You’ve spent decades in the workforce saving and planning for this day. Congratulations! You did it! But now what? After years of being productive, the novelty of relaxation, recreation and rest can get a bit dull. Here are 10 ideas to keep your retirement exciting:
- Travel. Really travel. Now that you’re retired you’re not confined by vacations days, CTO or PTO, pick the places you’ve always wanted to explore and really go there. Spend a month, 6 months or more so that you get a full and rich experience that couldn’t be possible in a few days.
- Buy a new motor vehicle, and I don’t mean a car. If you’ve always dreamed of driving cross-country in a motor home, or riding the open road on a motorcycle, or taking the waves in a boat, retirement is the time to live these adventures.
- Teach. Share the wisdom of your experiences with others by teaching at a local college or university.
- Volunteer. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping others, and volunteer activities can take many forms. You may be able to use your professional skills to provide pro-bono services, or you can get involved with community/social organizations that are meaningful to you.
- Go back to school. Keeping your mind sharp is key to a long and happy retirement. Whether you go back to school for a full- fledged degree program, or you learn a new language, or you take one of classes that are of interest to you, keeping your mind sharp and stimulated will help to keep you happy and healthy.
- Get cultured. Retirement is a great time to expand your horizons and pursue your passions. It is the perfect time in life to learn to play an instrument, explore music appreciation, learn to paint, draw or sculpt, or explore art appreciation. Take time to see theater, music , and dance performances.
- Spend time with family and friends. Time is the most precious asset we have and it is often taken up with work and responsibilities. Now that you have the gift of free time, share that gift with the people you care about. Deepen relationships with members of your family, spend quality time with children and grand-children. Spend more time with your friends and reconnect with old friends you haven’t seen in a while.
- Read. Reading can be a magical experience that allows you to be transported to a different place, time or mindset. Whatever your passion, whatever your interest, there is a book that has been written about it. Spend your retirement reading and you will never be bored. Or, better yet start a book club and turning reading into a social event with lively discussion.
- Write a book. Every one of us has a story to tell and you can spend your retirement putting your story on paper. Whether you write the great American novel, jot down your memoirs, use your experience to create a how-to-guide, or put together a cookbook of family recipes you will end up with something that will be cherished by your family members and could be a source of additional income.
- Live within your means. The most fantastic thing you can do in retirement is to make sure you do not outlive your savings. This means determining your monthly and annual expenses, creating a budget and sticking to it. You can create a lifetime of peace of mind if you save for retirement and create a plan for retirement income.
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