Retirement is a time of hope, anticipation, and happiness. You have saved diligently throughout your career for this day. You have worked hard to reach the finish line.
A few years before retirement, you felt more stressed than ever about meeting deadlines at work and pushing yourself to meet career goals. Now that everything has changed, are you still happy with the life that awaits you? Some are confused by what to do next after they have retired or are bored in their retirement.
Boredom During Retirement
Many people who retire early often complain about boredom during retirement. What does it mean when someone complains of being bored during retirement? Being bored during retirement means that you are now bored with life after living a specific routine for many years.
You may feel like your role in the workforce has impacted who you are and what you do during retirement. Your identity is closely connected to your work role.
There is no doubt that retiring affects you from how you act to how you carry yourself; everything is very different compared to your previous work roles.
This boredom drives some people into depression or anxiety disorders like panic or social phobia develop because they cannot handle not having anything pressing to do every day of their lives.
They fear that this emptiness in their lives will lead them down a path of self-destruction where one addiction leads to another. Of course, this is not the case for every person, but it often happens to be a common fear about retirement. Take the Am I Satisfied With My Leisure Quiz to determine if it would be helpful for you to begin leisure planning
What Causes Boredom and How To Deal With It?
Boredom is a natural feeling that we all experience at some point. It is our brain’s way of telling us that we are not doing anything productive, and it needs stimulation. That’s why boredom can be so dangerous to our well-being. When you’re bored, your mind settles into a passive state, leading to low productivity and depression.
Joining an organization or club is one of the popular solutions for boredom that people have proposed. For example, one may join interest-based groups like photography clubs, documentary film clubs, or music societies.
Some even start their own business by opening small shops in shopping malls or online stores. Another way of dealing with prolonged periods of boredom is pursuing education or taking classes at local community colleges. Doing something every day will give you another perspective on life itself.
To avoid a self-destruction lifestyle at all costs, you need to think of proactive ways to help you find interests and hobbies that keep your life active, purposeful, and enjoyable.
If you feel like there is nothing more to live for or that life has no meaning any longer, you need to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible because those feelings can quickly turn into depression.
Many people feel retirement is the best thing in the world. They are constantly busy with outdoor activities, playing games, or pursuing another leisure activity. However, it is never too late to get involved in something new.
How to Find Meaningful Leisure Activities for the 3 Different Stages of Retirement
For most retirees, life after work is more about mental fulfillment than social or physical activities. There are several benefits to finding meaningful things during retirement, like extending your life expectancy and improving overall happiness.
The key to finding meaning outside of work is to find something that makes you feel worthwhile again.
1. Adjustment Phase
The first stage of retirement is the adjustment phase. The adjustment phase is when people try to get use to their new stage in life and focus on what they want to do with their free time.
The best way to deal with this is to list all the things you would like to do during retirement and rank them according to their level of importance.
This way, you can figure out which item would be ideal for stimulating your brain and keeping yourself busy throughout the day without feeling too bored.
2. Exploration Phase
The second stage of retirement is the exploration phase, where you try new things and experience new life milestones. During this phase, you will experiment with different leisure activities until you find something that sticks.
One way to search for meaningful activities is to look through your old pictures. Try finding images taken during special events or vacations and contact people in the photos. If you enjoyed spending time with them, consider contacting them and organizing a reunion of sorts.
Partaking in different hobbies and taking classes will help keep your mind healthy while also sharing valuable life lessons with others. Try visiting museums or re-joining an art club if painting is one of your favorite activities. If there’s a big event coming up in your area – go check it out!
There are several fun activities to do. You can find events and activities by simply asking around or browsing social media.
Another option is to take up a part-time job or volunteer work.
Many people choose to work on projects they have always wanted to work on but never had the chance because of other commitments. These projects can be anything from writing a book, starting a company, or improving their community.
Contemplation Phase
The third stage of retirement is the contemplation phase, where you think about what you would like to focus on during your remaining years. For example, if you know that you want to spend more time with family and friends, then sign up for cooking classes near your area so you’ll be able to prepare delicious meals to share every day.
Again, having a list of leisure activities ready will allow you to quickly choose one instead of wasting time trying new things haphazardly.
Final Thoughts
Boredom happens at all stages of our lives.
To live a full and joyful life, have a plan to deal with your boredom.
Find a new leisure activity, be you and have fun.
