Staying Active in Retirement
Retirement is an exciting chapter filled with many opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with others. Here are a few ways you can stay active in retirement and make the most of this new chapter.
Volunteering in Your Community
Volunteering is a great way to stay active and give back to your community in retirement. Check with your community center, religious institutions, or local library for volunteer opportunities. You can also check websites like volunteermatch.org and idealist.org to view opportunities in your area.
If you try a volunteer opportunity out and don’t like it, you can always try another! Changing where and how you volunteer is a great way to try out new things, connect with new people, and grow in new ways.
Taking Classes
Have you always wanted to learn a new language, get a specific degree, or dive deeper into a subject that interests you? Retirement is the perfect time to learn something new all while meeting people with similar interests. Many universities and colleges in the United States offer a “Lifelong Learners” program for adults to take classes or pursue a degree or certificate. These programs offer flexibility and can be offered at a discounted cost. If you’re interested taking classes, check out colleges and universities in your area to see what they offer.
Mentoring Others
Your experiences give you a lot of valuable knowledge that you can pass down to others who are learning or just starting their careers. Mentoring is a great way to share your knowledge and connect with young adults or students. Websites like Mentoring.com are a great way to find local mentoring programs that fit your skillset and interest you. If you have experience in the business field and want to mentor small business owners, SCORE.org is another great website to connect you with mentor opportunities in this area of interest.
Joining a Local Group or Club
Joining a local group or club is a another way to connect with people in your community who have similar interests and hobbies. You could join a book club, golf league, cooking group, or any other kind of group. You can find these groups through your community center, a local social media page, or on websites like MeetUp.com. And if you can’t find a group you’re interested in, start your own and spread the word!
Working Part-Time
Working part-time can be a great way to use your existing skills or develop new ones while earning a little extra money. Without the stress of climbing the corporate ladder, you can pursue work that is interesting for you all while meeting new people and staying active.
Remember: If you decide to go back to work after retirement for a PERA employer, there are limitations to how much you can work without impacting your monthly PERA benefit. For more details on working after retirement rules, reference the Working After Retirement booklet.