Finding your ‘why’ in retirement is important to feeling motivated and fulfilled.

When you have a purpose, you can contribute the best of who you are to those who you love. This sharing of your personal contribution is extremely satisfying, and your fulfilment is magnified.

In fact, your retirement may be the only time you have had enough time to reflect honestly on your life – so it is the ideal time to work out what will make you happy, give you some deep satisfaction and therefore be the catalyst for setting some new goals for yourself.

It’s also a great time to figure out what you want from the remainder of your life, and with some planning, these years can become the best years for you – after all, now that you have time on your hands, so many options naturally have opened up!

However, when you don’t have a clear vision of what matters most to you, it’s not only hard, but close to impossible to figure out exactly how you create a life that is fulfilling and purposeful.

That’s because it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut when you’re retired.  Human beings resist what is unfamiliar – so you might find yourself spending too much time with friends who are still working and not enough time doing what you want. Or maybe you’re not sure what motivates you and so feel trapped with no idea how to get started on something new. 

Here Are Some Ideas of Creating a Meaningful and Purposeful Retirement:

• Use your intellectual asset. This is your knowledge, experience and skills that you have gained over a lifetime. Use these to help people, be generous, share knowledge and your life experiences.

• Continue to educate yourself. A sharp mind may enable you to be more active and increases your chances of staying healthy and a having longer, happier retirement.  Be adventurous here – learn a musical instrument or go on a cookery course…something that will stretch you and give you a sense of satisfaction.

• Stay active. Exercise has been linked to the ability to fight off depression and an improved cognitive function. Consider some volunteering work that you may have always wanted to do or even challenge yourself to find a new hobby – retirement is a fantastic opportunity to try something new. Staying active has many benefits to improving overall mental health and wellbeing.

• Stay social and continue to meet new people. Maintaining positive relationships or creating new ones may seem overwhelming the older you get, but it is essential in your overall health and wellbeing in retirement. A social game of golf, regular hikes with friends or joining a club or a community that share your interests helps build relationships and personal connections.

Whether it’s finding new hobbies or taking up volunteering as a way of giving back, to find your why in retirement, there are a few questions that will help guide your search:

• What do I want out of my retirement?

• What made me happy when I was a child?

• What will make me happy and fulfilled?

• What inspires me?

• Lastly, what will I be able to do in retirement that I can’t do now? (if you are currently working)

Life doesn’t have to be hard or complicated when you retire, and it doesn’t have to be boring or lonely either – It should be the most exciting time of your life so try new things, stay active and keep being social.