You’ve heard it all: complaints from friends that they’re bored sick with retirement. They’ve been to their bucket list destinations, lost interest in hobbies, can’t see family as often as they’d like, and voice a litany of boredom-related complaints. So, you see, financial problems aren’t the only thorn in retirees’ side. Boredom can be toxic, because its consequences include lethargy, depression, mental malaise, and apathy.
According to FinancialSamurai.com, if you retire early …”you’ll constantly wonder whether this is all there is to life. Retiring early is like finishing up your favorite longstanding TV show. You’re glad there’s a conclusion, but you’re also sad that it’s over. You hope to find a show that’s as good or better, but there are no guarantees.”
One BBC news reports states that boredom “…can be a dangerous and disruptive state of mind that damages your health,” yet research “…suggest[s] that without boredom we couldn’t achieve our creative feats.” So, transient boredom is productive – just not constant tedium.
Here’s the good news. Retirement doesn’t have to be a time to sit on the couch and catch up with television, according to Ali Malito’s story in Marketwatch, “Afraid of being bored in retirement? Consider these options”, she reports on a host of rewarding, self-satisfying activities and pastimes from which seniors can choose:
- Go back to school – learn how to play an instrument, supplement lessons they missed when they were younger, pursue a subject of interest, or take programs that can build their skill set. There are programs specifically designed for seniors, such as the those at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, available at 120 college and university campuses around the U.S.
- Do volunteer work or pro bono – About 60% of Americans regularly volunteer or participate in charity work, according to a 2015 survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Seventy percent of retirees said being generous with time and money was a source of happiness, and 85% of retiree volunteers said they developed new friendships through that work. Some retirees can even combine volunteer work with vacations by traveling to give a helping hand.
- Push a hobby to the next level – There are numerous ways to engage in a hobby: for those who like to explore, they can take nature walks and hikes. Readers can participate in a book club. The musically-inclined can join a singing or musical group, and artists can dabble more in painting and drawing. Writers can tackle a new type of fiction or nonfiction, write their life stories. Hobbies, such as reading and socializing, improve brainpower as people age, according to research from Concordia University in Montreal.
- Depending upon retirees’ level of fitness, almost any city has bike and hiking trails that are easy to navigate. In fact, some cities’ Departments of Parks and Recreation rate levels of difficulty of hiking trails; some are even rated for the physically challenged.
Check out local museums for new exhibits, and if you’re a movie buff, take in film festivals. If you miss the business community in which you were involved, join your local chamber of commerce, which usually has monthly mixers and breakfasts.
With a little imagination, seniors can put together a gratifying schedule of activities that will allay boredom and stimulate precious brain activity.
We want to hear from you, so feel free to share tips, ideas, and resources for seniors with Grannybooster. Email me, Maris Somerville, at info@grannybooster.com
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