What Do I Do Now? A List for Retirees. Actually, A List Within a List Within a List

I have never understood why some people think retirement is a punishment or a death sentence.

Why wouldn't you want to give up a 9-5 for freedom to do whatever you want within your financial and health abilities?

"I'll be so bored. What will I do?"

Look, I get it if you LOVE your career. If you have a career that makes your heart sing, your brain dance, and your toes tap, then by all means keep doing it as long as you can.

As for the rest of you, there is life beyond someone else controlling your days. So here are some ideas - especially for those men who are driving their wives crazy by standing over them in the kitchen and giving "helpful tips".

1. You could start your own business. Maybe it's an extension of what you already do. You could teach, train, counsel, write about it, contract out your services, or just start up your own company. Or you could do some other kind of business using a hobby you already have.

2. Take up a hobby.

   1. Creating

      1. Woodworking

      2. Sewing/Quilting/Tailoring

      3. Pottery

      4. Knitting/Crochet/Spinning

      5. Needlearts (cross stitch, embroidery, needlepoint, lace making)

      6. Papercrafts

      7. Painting

      8. Sculpting

      9. Drawing

      10. Beading

      11. Writing

      12. Book binding

      13. Inventing

      14. Music

   2. Home Care

      1. Maintenance

      2. Gardening and Landscaping

      3. Canning and Preserving

      4. Herbology (growing, using, making medicines, and skin care products)

      5. Meal planning

      6. Cooking

      7. Baking

      8. Hairdressing

      9. Fixing

      10. Interior Design

      11. Mechanics

      12. Carpentry

      13. Electronics

      14. Plumbing

      15. Renovations

      16. Building

      17. Emergency Preparations

      18. Hunting (this includes skinning, curing, etc.)

      19. Fishing (this includes cleaning the catch)

      20. Animal husbandry

      21. Pet care and training

   3. Family

      1. Genealogy and Family History. You can be the family historian.

      2. Event planning and keeping track of anniversaries and birthdays.

      3. Recording your history by audio, video, the written word.

      4. Journaling

      5. Babysitting

      6. Be a prayer warrior.

      7. Spend time with your spouse.

      8. Spend time with your kids.

   4. Personal Improvement

      1. Take a class. Check your local and online universities. Some offer no tuition courses for seniors. Some you can audit. Also check your local activities guide.

      2. Learn a language.

      3. Learn an instrument or improve on the one you already play.

      4. Join a band or choir.

      5. Become involved in theatre.

      6. Exercise.

      7. Take up a sport within your abilities.

      8. Study scriptures. You can become a scriptorian.

      9. Read books.

      10. Learn more about a subject you have an interest in. History, Science, Culture, etc.

      11. Write a book. Learn all about writing, publishing, and marketing.

      12. Teach.

      13. Start a blog, a website, a YouTube channel, or a podcast.

3. Volunteer. The world needs volunteers. Volunteers are necessary to keep society going. You can go about this in two ways. You can find out about needs and apply accordingly, or you can volunteer in areas you're interested in. Often, this can overlap. So maybe you volunteer at the food bank (a need) in the morning, and in the afternoon, you go and volunteer at the museum because you love history. And then maybe you volunteer at your church because it's a need and you love doing it. Mow the neighbor's lawn, visit a shut-in, drive someone to the doctor. Help out family members. Lots of opportunities to help out now that you can and have the time to do it.

4. Politics. Now, maybe the time to consider becoming more actively involved, even throwing your hat into the ring. You can volunteer to support someone else, or become a candidate, or just become passionate about your causes and work on those.

5. Travel. Do it now. If you're healthy enough and have the money, go and travel. Maybe it's trips overseas. Or it's time to buy that camper or use the one you have more and travel around your country. Don't wait on this one. You may not always be healthy or world politics may prevent you from doing it in the future.

6. Organize. That room you've been meaning to get to? Now's the time to organize and clean it. It could also be the time to start getting rid of stuff. Maybe you're thinking of downsizing or maybe you want to upsize so the grandkids can visit often. What do you want to hang onto and what do you no longer want? Start with a drawer, a corner, and then a room until you've done the entire house. Organizing isn't just about the stuff either. Maybe you want to organize your funeral plans, your finances, and your will. Maybe there are loose ends with your family you need to resolve. Just be careful that before you throw things out your spouse is in agreement - especially if it's your spouse's stuff. Offer stuff to family members as well. You don't want to give away the family china only to find out that your oldest daughter wanted it.

Now tell me again that when you're retired, you'll be so bored you won't know what to do?