What to Do in Retirement: 23 Great Ways to Spend Your Time

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day, and by 2030, the entire generation will have reached retirement age. While retiring is an exciting time for most, it is also a time of angst for those who have no idea what they will do with so much free time on their hands.

Figuring Out What Matters the Most When You Retire

After they set aside what they believe is enough money to cover medical expenses, not to mention housing, utility bills, and other costs, many retirees ponder how to best spend their days, weeks, months, and years in retirement.

The 23 Best Things to Do When You Retire

When it comes to life after retirement, there are 23 things older adults can do to fend off boredom after leaving the workforce for good, some of which include the following.

1. Exercising Regularly

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular exercise can keep joints healthy and protect the body against weight-related diseases. It also helps combat stress, which is responsible for the onset of severe and impairing psychiatric conditions, one of them being major depressive disorder. For reference, the CDC recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.

2. Taking Online or In-Person Classes

Taking online or in-person classes is an excellent way to fend off boredom and reduce the risk of developing numerous neurodegenerative diseases. This is because learning something new makes the brain work harder. In a study published by Central Connecticut University, researchers found that the brain forms new connections and neurons when we learn and that those connections and neurons help keep neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and dementia, at bay.

3. Reading

Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body. This is where reading comes into the picture. Studies show reading offers numerous benefits, some of which include the development of a robust vocabulary and comprehension skills. They further note that reading helps reduce stress, prevents cognitive decline, and contributes to better sleep.

4. Traveling

Thanks to the permanent vacation afforded to you by way of retiring, you now have more time than you ever had before to see the world. That means visiting more parts of the Aloha State, neighboring Alaska, or parts of the U.S. mainland should be on the agenda when you retire. The same applies to visiting other countries if you have a U.S. passport and have a decent travel budget.

5. Learning a Second Language as a Kupuna

Much like traveling, learning to speak a second language can open you to a new world of experiences. It allows you to escape the usual touristy locations and see how locals live when you visit a foreign country. According to GoAbroad.com, a trusted online resource for international study, some of the most popular languages to learn in 2023 include Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, and French.

6. Babysitting

Along with being a great way to spend your day, babysitting your grandchildren can also benefit your adult children who are still working a 9 to 5 and trying desperately to achieve something that resembles a healthy work-life balance.

7. Playing Sports

When it is in addition to or its own stand-alone thing, playing sports is an excellent way to stop boredom in its tracks after retiring. That’s especially true if you're a naturally competitive person. According to the global media and publishing company Forbes, some of the most popular sports among retirees include swimming, golf, and pickleball.

8. Volunteering

Not everyone is doing well; some people find making ends meet, keeping a roof over their heads, or putting food on the table exceptionally challenging. That said, most charitable organizations are thrilled to have older, retired adults pitch in to help people who need help the most. Meals on Wheels, Feeding America, and Easter Seals are examples of such organizations.

9. Mentoring

With age comes wisdom is not just an age-old expression. It is one of life's maxims. Older adults who call the Aloha State home have much to share with the younger generation. That means they can be great mentors for someone hoping to gain skills, knowledge, and insight in a given industry.

10. Becoming a Pet Parent

Whether you buy or adopt a pet, there are many benefits associated with becoming a pet parent in your golden years. That's the conclusion reached in a study published by the CDC. According to researchers, pets improve and enrich the lives of older adults by encouraging them to socialize, exercise, and enjoy more outdoor activities.

11. Learning to Play an Instrument

Learning to play the piano, guitar, or any other instrument is not just for kids. Studies show learning to play an instrument can improve memory and concentration, not to mention hand-eye coordination, in older adults.

12. Working a Part-Time Job

Even if you don't necessarily need the money, working a part-time job allows you to exercise a little more than you otherwise would and helps keep you mentally sharp. And that benefits the brain and the body.

13. Crafting

If you like to work with your hands, crafting should be on your radar once you retire. Multiple studies show knitting, crocheting, painting, woodworking, jewelry making, and the like helps older adults maintain cognitive function and can even serve as a form of therapy if they have arthritis in their hands.

14. Consuming a Healthy Diet

To ensure good health in retirement, you will want to consume a healthy, well-balanced diet. That means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and grains while limiting processed foods. According to most nutritionists and dieticians, a healthy, well-balanced diet comprises about 60% to 70% of total calories from carbohydrates, 10% to 12% from proteins, and 20 to 25% from fat.

15. Keeping Up With Technology

We live in a digital age where smartphones, smartwatches, and fancy laptops are about as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. While generations are comfortable with this existence, some older adults are not. If you're an older adult who identifies with the latter, consider spending part of your retirement getting up to speed with new technological devices as they hit the market.

16. Becoming One With Nature

When you retire, you should spend time in the great outdoors. It's not only good for your physical health but also your mental health. Getting out and breathing in nature's fresh air helps combat muscle tension and reduces stress that could otherwise lead to heart disease.

17. Developing a Routine

For some people, no longer having the structure that comes with having a job can feel strange. One way to remedy this is by creating routines. This could be as simple as waking up, eating, and going to bed at set times each day. The same applies to activities you might engage in during the day, such as exercising or volunteering at a charitable organization.

18. Decluttering

Decluttering is good for the mind. What's more, it frees up a lot of space. Retirement affords you the luxury of time to go through closets, drawers, kitchen cabinets, and the like to find things you don't need that can be donated, sold, or discarded.

19. Increasing Your Social Circle

While keeping in contact with old co-workers and maybe life-long friends is a good thing, it is also good to establish new friendships when you retire. Doing so can expose you to new experiences and allow you to see things from perspectives far different than what you're accustomed to.

20. Going Back to School

Though you might be in your golden years, you don't necessarily have to stop learning. Many retirees return to school to learn about a particular subject that interests them or as a means of expanding their knowledge base. But they're not going into debt to do so; they are taking advantage of free or discounted college tuition available to older adults.

21. Dating

According to a Harvard University study, single-person households among those aged 80 and over will reach 10 million by 2038. That means many people will be living out their golden years alone. But you don't have to be part of this demographic of people. If you're single when you retire, consider joining a few dating websites so that you can find the love of your life.

22. Playing Games

From video games to board games, playing games help stimulate the brain and curb boredom. Both make it fun, not to mention easier to spend time with friends, family, or a new significant other if you're a single retiree returning to the dating world.

23. Practicing Mindfulness

While it might sound new age, there are benefits associated with practicing mindfulness as a kupuna. Studies show that meditation, Qigong, the Chinese art of gentle exercise, yoga, and other mindfulness techniques can improve cognitive function. Mindfulness also makes it easier to cope with stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

Getting older is an unavoidable part of the human experience, and it's a fate that we will all eventually face. But there is some good news; partaking in some of the retirement ideas detailed in this article can make transitioning from the daily grind into retirement easier and far more enjoyable.