How to Stay Creative and Busy in Retirement

You’ve just entered retirement after years of work. You’re probably beside yourself figuring out what to do. You’ve spent your entire life chasing a dream, and now it’s time to relax and enjoy the golden years. However, you’re not ready to call it quits just yet. The good news is you don’t have to. There isn’t any reason why retirement should be boring. This is why we’ve curated a list with ideas on how to stay creative and busy during retirement.

1. Create a blog. Believe it or not, there are people out there interested in your story. Perhaps other retirees or future retirees are looking for ways to stay creative and busy. You might start a blog chronicling your retirement experience. Another option is to give advice on your past career or even a hobby you have. With a blog, there are no deadlines. You write when you want, at times convenient for you. Not to mention, you can write on any topic of your choice. Instead of being told what to do, you have the reins on this one.

2. Take music lessons. If you’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano, the guitar, or any other instrument…now is the time to do so. Perhaps you just couldn’t find any free time while you were working. Now, you’re retired and don’t have to worry about beating the clock. You can learn and play on your own schedule. You aren’t competing with anyone. This is about pure creativity, exploration, and enjoyment. Who knows, you might even start writing and composing your own music.

3. Pursue a new sport. There are many retirees who continue to stay active through sports. It’s good to stay in shape doing something you love. Plus, it beats staying in the house all day long. Golf is quite common because it’s a social sport. If you’re not interested in golf, you might consider tennis, badminton, cricket, or even skiing.

4. Start traveling. You now have more time to take that dream vacation. Some retirees travel all year round. It doesn’t matter if you go overseas or travel domestically. Visit new locations to put a pep back in your step and gain some inspiration. If you love coffee or tea, don’t forget to pack your coffee travel mugs.

5. Hit the road. If you’re still comfortable with long-distance driving, a road trip may be just what the doctor ordered. This is a fantastic way to see all the intricacies of various towns and cities that you might not see flying in and out of an airport. You can drive off the beaten path and find new locales you’ve never even heard of. For extra creativity, take pictures and create a memory book.

6. Volunteer. Nothing soothes the soul more than helping others. As we retire, we can sometimes feel we are no longer of use. That is hardly the case. You can certainly volunteer for an organization you care about. Plus, you’ll feel good knowing you’re still out there helping others.

7. Take a cooking class. Food is much more satisfying when you can make it yourself. Sure, we all should get out to restaurants too, but if you can cook, that is a priceless skill. Perhaps you might even focus on a specific cuisine such as Italian, French, or Thai. Then, invite your friends and family over for lunch or dinner.

8. Join a bridge club. In retirement, it really is critical to keep a well-balanced lifestyle. You can help accomplish that by joining a game club which keeps you actively engaged with the community. Plus, it enhances your creativity when you learn from and communicate with others in person.

9. Learn a new language. This can be especially useful if you’re planning to visit or spend a summer in a foreign country. You can absolutely expand your brain power by learning a new language – it does keep your mind sharp. Plus, you’ll have something to work on, motivating you to seize each day.

10. Write a book. You’ve lived a full life, now it’s time to share some of your wisdom with others. This can be through a cookbook, a how-to book, or even a memoir. It could even be a novel with some metaphoric episodes inspired by your real life experiences. Plus, you won’t have the stress of a deadline. You can write at your own pace.

11. Start a business. This is the time to focus on something you love and that you’re good at. You might pet-sit, house-sit, drive people around, fix computers, tutor, etc. Your business is only limited by your imagination, budget, and interests.

12. Get a part-time job. Some of us are born workaholics. There is nothing wrong with having a place to go everyday, while adding to your cash stockpile. You’ll get to socialize, meet new people, and perhaps even get a part-time job with benefits.

13. Improve your home. You might start organizing some of your stuff. You might even start on a few remodeling projects. You have time to learn how to make changes yourself. YouTube contains a goldmine of DIY home improvement tutorials.

14. Move to the country or the city. If you live in the country, you might move to the city. This way, you have all of life’s necessities within a few blocks. You might not even need a car. You can get a smaller place and have the opportunity to experience the best of art and culture. If you already live in the city and want a quieter pace of life, you might move out to the country. Once there, you can have pets, maybe a few farm animals, start a garden or an orchard. You might even sell some of your fruits and vegetables at a weekly farmer’s market for extra pocket change.

Retirement doesn’t have to be boring. Nor do you have to wonder what to do with yourself. By trying out a few of the tips above, you can remain both creative and busy.