Retirement is something that we will all hopefully get to enjoy sooner or later. While finishing up work can bring a certain amount of excitement, you might also be worried about how you will fill all the free time. Retirement can certainly present considerable changes for your lifestyle. It’s important to take the time to consider what you will do when your retirement rolls around.
While some people might relish the idea of not having to work, for others it can mean a lot of time to fill up with other things. Whether we love work or loathe it, it can give us all some sense of purpose. When that’s taken away it can be a bit of a challenge. Luckily there are plenty of ways you can find fulfilment in your retirement.
Start volunteering
Using the extra time that you might have on your hands in retirement to help those in need can make a big difference. There are plenty of benefits for you and it can really fill the gap left behind by a full-time job. It can be a fantastic way to meet new people and make new friends. This can even be the case for existing friendships if you were to decide to volunteer together.
Volunteering could also help to combat feelings of depression and loneliness. In helping out people less fortunate than you, it can give you a sense of perspective on what’s really important in life. It doesn’t just have to be a charity either, there are plenty of great ways that you can volunteer your time such as museums, libraries, online databases and many more. Nowadays it might seem tougher than ever to volunteer but there are ways that you can help.
Returning to education
Retirement can be a good opportunity to study something that you may have wanted to but never got the chance. In recent times there has been a dramatic shift in emphasis towards online learning. Even if you’re going to university for the first time the majority of classes will be online. Right now there are more resources than ever to pick up something new or return to education.
Once you’ve completed your course you might even be able to look at finding a job in that area. It could be an opportunity you’ve been waiting for to pursue a career that you didn’t think was possible. There are plenty of ways you can go and study now, especially from the comfort of your own home. For example, Open Learn from the Open University offers over 1000 free courses for you to check out. There’s also the National Careers Service where you can find out about potential courses that can help you out.
Take up a new hobby
You probably already have plans along these lines but it’s good to bear in mind that retirement can be a great opportunity to pick up a new hobby. This can be something as simple as maintaining your garden or it could be travelling around the countryside. Getting involved in a new hobby can also mean meeting new people. There are plenty of local clubs around the UK that can help you develop your hobby. You’ve worked hard all of your life, it’s time to have a little fun and it can be hugely fulfilling to get spend more time on the things you’re most passionate about in life.
Keep working
Convention says that when you get to retirement age you have to stop working. However, nowadays people are feeling younger than ever and the idea of working beyond 65 is becoming more common. There are plenty of reasons why you might not want to retire just yet. One reason why you might consider working past 65 is if you are worried about your financial situation. Transitioning to living on a fixed income can cause a lot of stress for people entering retirement. According to law in the UK you cannot be forced to retire. However, there are two exceptions to this:
- When the job requires certain physical activities (eg. construction)
- If the job has an age limit set by law (eg. the fire service)
In the modern world just because you are approaching the ‘traditional’ retirement age doesn’t mean you have to retire.
Go part-time
Another option open to you is reducing the hours that you are working. Rather than having a big shock of having nothing to do all of sudden you can slowly reduce your working time. The best way to go about doing something like this is by sitting down with your boss and talking through your options. By doing this you can look at slowly restructuring your week and how you spend your days.
Support for when you need it
Retirement can be exciting and intimidating in equal measures. One thing you should know is that there are plenty of supports out there for you. At British Seniors, we are here to support you through the process of getting life insurance. Our Guaranteed Over 50s life insurance can help to give you peace of mind for what the future might hold. With our UK based call centre, you can get all of the information you might need on securing cover.