Ah,
Retirement. The time in life when you can finally ditch that 9 to 5 grind and
start living it up. But let’s face it, work isn’t just about the Money. It
gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It gets us out of bed in the
morning (or at least it used to before you retired). Your job can make you feel
needed, productive, and useful, by providing goals. Having a purpose in life also
fulfills some biological needs, helping to keep your brain and immune system
healthy.

So,
what’s a retiree to do? Well, first off, don’t just retire from something,
retire to something. Find a hobby, volunteer, learn a new skill, or get
yourself a furry friend. Heck, you could even do all of the above! After
retirement, it’s important to look for new sources of meaning—activities that
add joy and enrich your life.

Retirement
may not have to be all-or-nothing. If you’re not ready to make a clean break
from the working world, why not ease into retirement with a part-time job or
sabbatical? This way, you can still have a purpose, make some extra cash, and
have time to explore your newfound freedom. This also can help you gauge how
well you can live on the budget you’ve allocated for retirement.

Donating
your time and effort to a cause that’s important to you can add meaning and a
sense of accomplishment to your retirement life, as well as benefit your
community. Volunteering can help expand your social network, boost your
self-worth, and improve your health.

If
you have a longstanding hobby that enriches your life, you’ve likely earmarked
retirement as an opportunity to invest more of your time to pursuing it. If
you’ve had to sacrifice your hobbies for the sake of your career, though, it’s
time to resurrect old interests or nurture new ones, things you’ve always
wanted to try. Whether your interests lay in travelling, nature, sports, or the
arts, for example, try enrolling in a club, joining a team, or taking a class.

Whether
you want to learn to play a musical instrument, speak a second language, or
complete a degree or high school diploma, adult Education classes are a great
way to expand your mind, develop new interests, and set fresh goals for
yourself.

And
let’s not forget about the furry friends. Pets are the ultimate companion for
retirees. They keep you company, keep you active, and provide endless love and
snuggles. Plus, they’ll never complain about your constant dad jokes.

So,
don’t let retirement scare you. Embrace it! Find what makes you happy and
fulfilled, and go for it. Who knows, you may just end up living your best life
yet.

Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/

Royce Shook Blogger

I served as a teacher, a teacher on Call, a Department Head, a District Curriculum, Specialist, a Program Coordinator, and a Provincial Curriculum Coordinator over a forty year career. In addition, I was the Department Head for Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a professor both online and in person at the University of Phoenix (Canada) from 2000-2010.

I also worked with Special Needs students. I gave workshops on curriculum development and staff training before I fully retired