10 Ways to Beat Boredom in Retirement

We all pine away for our retirement years, when our children are grown, our jobs are done, and we can finally do whatever we want to do…except, what did we really want to do, again? It’s amazing how quickly our longed-for golden years can become boring and monotonous. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way! Retirement can be a great time to learn new things, pursue new interests, resume hobbies you haven’t done since childhood, travel, and much here. Here are 10 ways to beat boredom in retirement.
  1. Learn to play poker, bridge, cribbage, or another group game. You could even set up a weekly game night with family members or friends from your senior living community. 
  2. Start a new hobby: learn to bake, sew, quilt, paint, draw, knit, crochet, embroider, play golf…the sky’s the limit.
  3. Learn a new language! If in-person classes aren’t available in your area, there are many online and app options these days. DuoLingo is free, but there are many to choose from. Just ask a friend or relative if you need assistance navigating the online world–they’re happy to help!
  4. Gardening is a fun pastime any time of year. Even if you don’t have an outdoor space, many indoor plants can be grown in window sills and even in low light areas. 
  5. Travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. It could be a faraway country overseas, but you don’t have to go far…maybe a road trip to a neighboring state is all the adventure you need.
  6. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Rediscovering our childhood interests can help us find and remember things we truly enjoy. 
  7. Volunteer work is great for keeping busy and can be more rewarding than you might expect. You could volunteer at a local zoo, elementary school, soup kitchen, religious group…whatever your interests, there’s a way for you to help.
  8. Sometimes the best thing to do is…nothing. Practice the art of being still and present. Life can be so fast-paced and busy that it can be hard to rest once we finally get off the hamster wheel. But rest is an important part of life, and probably something you’ve been missing for a while. Give doing nothing a try.
  9. Write a book (of any genre!), autobiography, or personal memoir. It doesn’t have to be the next New York Times Bestseller to become a treasured novel for your children, grandchildren and beyond.
  10. Try living in a senior living community. Most offer many social groups, fitness classes, activities and more…you’ll never be lonely or bored again! Give our Stellar Living Family Advisors a call to find out more about communities in your area.

You can beat boredom in retirement! All you need is the courage and imagination to try something new.

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