them feedback regarding the menu. Those who feel like ordering in can have their meals delivered at the doorstep.    3.Have a routine: You may feel a little odd that suddenly you have all the time in the world. This for many people is not a good feeling to struggle with. Structuring your day can help you relax and pick new hobbies. Be it activities or exercising, sticking to a routine can help you prioritize your time better and enjoy doing things more consciously. At a community living facility like ours, the calendar is always buzzing with activities. We have clubhouses where you can take part in indoor and outdoor games or join a fitness club or attend lectures. We host movie screenings, music concerts, lectures, and workshops. There is something for everyone.    4.Stay connected with people of your age: Going to places or joining activities where you will find people of your age can be a great stress buster. We make sure people have enough opportunities to socialize and interact with each other. Be it dining together or community events, there are several platforms for the residents to strike a conversation and share a laugh.    5.Do what you love doing: To avoid boredom and loneliness, it’s important that you do things you love the most. Gardening, painting, learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument, cooking, etc are some of the activities that will not only give a sense of achievement but they are also great for social life.    6.Keep a positive attitude: Leaving your old life behind and starting a new chapter can be intimidating. The best way to embrace this change is to stay positive. The golden years of life come with freedom as well as restrictions. It is best to embrace the two wholeheartedly.    

For many seniors, moving to a community living can be emotionally difficult, leaving old friends behind and starting over in a new place. We understand that any change in your living situation is bound to stress you and make you anxious, hence it’s important to give yourself time and space to cope with change. Once you move to a community living facility, take your time to adjust to the new environment but at the same time don’t feel shy to interact with others. If you are moving into a community living facility, here’s what you can do to make new friends: Spend more time in common areas: Instead of going back to your apartment or villa, spend more time in common areas where you can find people with common interests. There are many ways you can occupy yourself in a community living facility like ours. You can participate in indoor and outdoor games and other activities throughout the day that will give you ample opportunities to strike a conversation and foster new friendships. Attend events: When you’re moving in, look at the social calendars and see if you fancy anything. Many assisted living facilities like ours realise that making friends in a new place can be difficult. Hence we organise events that are developed keeping in mind the needs and interests of our residents. You will find one or the other activity of your interest. At our community living facility, we organise music concerts, lectures, and workshops that are fun and informative. These places provide you with ways to identify common grounds with other residents. It’s better to catch up with a movie screening with others rather than watching it alone in your apartment. Break bread together: Food plays a very important role when it comes to fostering friendship. Sharing a meal with others is the easiest way to interact with them and get to know them. Sitting with new people and eating with them can go a long way in developing relationships. At our community living facility, we have spacious dining halls where you can enjoy relaxed meals. Finding new friends while eating will make your meals fun. Those of you who feel like ordering in can have the meals delivered to the doorstep. Some luxury community living facilities also have a beverage station with juicers, smoothie makers and coffee machines so that you can indulge in your favorite beverage while enjoying with your friends. Join a fitness class: Joining an exercise class can be a great way to meet people and get to know them better. Exercising is a common interest that everybody loves to talk about. Besides sharing workout tips, there is a lot that you can talk about while exercising. There is one added benefit in this; when you have someone to exercise with, you are more likely to stick to commitment and schedule. At our community living facilities, we offer yoga classes and other physical activities designed by our physiotherapists that will help you stay healthy and yet meet new people. We offer a variety of opportunities for seniors to stay involved in their community, including music concerts and movie screenings. We hope you find the above-mentioned tips handy when you are moving into a community living facility.