How to Focus On Your Passions After Retirement
| 2 min read
While retiring can have lots of positive benefits—no more daily grind, extra free time to spend with loved ones—it can also be a very big adjustment. Some people feel lost without a career to focus on and don’t know how to fill the hours in a day. But retirement is actually an amazing opportunity to devote yourself to doing something you love—whether it’s a hobby, volunteering or maybe traveling. Need a little help identifying what you’re passionate about? Answering the three questions below can help get you started:
- What is something you’ve always wanted to try? Have you ever wanted to learn how to play an instrument, take a cooking class on a foreign cuisine or learn a new skill like glassblowing? There’s no better time than now to pursue these interests. If you don’t know what hobby you would enjoy, think about what you liked doing as a kid or a class you loved in college. If you’re afraid to try something new on your own, invite a friend or family member to take the journey along with you.
- What activities do you get lost in? Think about something that, when you’re in the middle of doing it, you lose all track of time. Or an activity that always rejuvenates you. Or one you could do without ever getting tired of. It may be gardening, tutoring students, or even hiking.
- How are your friends and former coworkers spending their free time? If you’re really stumped about how to fill your days, take a look around you. Get inspiration from other people who are pursuing their passions. If one of your close friends plays golf often, join them for a game one day to see if you would enjoy it as well. Has one of your family members recently joined a community organization? Attend one of the meetings to see if the organization would be a good fit for you, too.
The most important thing is to realize that it’s never too late to try something new. Don’t be afraid of what others will think or worry if you’ll look silly. Don’t get discouraged if you end up trying an activity and realizing that it’s not as fun as you thought it would be. Retirement is the best time to explore new things and figure out what works and what doesn’t.
