It used to be that during retirement each day presents a new opportunity to try something new. That was pre-Covid. But this year, 2022, we will be emerging post Covid. Many of us got our vaccine shots and boosters. It is time to start looking to the our future plans and activities.
In fact, each day allows for the freedom of choice and allows the retiree to explore new things as a well-deserved reward for all of the hard work accomplished after years of employment. However, for us retirees it has been quite a challenge to keep things interesting and exciting during those long periods of time every day at home.
Certainly there are occasional projects and tasks around the house, but when you are talking about filling 20 to 30 years of significant and worthwhile things to do, the task may seem a bit overwhelming. With the kids grown, no more getting up for work, and the dogs only needing to be walked one to two times per day, many find it challenging to keep life spiced up post-retirement and post Covid. Looking for help?
Here is a list of fun and entertaining ideas to keep retirement anything but mundane:
1. Visit Parks We have so many local, state and national parks all around us. Rent a cabin in one of your state parks.
2. Start Hiking Again getting outdoors will be nice. Nature is so refreshing.
3. Socialize with your family and friends. We got our vaccine shots, I think many with want to get together again. Can we get back to normal. I think we can.
4. Keep up the walking. Enter some of the local races and just walk. Walk local parks and gardens, down towns and other places other than your regular route.
5. Play games. Already looking forward to playing bocce and some pickleball. How about you? Or start collecting things….I collect exposition medals and tokens.
6. Spend time with loved ones. This one may seem obvious, but retirement can keep you busy traveling, taking up new activities and entertaining. With all that retirement offers, you may find yourself a little busy and your loved ones a bit neglected. Remember to spend time with your family and friends to ensure that relationships are strengthened during your retirement years. Many of use have not seen the relatives in two years now. It’s time to pay a visit! Family vacations and frequent dinners together are always great activities to keep loved ones close.
7. Become a foodie. While you may not become the next food critic on television you can enjoy the experience of tasting new and exciting foods that you have never encountered before. Make a list of the types of foods you would like to try and conduct some research on where to go. Set a schedule and take your loved one out for dinner to a new place every week.
8. Find a charitable organization to take part in. Retirement years are a great time to give back to the community you live in. Find volunteer options that suit your skills and carry out something rewarding locally or even globally. There is a tremendous need for volunteers in all sects of public service.
9. Plan a remodel. We have been spending a lot of time at home the past two years. Is there a part of the house that you have wanted to restructure for some time? Well, there is no time like the present retirement state. Now that you have a little time on your hands, use this valuable resource to design some home improvements. Rather than moving into another home, make your current one an even better place to live.
10. Move to an Active Adult Community – Want to have more fun, then move to an Active Adult Community, like Del Webb, Cresswind or The Villages. There are tons of fun things to do and people to do them with.
Do nothing – you deserve it. You may have developed a slower routine in the stay at home times we have had. You may have taken time to relax and enjoy certain things not enjoyed before. Keep what you like. Rather than thinking of nothing as a bad thing, think of all the times you were too busy to even think straight. Nothing can be a good thing, especially during retirement. There are days when you will want to keep busy, but on occasion you may want to slow down, curl up on the hammock and take a nap. Learn to mediate! There is nothing wrong with a little rest and relaxation. You deserve it!
This is a great list! Everyone should think about trying these to freshen things up. Thanks for sharing! Travel Curiously!
This is a great idea. There is always a thing that we can start on this year. Thanks for the list.
Rightly said, You are never too old to play the piano, BTW thanks for crafting a great list.
Thank you so much for a great list. Tweeted today to our global community of 43,000 women over 60 – http://www.sixtyandme.com
What a wonderful list. I’d take the trip when the kids are all grown up. 😀
This is my basic “to do” list and should be reviewed by Baby Boomers every week. These are the things I waited my whole to to find the time to do and now I am trying to do them all at. Start early Boomers and enjoy your retirement. Thanks for a great article.
I’ve done a lot these….all worthy projects, so to speak!
Awesome! Numbers 9, 13, 15 are on my list. I’m not so sure about number 4. LOL
Thanks for the excellent site!
Randy
Good universal list of people, places, and things to do.
My favorites: become a fan of a local high school team. Nothing like seeing kids face off and learn from the experience.
Learn a musical instrument and record your efforts. You’ll be amazed how fast you sound better.
Plan a trip to a country where you don’t speak the language for an immersion into how mime’s think.
If you’re not retired, pick from the list for starters. When you have more time, you’ll slide right into the new stuff without the break in period.
i like your trip and sex toys idea very much.it’s new idea for me and my partner.thanks for share it.your all ideas is very good and nice.
Wow, that activities list looks really fun and challenging to do.
I got some other ideas by reading that lists.
Thanks for spreading and sharing that ideas. 😀
you 12, 13, 14, and 15 is very nice an i like them all.
What a great list. We should try new things to freshen up your life. I really like your article. Thank you for sharing it with us..
25 smashing ideas here. Thanks for smashing wonderful ideas. Become a foodie, looks like my kind of thing.
Hi – I’m a blues guitar tecaher, and I came across the reference to learning guitar whatever your age. After playing guitar on the streets for many years, I started teaching it on the internet and a couple of things jumped out at me.
First, most of my students are well over 50, and coming back to the love of their life when they were younger. It’s a great testimony to the human spirit when a 70 year old man takes up the guitar, for example!
The other thing is how great teaching affects people’s lives – it’s very humbling. Thanks for an nice blog.
Have personally tried being apart of a charitable organization. Increased my social experience to new heights.
I love the section of spicing it up in the bedroom, I think that is the best entertainment . Anyway you really did your homework to write this and thanks for such inquisitive answers/solutions to boredom . Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this list and dont forget a good movie is good too.
Thanks for the list of “Fun Things for Baby Boomers” I will propose that to my father.
My father is a baby boomer and what he would to do is to try different vintage land cruisers to do off-road. He’s quite adventurous haha!
Maybe you can add that in your list 🙂
What a great article with the freshness of humour and non-judgemental acceptance. Variety, fun and new things are a great way of staying connected and engaged for the many years of later life that we may have.
Many great ideas. I especially like the ideas about boomers starting a business, or getting a second place overseas somewhere, hopefully tropical. Tons of great businesses are started by more experienced individuals. A new hobby or doing nothing can be fun as well, though I don’t think I would ever want a part time job, but a business yes.
– Jess