Fun things to do in retirement to keep busy

The question on everyone’s lips when the word ‘retirement’ is mentioned is always ‘How are you going to fill all of your free time?’

In reality, when you speak to retirees, most of them will answer with, ‘I don’t know how I ever had time to work.’ The transition between full time work and retirement seems to be daunting for many people but the chances are that you will easily find ways to fill your time. We’ve included a few handy tips to help to give you some inspiration. You might also find our top 10 tips for planning for retirement useful.

What are good retirement hobbies?

Different hobbies are enjoyable for different people and finding the right one for you may take some time to find. Having a hobby in retirement is vital to ensure that you keep your mind and your lifestyle busy. So, where to start? Is there something you’ve always wished you had more time to do and you haven’t been able to? We’ve included our top list for you to browse:

• Start a blog 
• Travel 
• Join a sports team
• Birdwatching 
• Volunteer
• Join a book club 
• Get an allotment 
• Birdwatching 
• Learn a new language 
• Join a walking group 
• Join a film club

Once you find something you want to try, reaching out to clubs and organisations in your local area is a good way to open the door to your new hobby and you could even make some new friends.

What should you not do in retirement?

When you retire you often get told what you should do with your free time. However, there are things you should always keep an eye out for:

Don’t let loneliness creep into your life 

When you have a job, it not only allows your brain to remain busy, it also provides an opportunity for social interaction. Making the transition to retirement can mean some of that social interaction you have been used to disappears. You can do many things to try to combat the onset of loneliness such as involving yourself in activities where you can meet new friends of all ages.

Many retirees are unaware that over 55s independent living communities exist to combat the growing issue of loneliness that many people face. You can read more about it here.  

Don’t be afraid to try new things 

Turn a vocation into a new career, get a part-time job, volunteer, go back to school, or take a class. Try new things! It’s never too late to exercise your entrepreneurial spirit or to learn something new, and any of these can add some needed structure to your life, quiet any restlessness and open up new channels of socialization.

Not only will you have fun and keep your brain active but it also means you will meet new people.

Don’t blow your savings 

Most retirees are on a fixed income when they retire. It also tends to be a great deal less than when you were working with a regular part or full-time salary coming in. Budgeting and financial planning are essential. You can also take advantage of these tips to ensure your retirement can be enjoyed:

• Economise on goods and services
• Sell what you don’t use 
• Downsize your home to release money 
• Take advantage of your senior citizen status 
• Keep track of what you’re spending 

Platinum Skies exists to offer affordable housing to the over 55s through our shared ownership proposition. It allows people to downsize their home and release money for them to live life to the full in retirement. Speak to one of our dedicated Relationship Managers today to find how we might be able to help. Call us on 01202 040996.