Are you nearing retirement age and wondering how you will constructively fill your time? Many of us cannot wait for retirement to do all the things we always wanted to do but were tied down working full-time. However, there are others who believe they have to continue working for more than financial reasons. I have heard people say they are terrified of the thought of retirement, or they do retire and then go back to working because they are bored or depressed. Retirement should be a time for us to enjoy life as much as possible, depending upon our health and financial situations, of course. After many years of having to adhere to the schedules and rules of others, I think we deserve it! I have put together suggestions of rewarding activities, many of which are very affordable.
VOLUNTEERING: Many volunteer opportunities can be found in your local newspaper or online to help adults, children or animals in need. Animal shelters are always in need of volunteers. Also, if you love to travel and have the means to do so, there are many diverse volunteer opportunities abroad, such as community outreach, childcare, teaching English, basic education, medical aid, helping rescued animals, conservation, and many more. Some of these opportunities are geared toward seniors.
TRAVEL FOR PLEASURE: As a lover of travel and adventure, I have found a way to lessen the expenses of airfare and hotels. There are credit or charge cards that give back points for mileage for travel. In order to avoid interest charges, the statement balance should be paid every month. Some airlines have their own cards that give very good travel rewards.
GARDENING: Creating a garden or working in your garden can be very enjoyable. A butterfly garden is especially rewarding. It’s so beautiful seeing all the different colorful butterflies and other pollinators reaping the rewards of our efforts. There are many host and nectar plants to be found but be sure to shop at pesticide-free nurseries for your pollinator-friendly plants. Also, make sure you wear plenty of sun protection and plan to be outside when the sun is not at its most powerful.
JOIN A GYM: A vital part of staying in good shape and mobile as you age is to stay active. Several Medicare plans provide a free gym membership to its members. Aside from using weights and cardio machines to keep us in good shape with strong bones, gyms have many classes, such as Zumba, other fun dance classes, yoga, tai chi, etc.
TAKE A CREATIVE CLASS: Painting, sculpture, glass blowing, mosaic, ballroom dance classes or something else that may interest you, such as learning to play a musical instrument. Many of us have unrealized talents!
CREATE USING ONLINE TUTORIALS: You can teach yourself how to make jewelry, scrapbooks or family histories with photos at no charge to you except for supplies of course.
TRY OUT SOME NEW AND CHALLENGING RECIPES: Maybe you enjoy cooking but were unable to spend a lot of time doing it since there were so many chores to get done on the weeknights and weekends while you were working. Also, baking can be a lot of fun and so rewarding (albeit a bit risky if you want to keep your weight down).
WRITING: Do you have interesting things to say or memoirs to write about your former career or travel you have done? Now is the time to do it.
JOIN A MEETUP: Check on Meetup.com, where there are a myriad of groups for many different interests and age groups. You can probably find several groups either in your area or within a manageable driving distance. Many are just social groups where people get together to do different activities, such as games, movies, shows, restaurants, etc. Many friendships have been forged through Meetup. You can never have too many friends, and you will never lack a companion to see a show or maybe even take a trip with, especially for those of us who are single.
SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY: This can be a time to reunite with family, both immediate and extended.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER: … and come home with your new best friend. Our furry companions keep us both busy and happy and make us feel needed.
PART-TIME JOB: Maybe you enjoyed the social aspect of having a job. You can always get a part-time job where you can interact with people every day but still have flexibility and time to spend on other activities or just relaxing.
The key to staying happy and healthy is to stay active, spend time with friends and family or your furry friend(s) so that you are never lonely or feel like you no longer have a purpose in life.
