Are you someone who wonders if you will be bored when you retire because you can’t imagine what you will do in retirement when you are no longer fully occupied by your work? Here are 5 golden rules for things to do in retirement.
- Do what you enjoy
- Do what you’ve always wanted to do
- Keep on learning
- Keep healthy
- Join in
Do what you enjoy is most important because retirement is a time for you to have fun and stop doing things which frustrate, annoy or upset you. When you were working you probably had to do many things you didn’t want to do but in retirement you have choices. If there are things that have to be done and you don’t want to do them either let them go or get someone else to do them. You could pay for someone to do some gardening or housework or if those are things you enjoy then do a swop with a friend so you help each other.
Do what you’ve always wanted to do because retirement is the time to finish projects you started years ago, get your clutter sorted at last and do things you didn’t get around to before. Maybe you always wanted to travel to and see other parts of the world. Make your plans and do it now.
Keep on learning because it’s important to keep your brain active and the best way to do this is to keep on learning new skills. You could learn a language or a musical instrument or take an Open University course or go to your local Adult Education college and take up a new hobby.
Keep healthy because as you get older your body needs as much help as possible to keep as fit as possible. Keep walking, do yoga, swim, dance whatever form of exercise appeals to you. Remember too that eating lots of fruit and vegetables and keeping your food as natural as you can will enable you to maintain your health for a long time.
Join in with whatever appeals to you in your local community. Get involved and contribute to things going on. You are at a stage in your life when you have a lot to offer others and it can be satisfying to help others. These rules are important if you want to enjoy your retirement and each one will provide a wealth of ideas for what to do in your retirement.
What are your golden rules for what to do in retirement? Let me know in the comment box below!
Your list of five golden rules offers good advice. I especially like “do what you enjoy” and “do what you’ve always wanted to do.” In fact, it’s important for a retired person to find “their true retired self.” This, however, will generally not come easily. A newly retired person might “flounder around” for a few months (or a couple of years) before finding “their true retired self.” Bill
Thank you for your comments. I like your phrase about people finding their ‘true retired self.’
I believe this may be someone who appears different from their ‘working self’ Or maybe the tue self is waiting to be let out when the time is right. You just have to be willing to set it free!