How Do You Deal with Retirement Boredom?

November 19, 2021

Many people look forward to their retirement years, especially after serving in the military. But that initial excitement often gives way to boredom. When someone loses their sense of purpose, their dissatisfaction with life increases. This is why it’s important to find meaning and joy in retirement. For some, this means rejoining the workforce, but there are many other ideas for living your best life in retirement.


“The average retiree in Britain grew bored after just one year, according to a U.K. survey. And one-third of retirees eventually give up on retirement and return to the workforce, according to a 2016 Federal Reserve study.” Kiplinger.com

Tips To Avoid Retirement Boredom

Remember when your kids said they were bored and you gave them something to do. We’re going to do the same with you. You have the power to avoid boredom in retirement.

  • Challenge your brain. Keep active by learning a new language, taking classes about a new skill or subject, or researching how to operate a sailboat, RV, or motorcycle. Keeping your brain active and learning new things can help stave off boredom and give purpose.
  • Exercise. Promote healthy living in retirement by staying active. Joining a hiking club or sports league, such as pickleball, can not only help keep you fit but also help you make new friends. Having friends to spend time with doing things you enjoy can help when you are retired and bored to death.
  • Get outdoors. The fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for your mental health, stress, and anxiety levels. Make the outdoors part of your daily life by going for walks, but also consider some more adventurous activities such as fly fishing, boating, biking, or bird watching.
  • Make time to volunteer. With more time available to you, make it a point to give back to your community. Choose an organization or topic you feel passionate about. If you enjoy history, consider being a docent at a local museum. If you have a strong desire to help the homeless, volunteer at a soup kitchen. Leave your volunteer experience feeling good about yourself. These experiences also help you to make more human connections and keep a consistent schedule.


Retirement Boredom Is Avoidable 


Retirement boredom isn’t inevitable; it’s not your fate. And you don’t need a whole lot of money to travel the world. Even if you are retired, bored, and broke, there are many things to do that will keep you busy and healthy. It doesn’t take a lot of money to keep busy, especially when getting outdoors, exercising, and volunteering. Utilize these tips for how to enjoy life after retirement and get out there into the world to meet new people, experience new things, and stay active.


As always, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter if you found this on social media and get back to living your best life!


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