Traditionally, retirement involves a well-earned break for those who have worked for a lifetime. But, modern retirement now offers a wealth of opportunities for seniors. No matter what age you retire, you’ve probably got a fair few years ahead of you. Your career has ended, and your children have flown the nest, so it’s time to give your life a new purpose. Here are 6 ways to find a new direction in life after you retire.
1. Enjoy Your Freedom
While the typical American workforce hasn’t suffered a lifetime of hard labor, you’ve probably faced deadlines, performance appraisals, and crushing boredom. Retirement is the time to sit back and enjoy your new freedom. You might notice that you stop feeling exhausted all the time, your anxiety is melting away and you can now sleep better. Without highly stressful situations in your life, it’s likely that your health and energy levels will start to improve.
2. Rediscover Yourself
If you begin to get a little bored after you first retire, it’s time to move on past the vacation-stage. Think about how you really want to spend your time. Explore your interests, do some research, and write down your thoughts and dreams. You could always go back to school to finish a degree, start a business or make time for things you’ve always wanted to do. Lots of retirees take volunteer jobs at places to find a purpose. Or, this might be the travel opportunity you’ve always been waiting for.
3. Make Some Plans
It’s one thing to dream big, but it’s another to turn your dreams into a reality. Create a plan and stick to it. No more excuses – you’ve got plenty of time on your hands. If you want to travel the world, start with a small trip first or dive right in, it’s up to you.
If you want to study something, go back to school or join a community college. For example, one retired federal employee took classes at his local senior center and now teaches a course in international relations.
4. Develop New Routines
If you are missing your old daily routine, start a new one. For instance, you can attend an exercise class twice-weekly, start a part-time job, or go to church every Sunday. It could be as simple as meeting your friends for coffee two or three times per week. Routines can provide structure for retirees who can otherwise find themselves becoming lonely. It’s important to maintain a life purpose.
5. Make New Friends
Maybe you’re missing your old work colleagues? Loneliness can creep up as you lose touch with old friends, and sometimes it’s hard to make new ones. Don’t be afraid to reach out to new colleagues at your volunteer job or others at your community center. If you don’t do either of those things, you could join the local senior center in your town. These centers offer programs and are usually full of friendly people. Try joining the line dancing, knitting, or bridge club. If that’s not right for you, get a pet instead. A dog will provide companionship and you might meet like-minded people at the dog park.
6. Recalculate
Despite your careful planning, you might find that you’ve made a false start. Some people have trouble adjusting to their new freedom and end up working for another year or two before they are ready. Maybe you’ve moved to a quiet retirement community, but now you miss the city? When moving to a new place, renting for the first year is a good idea, as you might change your mind. Try things out, and then reassess your needs. You might not find your dream retirement lifestyle on the first try, but that’s ok.
