No one loves every single thing about their workday, but when you’re retired you might miss the predictability, routine and challenges that your work gave you. Let’s shift our mindset from what we had and look at the opportunities that retirement presents.
Once you no longer need to worry about earning money, it is possible to love every second of your new retirement schedule. You just need to be intentional about spending your time doing things that interest you with the people you care about the most.
If you have been in retirement for some time, you probably have a schedule that will keep you busy. If you are still seeing too many blank time blocks, discuss these three points with your spouse and you might discover a new hobby you can add into the mix.
Reflect on what you did when you were younger.
Before you were high-powered executives raising three kids, you and your spouse were carefree newlyweds who loved to … Do what? Take long bike rides? Collect vinyl records? Take day trips to new restaurants? Play team sports?
OK, maybe your coed soccer days are behind you. But even activities you can’t pick up again could lead you to a new hobby. Joining a bowling league or coaching a youth team might scratch that old competitive itch. On the other hand, if work and parenting added a few strokes to your handicap, working with a coach could get you back on the fairway.
Consider whether you might need to unplug or connect more.
Two common retirement pitfalls are feeling isolated and feeling like you and your spouse are driving each other crazy.
Diversifying hobbies can help address both concerns and nourish different parts of ourselves. If your house has suddenly shrunk since retirement, carve out some time and space so that you can pursue a personal hobby, and give your spouse room to do the same. Even something as simple as dedicated reading time can help you unwind and dig a little deeper into your interests.
If you’re missing the camaraderie and team building you experienced at work, think about new ways to make similar connections. You could become a consultant or mentor for young professionals in your field. Join a social club or volunteer organization that’s making a positive impact in your community. Or stop waiting for the phone to ring and reach out to other retired friends who might love to grab a cup of coffee or start up a weekly tennis match.
Think about whether you want to exercise your mind or your body.
Folks who already have a healthy exercise regimen might feel a little bored without the problem solving and learning they enjoyed at work. Try enrolling in an online class or getting serious about a craft like writing, painting, or woodworking. You could also talk to your kids and grandkids about the ways they’re using technology to connect and create. Learning about the wealth of apps and websites beyond social media can help you keep pace with our rapidly changing world.
Just don’t get too comfortable on the couch with your phone or PC. With good nutrition and a regular exercise routine you have potentially decades of retirement living to look forward to. If you’ve had trouble sticking with an exercise plan in the past, it could be you just haven’t found physical activities that clicked with you. Many personal trainers and gyms have put classes online, some at no cost. That Pilates or Taekwondo class might be a little less intimidating if you can try it out in your living room.
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Mission Wealth is a Registered Investment Adviser. This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Mission Wealth employees providing such comments. It should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Mission Wealth or performance returns of any Mission Wealth client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Mission Wealth manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
