Living Life After Retirement With a Strong Sense of Purpose
Retirement can be a time of great stress and anxiety. Having a strong sense of purpose can be important to overcoming these feelings.
As a retiree, you have more time to focus on your interests and hobbies. Use this opportunity to pursue new pursuits or try something you have always wanted to do.
1. Get Moving
Getting moving in retirement can give you the opportunity to enjoy new adventures, learn new skills, reconnect with family, and live life to the fullest. It can also help you save money on housing costs if you move to a cheaper location.
The main disadvantage to moving after retirement is that it can take a long time for you to get used to a new place. This can be especially difficult if you have a strong emotional attachment to your home or the community in which you live.
You can overcome this challenge by focusing on the pros of moving after retirement. For example, many retirees move because they want to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
2. Learn a New Skill
Learning a new skill, whether it’s a hobby or an entirely different career, can bring a sense of purpose to your retirement. It’s the same concept as gaining meaning in life, which Martin Frankl, author of Mankind’s Search for Meaning, says is the key to happiness.
Having a purpose in your retirement can help you feel more engaged, happier, and less lonely. You’ll also have more energy and enthusiasm to pursue other activities, such as volunteering or attending community events.
You’ll also have a sense of accomplishment and social connections from having mastered a new skill. This helps reduce loneliness, which research shows is a common problem for older adults.
3. Reconnect with Family
Reconnecting with family and friends is important for many people as they get older. They have less time to spend with those they consider close and friendships can easily fade away.
A new Edward Jones survey suggests that one of the biggest things retirees miss during their retirement years is social connections. This is especially true for those who live in isolated areas.
Regardless of where you live, make it a point to reconnect with your kids and grandkids in some way. Whether it’s going to the park with them, sharing a meal or just saying “I love you” more often, this will improve your parent-child relationship.
4. Learn a New Language
A great way to improve your mental health is to learn a new language. This not only helps you stay connected to the world, but also enables you to enjoy yourself in a whole new way.
Studies have shown that bilinguals tend to have better cognitive health than those who speak only one language. They are also less likely to suffer from dementia.
Learning a foreign language can also help you to travel more. If you have a passion for a specific culture or country, try to learn the local language so that you can appreciate it more deeply.
For a successful language-learning experience, find a group that supports your learning goals. This will help you to get feedback about your progress and help you with the difficult tasks.
5. Take a Class
One of the most effective ways to keep learning new things is through taking a class. Whether you’re studying for an exam, a job interview or an online course, taking a class is the perfect way to stay engaged with new ideas and keep your brain sharp.
Aside from helping you learn something you didn’t already know, taking a class can be a great way to meet new people and form new relationships. Classes can also give you a sense of purpose and provide an outlet for your creativity.
After retirement, many retirees find that they’re missing the sense of identity and purpose that came with working. The loss of routine, goals, and social interaction can be a stressful experience that leads to depression and other health problems.