Picture this: you wake up on your first day of retirement. You sleep in because you have nowhere else to be. You’re cozy in your warm bed, but you decide to make your way downstairs to make a fresh pot of coffee.
Then it hits you. What will you do with all your free time? After you have coffee, what’s next? Sitting on the couch watching TV for the next 20 plus years?
Many pre-retirees don’t consider what they’ll do with their time once they retire. After all, you’ve spent most of your life going to a job Monday thru Friday. That takes up a lot of time! But in retirement, the days might start to feel a little longer.
If you’re not planning on working part-time in retirement, there are many other options you can consider to keep you busy:
Put your talents to use: Do you have a talent that you should share with the world? Maybe you’re a great violinist or maybe you build miniature boats for fun. Whatever you’re good at, someone out there would love to learn from you and maybe even pay for it. What could be better than sharing your gifts with someone who can appreciate them as much as you do?
Step outside your comfort zone: Try creating a bucket list of the things you said you never had time to do before. There’s no time like the present to accomplish them. Use your retirement to step outside your comfort zone and do things you never imagined you could do.
Try being an Airbnb host: Why not make a little extra money during retirement? You could either rent out a room or your entire house for as long as you desire. If you choose to rent out a room, this could be a good opportunity to meet new people from all over the country, even the world.
Start a side gig: Do you have a hobby that you could potentially make money doing? Why not start your very own business? Or drive for Uber. Or become a pet walker. Or put your sewing skills to use. With your extra time, you could make money to help your children, boost your retirement lifestyle, or donate to your favorite charity.
Run away from home: Has wanderlust struck your bones? It may be time to hit the road. Whether you decide to visit a friend, journey through every state, follow Route 66, or cruise around the world, running away might be a great option. Pack up the car – or jump on a plane – and follow the road wherever it takes you.
Donate your time: Sometimes, there’s nothing more fulfilling than helping others. When you were working a job, it may have been challenging to make volunteering a priority. Retirement provides you the opportunity to get involved with your favorite charity or non-profit.
Move: If all else fails, remain active. Since you’re no longer forced to go to work, you need motivations to move around and continue to be active. The more active you are, the healthier you could be.
The Simply Money Point
Preparing for retirement isn’t just about your financial situation; it’s also about how you plan to spend your time. Start now mapping out ways you could positively spend your time, and even make a little extra money. You never know where this could take you.
The Simply Money Advisors guide, “How to Prepare for Retirement,” is a good starting point to see if you’re on the right track for a secure financial future. Download it now for free.