Finding Retirement Activfities

People think they will find a hobby or get involved in volunteer work after they retire. Studies show this is not the case. Unless you were involved with activities prior to retiring, you will struggle afterwards. Here’s how to get started finding new interests.

For many, retirement is about creating a new life. With so many options and opportunities, many people feel lost and don’t know where to start. Here’s a simple exercise to help figure out what a “meaningful activity” would look like.

Take eight to twelve pieces of paper and think of activities during which you have felt engaged and was meaningful. These are activities where you lost all sense of time. You enjoyed what your were doing, but felt challenged. You were proud of the results when it was complete. Think back to school, hobbies, extra curricular activities, work, home, community, or church. Write them down, and then answer the following five questions for each activity.

Jeff recently retired and took on an activity most people wouldn’t dream. He’s building a plane from scratch. When he answered the following questions, it became clear why this was a perfect choice for him. Your activities may not be as involved, but the important thing is how you felt when you were engaged.

1. What five or six traits did I get to use while engaged in this activity?
For example, Jeff, who listed building a plane as one of his activities, wrote that this activity allowed him to be handy, analytical, methodical, practical, and observant.

2. What passions/interests did the activity meet?
For Jeff, it was working with his hands, risk-taking, being outdoors, solving complex problems, and the feeling of adventure.

3. What skills/talents did you get to use?
Jeff listed hand-eye coordination, physical strength, synthesizing information, visualizing, planning, and organizing.

4. What goals/purpose did the activity have?
Jeff’s goal was to build a plane he could fly.

5. What was the goal of the experience?
For Jeff, it was the workmanship of creating a tangible product and creative expression.

Once all of the questions are answered, lay the papers on the floor in front of you and look at what the recurring themes are in the different activities. This should give you some idea about what activities you enjoy. By identifying the traits, skills, interests, and values that matter, retirees will be closer to discovering activities that not only bring them pleasure, but feed their soul as well.