You have done the hard part. You’ve spent a lifetime getting out of bed and getting to work, taking care of your family, and saving for this day. If you are like most people you have made a financial plan before you retired. But what if retirement turns out to be too easy and there’s not enough to do? You need an active retirement!
Fulfilling Activities for an Active Retirement
Connections with family as well as friends is important but finding something fulfilling gives purpose to your life. It is also important to find a balance between activities and relaxing so you can enjoy retirement in the best way possible.
As we discussed when we covered the stages of retirement, you need to plan activities for your retirement that are fulfilling and joyful for you do. Retirement gives you more choices for spending your time. You certainly don’t have to only pick one thing. Retiree Geraldine Watson did her first skydive at the age of 85 and she reported to Senior Planet that she really loved it and would maybe do it again. But now she was interested in Paris.
Do you want a more active retirement? Did you make a plan for joyful days? What will you do? How are you filling your days?
Going back to Work?
It takes time to adjust to an open schedule and to make the transition from working to retirement. Some people choose to ease into retirement by changing from full-time to part-time work. Others retire and then decide to go back to work perhaps in a job that incorporates a hobby or a special interest. As a life coach I have worked with many retired people that decide to go back to work part time or to pursue work as a volunteer.
The first thing I ask them do is to make a list of everything they are interested in. Next I have them take each interest and think of jobs for volunteer positions that incorporate that interest. Then make a list of positions they would enjoy doing. And then we search.
Finding a volunteer position or a part time job can be good in many ways. It can be a great boost to your self esteem to know you have a skill to share. It’s good for your mental health, as it prevents senior isolation and depression. It promotes physical activity, and because you tend to plan or organize it makes you feel like you have more time. It can also help to expand your circle of friends and promote relationships
Other Activities
What else can you do to stay busy and have an active retirement? Make a list of things you are interested in and then activities that involve those interests.
Hobbies
The most obvious choice is to pursue a hobby. If you were too busy working and raising a family you should try to look for a hobby before you retire. That way you can explore alternatives and you will have something you love doing when you retire. Whether it is crosswords, sewing, bridge, knitting, gardening, music, coins, writing, or a combination of more than one it will give you something to look forward to as well as the chance to interact with others and have some interesting conversation with your spouse or others.
School
If you don’t have a hobby or skill you can go back to school. You can learn a new hobby or skill or perfect one. Painting, cooking, photography, woodworking, crafting ( and that list is endless) or go back to school for a degree or just classes you are interested in I once helped a gentleman sign up for college courses on US history because that was a fascination. Now he travels to see some of the places he studied about. Check your local community education or universities for free or reduced price classes.
Sports
You might want to take up a sport. If you are a golfer you already have a way to spend some leisure time. Many people don’t have the time to really pursue a sport during their earning years. Coming late to a sport should not deter you. You can get great pleasure and other benefits like fitness and socialization from new activities. Whether you take some golf or tennis lessons, or pick up a fishing rod, polish off your bike, head to a pool for some aerobics, or to the park to find the yoga, bocce or croquet group taking up a sport can bring real benefits.
Travel
The one thing that more than half of retirees say they want to do is travel. You can incorporate your sport your hobby or your skill into travel. Do you quilt, how about attending a large quilt fair or going to a part of the country to see quilts. Do you like to wine taste? What about going to a vineyard to help with harvest? Play golf at new courses, go to one of the big tennis matches. I know people who are visiting all the major league ball parks, soccer stadiums around the world and one couple that attends the summer olympics. If the love of outdoors calls perhaps camping and fishing are for you.
Whatever you do to fill your retirement hours takes planning. If one thing doesn’t work, look in another direction, but filling your time with worthwhile activities that bring joy will not just happen. Set a goal, make a plan and make the most of your retirement.
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