25 Things to Do When You Retire

Whether you’re eager to find a new passion or want to linger on the patio with your morning coffee, retirement presents the opportunity to reset your rhythm. To make the most of the upcoming years, the trick is to decide what interests you want to pursue, avoid extended boredom and focus on what matters to you.

To get inspired, here’s a list of 25 things to do when you retire:

1. Make a bucket list.
2. Focus on well-being.
3. Get financially savvy.
4. Establish a routine.
5. Care for a pet.
6. Stay social.
7. Be proactive about health.
8. Explore the world.
9. Take on a new hobby.
10. Think about relocating.
11. Work part time.
12. Grow your own food.
13. Study your family’s ancestry.
14. Become a tour guide.
15. Declutter your home.
16. Get in touch with nature.
17. Play brain games.
18. Redecorate your space.
19. Focus on your personal style.
20. Find a solo activity.
21. Discover local attractions.
22. Give back in your own way.
23. Find your purpose.
24. Live in the moment.
25. Keep an open mind.

Perhaps you have always dreamed of taking a cruise around the world, visiting all the national parks or learning to play the guitar. If you don’t have a list of things to do when you retire, start one now. Include wishes you’ve been waiting to fulfill, ranging from travel spots to hobbies. Just be sure the items are financially feasible for your budget and fit your mobility range.

Staying active can help you sleep better, maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of disease. Look for a gym or online channels that offer classes. You might take morning walks with a neighbor or check out trails with a local hiking club. Prioritize nutrition, and if you love to cook, make homemade meals with fresh ingredients.

If you’re married and one spouse has managed the budget for several decades, spend time going over finances together so both parties know how to pay the bills, locate important documents and access accounts. Also align your new lifestyle with your monthly income. If you’re spending more due to rising costs, look to rework your spending.

Now that you’re free from work commitments, it can be helpful to set up a new schedule, such as a bedtime, mealtime and specific hours for activities. You might decide that on certain afternoons, you’ll pursue your new hobbies, and on other days, you’ll get together with friends.

If you’ve always loved animals, consider heading to your local animal shelter. You might adopt a cat or dog to keep you company. If you already have a pet, research the implications of getting another one. If you’re unable to keep one at home, volunteering at an animal organization might be fulfilling.

While retirement might seem peaceful, it can also lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Look for ways to maintain human contact regularly. You might visit family once a week or invite friends over for dinner twice a month. Dinner clubs, pickleball leagues, water aerobics classes and other group activities can also foster relationships.

Schedule regular visits with your doctor and use that time to ask questions that have been on your mind. Look for preventive measures to take, such as using an app that monitors health factors and shows you where you can improve. Stay on top of your medications and follow any dietary guidelines that help you feel your best.

Discovering a new country can be an exciting thing to do when you retire. Some retirees take several months to tour Europe or take a cruise. The advantage of traveling during retirement is that your time tends to be more flexible. You could find deals during the shoulder season, which are times when prices are often lower than peak tourist season in popular destinations.

From drawing to ceramics to sculpture, there is a myriad of choices for those who want to develop their art talent. Online courses, videos and apps provide instructions on crafts, cooking, sewing, brewing and foreign languages, among others. You might have access to local expertise as well, such as a pianist who offers classes on the side or a pottery maker who holds regular workshops.

If you want to be around other retirees, consider moving to a retirement community. Those who live in Northern states could feel a tug to head South during the colder months. Relocating to be closer to family or live in an area with a lower cost of living might fit your lifestyle preferences. If you’re unsure of where to go, test out a location for several months before deciding where to settle.

There are many ways to bring in extra income if you need it. Look for remote part-time gigs if you want to stay home and have flexible hours. Nearby retailers might provide opportunities for those who love social interaction. Reach out to your previous employer to see if they are interested in hiring you on a part-time basis. You might also consider consulting or tutoring others online.

If you’ve kept a garden every season for the past several years, now may be a good time to expand its offerings. For those with limited space, growing herbs indoors might be an option. Some neighborhoods offer community plots that you can rent for several months.

Learning about your genealogy could be as simple as going online and subscribing to an ancestry website. You might interview relatives who have ties to your family’s past and visit local spots to find further records. Online services can help you create a family book that tells your story and the stories of the generations past.

If you’re gifted in sharing information and are passionate about your local sites, taking a job as a tour guide might be a good fit. For those who live near scenic lakes, there might be openings for positions on guided boat rides. Historic buildings and monuments might also have tour guide needs.

Take advantage of your extra time to go through drawers, closets and cabinets that have been filled over the years. Sift through attic spaces, the basement and garage. Get rid of items that are broken and donate other goods to local charities. Think about gifting memorabilia to family members who would appreciate them.

If your lawn is in need of landscaping, evaluate whether the scope of work is something you can do on your own. You might reach out to a local nursery to help you find plant options that will grow well in your area. Take picnics to nearby parks and walk the shoreline if you live near a lake.

Whether you enjoy crossword puzzles, Sudoku or other brain teasing games, incorporating these brain-boosting activities into your routine can help ward off memory loss and age-related diseases. A few apps and websites to try: AARP, BrainHQ, CogniFit, Lumosity, Memorado and Wordle.

Sites like Pinterest can give you ideas for new color schemes. Thrift stores and local sales could provide knickknacks and décor for the new look. Walk through showrooms to see how your furnishings could be laid out in a new way.

Retirement often brings a change of everyday dress. For those who love fashion and clothing, this could be a time to follow influencers and get inspired. In other cases, it might mean a switch to more casual and comfortable attire.

While getting out and socializing has its benefits, you’ll also likely have hours in the day to yourself. Head to the library and find books that will absorb your attention or convert a room in your home to a space where you can do crafts or paint. Refinishing furniture or working on your vehicles are other ways to spend your mornings or afternoons.

If you’ve spent most of your vacation time getting away to other places or visiting family, retirement opens doors to head out in your own area. Local eateries, festivals, fairs and historical sites may have a unique appeal. Invite a friend to try out new-to-you stores, parks or concerts.

Getting involved in the community could mean signing up for AmeriCorps Seniors, which offers opportunities for volunteers age 55 and older to serve. You could also visit a charity that you admire and ask how you can help. Mentoring young professionals or students either in-person or online might be a rewarding way to share what you’ve learned.

Whether it’s re-kindling past relationships, spending more time with family or contributing to environmental movements, aligning your commitments with your priorities can be meaningful. If you’re not sure what your purpose is, talk to loved ones or friends for their input.

Rather than waiting for the perfect time to take an adventure such as a road trip with a RV, get started now. Health and mobility are uncertain, and if you wait too many years, it may not work to do the activities you planned. Make the most of the time you are able to travel and try new activities so that later you can reflect on the good times.

Setting out on a new path may be a great start to a new phase. However, some retirees find that what they dreamed of doesn’t turn out to be what they hoped. Stay flexible and be ready to change plans. Keep a positive attitude to live a full life, and be grateful for how far you’ve come.