Retirement doesn't have to mean knitting needles and lawn bowls - not that there is anything wrong with those activities, of course.
But there are different ways to pass the time, just in case you’re looking to change things up during these happy years.
Whatever you choose to do, your body and mind will benefit.
Sign Up For A Class: Keep your mind active, and use the extra brainpower you have at your age, by signing up for a class. Many retirees learn a foreign language or upgrade their computer skills, while others take up new hobbies or are keen to grasp new and fresh ideas for their current hobbies.
Become A Social Person: This is a great time to meet other people and further explore your interests, so why not join groups or clubs in your area. Whether they’re centred around books, chess, astronomy, or gem and mineral exploration, there’s something that’s bound to tickle your fancy.
Become A Sporty Type: If work and family commitments stopped you from pursuing your favourite sport back in the day, here’s your chance to finally do so. Check if there are organised sports leagues for retirees in your area. You can play your sport at a slightly gentler pace, and the social outlet it will provide will be just as good for you.
Make Fitness A Hobby: You don’t have to play an organised sport to enjoy physical benefits. Keep your body in shape, and ward off the diseases that are often connected with inactivity, by making fitness your hobby. Walking, gardening and cycling are easy ways to do it, or you can even join the gym. Many insurance companies offer free gym membership so take a good read of your policy.
Write What You Know: You have years of stories to tell, and many experiences that family and friends would love for you to share. By writing your memoir, even if only a few people read it, you’re giving them what you want and engaging your brain.
Finally, there is time to write that book you always wanted to do, or to set up and manage a blog, write articles to be published in magazines or elsewhere, poems or your memoirs.
Share Your Knowledge: With a long and successful career behind you, and plenty of life experience as well, why not help others by becoming a tutor or a mentor to school kids or adults? You can pass on your professional knowledge or skills, and make some handy pocket money in some cases.
Reconnect With Your Family: Here’s a golden opportunity to spend more time with those close to you, especially your grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Make a point of attending their school and sporting activities, or take them to special events, zoos, museums, and sports games. You can offer to babysit, or help with their schooling by reading to them, helping with their school projects and acting as a tutor. Everyone will get so much out of this “hobby:
Read In Retirement: Reading is a great escape from the world around you, it takes you to far off places, it teaches you new things, it entertains you, and it gets the brain working. There are so many benefits to reading regularly, and now you have more time to do it!
Connect With Your Spiritual Side: Many retirees explore aspects of life that they never encountered during their working lives. For example, meditation, yoga, religion and other spiritual outlets give them a new perspective on life. If you want to do something different during your retirement, then this could be an alternative route to follow?
