Today I Learned...
Key Takeaways:
- Consider all the new activities you can do with your free time.
- Find ways to enjoy life in retirement by staying active.
- Retirement can offer more opportunities to pursue activities of your choice.
etirement is a time of great change. You may be looking forward to it with excitement and anticipation, but there are also many challenges that come with retirement that you need to prepare for.
One of the biggest challenges is boredom. In order to avoid becoming bored in retirement, you should make sure you have a plan for the next stage of your life.
Here are four simple ways you can best embrace retirement:
1. Volunteer.
Try volunteering at a local charity or organization that interests you. Volunteering is not only good for your health but also gives you a sense of purpose beyond yourself. And when we feel like we're helping others, we feel happier too!
Find out if there are any opportunities for seniors. Many places will have volunteer programs specifically designed for people who have retired from their careers or who are retired from their families and want something meaningful to do with their time now that they're free from those responsibilities.
Learn more about getting started as a volunteer: How to Find Volunteer & Remote Job Opportunities!
2. Take classes.
Go to the local community college and take some classes. It's a great way to learn new things, meet new people, and have fun while you're at it! You can even get credit towards your degree if you want to go back eventually!
Sign up for online courses. Try a class on GetSetUp! There are so many classes to choose from finance to crafting to technology and many more!
3. Find a hobby.
Hobbies are great ways to get out of the house and meet new people. If you don't know where to start, try these:
- Find your purpose through gardening!
- Go on hikes with friends (or by yourself)
- Learn how to bake something new each week and invite friends over so they can try it!
- Take up woodworking, painting, pottery-making, watercolor painting, crocheting or knitting.
- Try creating crafts from what you already have! Recycled crafts is a great way to get creative, have fun and reuse/recycle. Learn how: Recycled Crafts: Making the Most Out Of What You Already Have.
It's important to keep yourself engaged and active while you're retired, so try finding something new that interests you! There are tons of hobbies out there! Just find something that interests you and get started!
4. Get active!
There are tons of ways to stay active in retirement. You can go for hikes and walks, join a yoga class or take up tennis lessons (or better yet, try both!). Even if it’s just walking around the neighborhood, getting out and moving around will help keep your mind sharp, improve your mood and energy levels, and make it easier for you to sleep at night.
You'll feel better both physically and mentally when you can stay active!
Try out one of our fitness classes on GetSetUp and get moving! You can try our morning fitness class and get started: Morning Fitness - Let's Get Moving (aerobic exercise).
Some people find retirement to be the most exciting time of their lives, but for others, it can be a challenge.
We hope this article helped you learn some ways to avoid boredom in retirement and found some ways to embrace the change.
