Retirement. All those years and preparation and you can finally relax. But after a few weeks, you realize that spending Monday through Friday at the office took up a lot of your time, and now you need a new way to fulfill yourself. Don’t fret! This is the point in your life where you get to do the things you always wanted to do!
Here are 10 uncommon retirement plans for life beyond the desk.
- Find a job you love.
We’ve all heard the expression, “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Now that you just got out of your career, the last thing you probably want to think about is heading back into the workforce. But finding meaningful work can be a great way to feel fulfilled and spend your time. Think about the jobs that you would pay to do. Cruise ship tour lecturer. Wrigley Field usher. Uber driver – the possibilities are endless to find something that you enjoy, or is an extension of your hobby.
- Donate Your Skills For Good
With more than ten years of experience leading and managing pro bono, the Taproot Foundation is a great place for individuals to get started doing pro bono. In working with the Taproot Foundation, you’ll learn how to do pro bono, you’ll meet other individuals also contributing their skills pro bono to support a nonprofit, and you’ll get to work with some incredible organizations doing amazing work in communities across the country. Volunteering your expertise can be a great way to give back and leave a mark on your new beginning. If you’re looking for a worthwhile organization locally, consider volunteering with Miracles for Kids, an Orange County based non-profit that supplies food, shelter, rent checks, and medical services to low income families with children battling rare diseases.
- Read 1,225 pages.
Let’s be honest. When have you ever had the time to read all 1,225 pages of War and Peace? Reading is a great way to keep the mind sharp and to be well informed. Dust off your library card, subscribe to a few of your favorite blogs online, and continue pursuing the path of being a relentless learner by spending your time consuming the world’s best literature.
- Travel to a country you never knew existed
Watch the Opening Ceremony of any Summer Olympics and you’ll discover a country that you never heard of. Or, open any map of America and find a city you can’t pronounce. Consider traveling there and exploring the unknown. Going on a travel adventure is one of the most exciting things that retirees look forward to. There’s finally enough money and time to devote to seeing all the things that you have always wanted to see. Carefully watch your retirement savings and see what is feasible, and go see the world! Traveling is one of the best ways to be more cultured.
- Start a club of like-minded people
Retirement is about finding your community. If you can’t find your community, then consider starting a club to bring together like minded people. Devoting more energy to your love of hiking will no doubt bring you happiness. That being said, finding more people that enjoy your hobby can make it all the more engaging. Find groups in your town and connect with people. Use apps like WeGoDo or Meetup.com that let you search by a wide range of interests to find like-minded people in your area to spend your days with. Or, join your local rotary club or red hat society. Be social!
- Teach your passion
You are unique. You have a skill set and passions that are unlike anyone else walking this planet. Whether your passion is piano, backyard gardening, or hiking, you have an incredible opportunity to share your passion with the world. Explore teaching opportunities at your local community college. Teach courses online using a site like Udemy. Or, do a one-time event like giving a TEDx talk in your community. Sharing your passion with others will leave you fulfilled and leave others excited to learn more.
- Do A FitBit Challenge
Fitness challenges are a fun way to help you stay motivated by competing with friends and family. Plus, there’s no better time than now to stay in shape. Getting older means the increased need for a healthy lifestyle and now you have the freedom to fit it into your schedule with ease. Invest in a fitness tracking device and go for walks in the morning. Take a class at the gym. Staying active and tracking your activities help provide you with daily satisfaction.
- Learn Icelandic
Ok, maybe not Icelandic since it’s regarded as one of the hardest languages to learn, but learning a language is an incredible skill to have under your belt. Take a class and take it seriously, and within a few years, you will be proficient enough to get by. Then the opportunity arises to visit a country that speaks that language, and you will only come back even more fluent. Not to mention, learning a new language increases intelligence, decision making, and concentration.
- Host A Bingo Event
Start having different types of events at your house. Invite friends over for movies, games, or cooking. Make it a regular thing. Hopefully over time, it becomes bigger and more routine. Feel free to make it more organized important too, such as watching every episode of a show or having chess competitions.
- Cook Paella
Retirement is such a good opportunity for you to widen your cookbook. Chances are, you’ve got your few main dishes that you cook all the time, and maybe a few specialties that you make on occasion. This is your chance to make your kitchen a melting pot (pun intended) of delicious new recipes. On top of that, you can use this to eat healthier and intentionally cut out foods that we all eat too much of. You could even take a class and take home tips from an expert.
Retirement is your new beginning. These uncommon retirement plans are just a start to an infinite list of activities. Whatever it is that you decide to do, enjoy it.
Schedule a portfolio review with Miramontes Capital today to discuss how we can help you achieve your meaningful life through retirement planning.