Nowadays, most retirees strive to remain active, getting involved in their communities and participating in various activities. Many opportunities are available, both in small towns and big cities, for seniors to stay engaged, no matter what their likes or abilities are. Honeybunnytwee shares a few ways seniors can keep enjoying life after retiring:
A Senior’s Guide to Enjoying Retirement
Stay Healthy
Retiring often means you don’t have to adhere to someone else’s schedule any longer. Take advantage of this newfound freedom to join your local gym; many offer special discounts for seniors, as well as a variety of exercise classes like water aerobics, yoga, and strength training. If joining a gym just doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, take a walk or go on a bike ride at your local park and enjoy the benefits of nature and sunshine. Staying healthy also means eating a variety of nutritious foods, so how about growing your own vegetable garden as a hobby? It will provide both good nutrition and exercise.
Volunteer
If you enjoy helping others, consider doing some volunteer work for people and causes you care about. If you like books, your local library might be looking for seniors to work at the circulation desk or to read aloud to young children during storytime hour. Do you like animals? Volunteer at the animal shelter, where you will help socialize pets looking for a good home. Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and food banks all need volunteer help year-round. If you enjoy driving around town and spending time with people, delivering meals to the elderly is a great way to donate your time and make new friends.
Start a Business
Even though you’re retired, you still want to feel fulfilled and happy. So why not put your work experience to good use, or turn your existing hobby into a small business? Woodworking, bakery, jewelry-making — all these activities have the potential to turn into profit. Small businesses come in all shapes and sizes, and you can either go it alone or hire others to help you. But finding talented workers to assist you doesn’t have to be an extra chore on your plate, though: Hire a recruiter that will sift through stacks of résumés and interview potential candidates to find you the best workers for the job.
Become a Mentor
You’ve spent many years learning the tricks of your trade, and now is the time to share them with others! Call companies in your area and offer to mentor younger people working in your line of business. If done right, one of the benefits of mentoring is that you will not only nurture the career of the person you are mentoring, but you will also keep learning about your field of expertise. A good mentor should be a good listener, and maybe your mentee will teach you about new developments in your previous line of work, too!
Take on a New Hobby
Have you always wanted to learn how to paint beautiful landscapes, play a musical instrument or learn a foreign language? It’s never too late to start! Find a private tutor or a small class to learn a new skill. Looking for a more affordable option? Community colleges also offer a variety of classes for all ages and skill levels. So if you’ve been wanting to learn photography, pottery, or American Sign Language, there’s no time like the present!
Retirement gives you the opportunity to explore new places, find new interests and develop new relationships. So, reach out to people and organizations that share your passions, and enjoy this new chapter in your life!
