3 Make-or-Break Questions Every Soon-to-Be Retiree Should Face

One of the biggest questions any retiree will face is how to have a successful and fulfilling retirement. There is no question that when you retire, you want to get away from the rat race of the corporate world and find a way to relax and enjoy your newfound free time meaningfully. 

As a result, there are generally three questions any soon-to-be retiree has to ask themselves about how they will fill their days: How will I fill them with a sense of purpose? What hobbies and or activities do I want to pursue? How will I stay socially connected to my friends and the world while retired?

Answering these three questions will prepare any retiree to cross the invisible line between work and a purpose-based retirement. 

How Will I Fill My Days and Maintain A Sense of Purpose? 

Arguably, the most crucial question for any soon-to-be retiree is how they will find purpose. After working for decades, one might feel lost after walking away from a job or industry they have been involved with for decades. 

Volunteering

One potential opportunity for retirees is to look at local organizations that align well with their values or interests. This could be a dog or food shelter, where someone can give back and spend time doing something meaningful. Volunteering provides a structure that isn’t unlike their day-to-day work but without stress. An emotional reward can come with volunteering, so there is something to consider. 

Learning

Another consideration is looking at an opportunity for lifelong learning, which could mean studying a language or learning a hobby like piano. Anything in this area might be something to consider, as well as joining study groups filled with like-minded people, which adds a layer of social conversation. There are hundreds of thousands of stories of retirees who learned a language during retirement, fulfilling a lifelong dream of being able to speak a second or third language. 

Community Work

One common way to ensure you keep a sense of purpose is to join a community organization. This ties right back to volunteering in some way, but community work such as clean-up drives or building homes could be a great way to find a sense of purpose. You could also restore a community park or build a new one from scratch, bringing this same sense of purpose and accomplishment. 

What Hobbies or Activities Do I Want to Pursue More Actively In Retirement? 

More Hobbies

One of the most immediate answers to this question is that retirees should consider diving headfirst into hobbies they enjoy. This could be photography, walking, model building, learning music, or anything else that meets the definition of a hobby. The hope is that these hobbies allow any retiree to fill their hours with something they are passionate about while being creative to keep their minds fresh. 

Being Creative 

This ties very closely to the idea of deepening interest in hobbies. Still, there is an opportunity to take up painting, creative writing, pottery, or anything else that would fill a similar niche. This might mean locating a local art studio with instructional courses that can guide you to learn more while building more interest in the hobby. You could also dive deep into something like painting to one day share your work at community exhibitions or around your local area. 

Staying Physical 

One of the most important habits someone in retirement can have is staying healthy and physically fit to live a long and happy retirement. This could be something as simple as stretching every morning, or if you live in a retirement community, there might be exercise classes, bicycle groups, or even yoga classes that you can participate in. Any physical activity will be good for your body and mind, and it’s an opportunity to meet new people and be social. 

New Adventures

Among the very best reasons to be retired is all of the free time you now have to try out hobbies and adventures you were previously unable to do. This might be something as simple as bird-watching or an Alaskan cruise to see polar bears.

Perhaps you want to take up one of the hobbies discussed above or photography, as this could lead you to join a local wildlife club that goes out on the weekends and photographs wildlife. Any of these things could be a great way to get you up in the morning and ready for a busy day. 

How Will I Stay Socially Connected In Retirement? 

Being socially connected during retirement is definitely important, as it helps your mind stay active and busy. The good news is that there are many ways to do this. 

Interest-Based Groups

The idea of an interest-based group takes us right back to finding others who share similar interests in photography, painting, bicycling, or any other shared interest. Knowing that you have a shared interest is an excellent foundation for starting to talk and building relationships with others, which can lead to a sense of camaraderie and help many retirees not feel alone. The hope is that shared connections will result in deeper friendships that can evolve over the years into something meaningful. 

Community Activities 

Yet another idea that sounds very similar to the answers from the questions above is to engage in community activities. Anything from charity runs to cultural festivals and farmers’ markets can help ingrain you with a sense of community, these common bonds can form friendships. You’ll be able to meet new people from all walks of life with whom you can start to build a foundation and create lasting friendships. 

Take Advantage of Technology 

One of the many benefits of technology is that you can stay connected to people worldwide, especially family. The rise of video chatting makes it easy to talk to friends, children, and grandchildren, wherever they are. It’s a good idea to organize a weekly call to give yourself something to look forward to. You can also consider joining online communities for those who love to discuss travel, photography, cars, or any other shared hobby. 

Be The Host

This won’t be suited for everyone, but playing host for regular community gatherings is a great way to bring everyone in your area together. You could look to organize a weekly dinner or movie night at your home or even something as simple as a book club. There is something special about being able to bring everyone together and help others meet new people to help them make new friends, which can also give you a sense of fulfillment. 

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