You’ve worked hard throughout your whole life. Maybe you got married, bought a home, raised children, and got comfortable with the different roles you held, including your job and your role as a spouse and a parent.
But now, you’re retired. It’s suddenly clear that your role in life has drastically changed. For women in particular, retirement can feel disorienting. Today, you might have an empty nest at home. You probably have more time to yourself than you ever had before, especially if your spouse is still working and you’re not. Part of you is excited about all of your free time, but part of you feels like you’re drifting without a purpose.
Here are a few tips to help you reconnect with your purpose in retirement.
Give Yourself Time to Rest
First, remind yourself that you don’t have to be on the go all the time. It’s okay if you want to sleep in, watch a few TV shows that you haven’t seen, spend hours sipping tea and reading on your porch, and simply indulge in days when you don’t do much of anything at all.
Now that you’re retired, you can finally rest after many decades of hard work. Sometimes, relaxing is enough of a purpose. Grant yourself permission to fully unwind during your free time.
Consider Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community in retirement and find a new purpose in life. You may want to reach out a local animal shelter, school, hospital, or charity to find out if they need some assistance.
Volunteering is typically quite flexible, and you can find an organization that needs someone with your specific skills.
Try a Creative Hobby
Maybe you always wanted to write a book or a collection of poems, but you never had the time while you were working. Or perhaps you used to daydream about painting, songwriting, or sitting at a pottery wheel.
No matter your creative visions, you can finally pursue them in retirement. You are never too old to pick up a creative hobby! Look into local art classes, or simply turn to the internet for advice on getting started with your hobby of choice. There are plenty of free resources available for people of all skill levels.
Book a Trip
Now is the time to visit that destination you never had a chance to explore while you were working. Whether you fantasized about traveling to Italy, Hawaii, or Japan, you don’t have to worry about asking your boss for paid time off now.
As long as you can fit a trip into your budget, you’re free to come and go as you please! You may even want to plan a longer trip to multiple destinations and take the kind of extended vacation that wouldn’t have been possible when you had a full-time job.
Talk to a Therapist
Remember, you don’t have to determine your purpose all on your own. It’s okay if you feel like you need guidance. Retirement marks a new chapter of your life. If you’re wondering what your next steps should be, you may want to reach out to a therapist.
By talking to a therapist, you can reflect on all you’ve learned and accomplished, and start exploring what new things you can contribute in retirement. You can also discover things you always wanted to try, but didn’t have the chance to do before.
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Do you feel like you’re searching for purpose in retirement? Talking to a therapist can help you find direction. Connect with us to discuss your options for booking a session for women’s therapy.