Your career is done and dusted, with your professional report card full of achievements and titles, having started from the bottom and working your way up. You've finally hit your golden age and no longer have to clock in the mandated eight hours a day at work.
"What can I do with all this newfound freedom and time?" you ask yourself.
You'll lounge on the couch, revisit the refrigerator for the sixth time in the past hour in search of a snack, and call up a few friends asking if they'd like to catch dinner with you later in the night. There's more to retirement than that, really.
The easiest way to figure it out is to revisit all of the ideas you've had over the years that you could never pursue from lack of time and commitment since you were tied to work. But, if that isn't of much help, here are the top five retirement activities that you could consider:
1. Travel around the world, or even country.
Pack up your bags and go where the wind takes you! Pick a dream destination that you've always hoped to visit—be it the Swiss Alps in Switzerland, or warm beaches in Hawaii—and hop on the next flight.
Travelling the world is an excellent way to spend your retirement, especially since you'll no longer have to apply for annual leaves during long weekends just to catch the sakura bloom in Japan. Go and experience new cultures, try cuisines from different parts of the world, and meet people across all walks of life.
2. Pick up new hobbies.
There are hundreds and thousands of hobbies for you to choose from that you can learn, as you've got all the time in the world now. You can learn to how to bake the most decadent treats, knit sweaters and jumpers, or even start a garden right at home.
The best part? It can all be trial and error until you find the perfect hobby for you. If you decide to try out painting and decide it isn't for you, simply move on and try another. Especially since we've got the Internet now, you can learn the ropes of any hobby in no time on YouTube or through a quick Google search.
3. Commit to your health and get fit.
For all those times that you've put off the gym because you had to attend to an emergency task at work or stay past working hours to finish up that proposal, it's time to put your health first and start getting active.
You don't even have to do it alone by going to the gym and just hitting the weights, because there are plenty of other options to keep your heart rate up. Call up your friends for a game of badminton, attend fitness classes, or even take your dog for a walk in the morning to the park and catch the sunrise. So as long as you're up and moving, it counts.
4. Donate your time.
Since time is your richest currency now, donate it! Visit the local animal shelter or soup kitchen and give back to the community that's in need. It's really a win-win situation, because as you're helping others, you're also helping yourself.
Retirement can be mundane from time to time, but volunteering can give you a brand new sense of purpose. Choose an organisation or cause that is close to your heart, and as you volunteer, you'll realise that your contribution to the cause of your choice will boost your happiness.
5. Spend time with your family and friends.
As one grows older, they'll tend to realise that quality time spent with loved ones trumps all else. Perhaps buying your dream house or car used to be of most importance to you, but then you'd come to the realisation that it doesn't mean as much when you don't have people to share the joy with.
So, reach out to your social circle and build a stronger relationship with each of them. Catch lunches with them more often, host dinner parties, or even just jump on a phone call to catch up on what they've been up to lately. Besides, with all that free time on your hands now, nothing is better than spending it with those you care for and love the most.
Now that you're free from the shackles of your nine-to-five career, there are endless possibilities for what you can do.
Of course, when you're retired though, you'll definitely want to be financially secure so you won't have to worry about breaking the bank as you're spending on all of the activities you're partaking in. Here at Kan Wee Organisation (KWO), we strive to improve the people's financial literacy and ensure financial stability for all. If you're seeking a meaningful career and you're a hard worker that wants to be rewarded accordingly so that you'll be able to take control of and secure your future financially, join us now!