Today I’m sharing three tips on creating a happy retired life. Almost daily, someone asks me… what do you do all week, now that you’re not working?
This question always makes me smile.
What I think they’re really asking is how do you create a happy retired life? One in which you’re not bored trying to figure out what to do all day.
It’s something I never thought about when I was working and dreaming about retirement. At the time, my priority was making sure that I could financially afford not to work for the rest of my life rather than what I would do all day as a happy retiree.
But to my surprise, the questions that I tend to get about retirement aren’t about how we financially prepared for retirement. Instead, the most common questions that I get focus on what I do now that I’m happily retired. Basically, how did I create a happy retired life?
So, here’s three of the tips I recommend as you work towards creating a happy retired life.
Tips on Creating a Happy Retired Life
Just because you’re retired, doesn’t mean that you are happily retired.
Adjusting to an extra 40 hours (more or less) of free time each week sounds like an easy task, but it can actually be quite difficult especially for someone that was highly engaged professionally.
But navigating the change can be managed with great success if you follow these three tips on creating a happy retired life.
- Intentionally seek to be happily retired through reflection, visioning and strategic planning.
- Take a trial-and-error approach until you figure out what truly creates a new happily retired life for you.
- Give yourself time to find your new rhythm as a happy retiree.
Tip 1. Intentionally Seek to be Happily Retired
I believe happiness is a choice. And if you’re feeling unhappy about something then it’s time to do a bit of personal reflection and visioning followed by good ole’ strategic planning.
In the workplace we become accustomed to this process. Now that you’re retired you can utilize the same steps to create the retired life you imagine.
Intentionally examine what is making you unhappy or bored of whatever emotion that is standing in the way of creating a happy retired life.
Start by identifying the gaps between what you imagined for your happy retired life (the dream) and your current situation (the reality). Then begin strategizing possible solutions. Next, act on the solutions you’ve created.
Dreaming of Retired Life on the Beach
Let me share a personal experience as it relates to retired life and a gap between my dream and reality.
The Dream: I imagine a happy retired life on the water. Waking up each day on a beautiful beach with sparkling blue water. Taking a walk, soaking in the sun, reading on the beach and taking a dip in the cool waters.
My Reality: We live in the middle of Oklahoma; I’m married to someone that doesn’t swim and the nearest white sand beaches are about 900 miles from our home. And realistically we won’t be moving to the beach anytime soon or creating our own beach-like backyard oasis.
The Gap: So, there’s a gap between the dream of doing whatever I want, whenever I want in retirement and my reality. I want to be on the beach and enjoy the water anytime I want, but I live in Oklahoma, and we don’t have a swimming pool.
And what follows is a big pile of grumpiness on my part. This grumpiness does NOT contribute to a happy retired life.
Strategies and Solutions: Realizing the gap between retired life on the beach vs. the reality of living in Oklahoma, it was time to intentionally do something about my it.
Creating a Happy Retired Life in Oklahoma
Listed below are the strategies I’ve developed to satisfy my longing for the water with the goal of creating a happy retired life.
- First, I joined our local gym where I can swim as often as I want. Being in the water always elevates my mood and even though it’s not a walk on a dreamy beach, I feel amazing after taking a dip in the pool.
- Next, Bill and I have found a hotel in the Tulsa area with an adults-only pool that we really enjoy. We head there for overnight trips 3-4 times every summer. With no children running around, it’s very relaxing. We typically soak in the hot tub in the evening when we arrive and then enjoy a nice dinner out. And the next morning we head down to the pool early with a cup of coffee and begin our day waterside.
- We intentionally break up the long string of gloomy cold winter days with a weeklong visit to St. Petersburg, Florida. We typically spend five nights in a quaint boutique hotel that we discovered a few years ago. It has a wonderful pool and is near the beach. My mood elevates very quickly when I step off the plane in Tampa.
- Finally, we recently decided to plan an annual vacation to a beach we’ve never visited. This fall we will be traveling to the Florida Keys. Having another annual beach trip to look forward to increases my overall daily satisfaction. Plus, who knows, maybe one day we will discover the perfect beach spot in which to relocate.
- And, although we have agreed that building a pool at our current location doesn’t make financial sense, we have agreed that our next home (when we finally decide to downsize) will have a pool (unless it’s on the beach).
Tip 2. Take a Trial-and-Error Approach when Creating a Happy Retired Life
You may have entered retirement with a plan in place but find that you aren’t satisfied, or retirement isn’t what you expected. Basically, retired life doesn’t seem so happy.
So, try something new. And keep trying something new until the right thing sticks. The thing that says, I love being retired because now I get to spend my time doing this…whatever this is for you.
And it’s ok if it takes a few mistakes and mishaps along the way as you work to create a happy retired life.
- For example, you may have entered retirement thinking you want to travel the world, live part-time in an R.V. or take lots of long road trips. But you soon figure out that you miss your own bed and the comforts of home. So, travel less, go home and try something new!
- Or you thought in retirement that you would spend your free time working independently on creative projects. But you find yourself missing the camaraderie of being part of a group. So, spend less time at home and try something new either with a group of old friends or soon to be new friends.
Now that you’re retired, you really do have a lot of newfound freedom. And you get to decide how you want to spend that time. But you don’t have to stick with the first thing you try.
The great thing about retirement is you answer to yourself. And if you try something new as a new retiree and change your mind, it’s ok.
So, give yourself permission to take a trail-and-error approach as you work to create a happy retired life.
Trying Something New
Let me share one of the things I tried last year that didn’t stick.
I have always loved junking, aka hunting for vintage pieces to add to my home, garden and collections. And when I worked at the university, I hosted vintage barn sales twice a year. My barn sales were a lot of fun and I often imagined their potential for growth with a more focused effort on my part.
So, my retirement plans included turning my passion for antiques and vintage treasures into a profitable business.
Last year, I had the opportunity to put my dream into motion. I was invited to join a really great antique mall in Oklahoma City. I jumped at the chance and before I knew it, I was in business.
Soon I found myself at estate sales and auctions on a weekly basis hunting for treasures to sell in my booth at the antique mall. I also traveled to the city weekly to restock my booth. The mall had great traffic, the antique mall owners were terrific, and I was selling antiques and vintage items faster than I ever imagined.
My business was profitable almost immediately.
Discovering My Error
And before I knew it…to my surprise, I was done! I quit, aka I closed my booth!
It took 3 months for me to recognize that what I wanted in retirement was time to relax. I missed my slow mornings and time at home. And I didn’t want a business that required me to stay in high gear, to get up early for sales, to constantly be on the go in order to turn a profit.
So, I traded in my booth space and returned to hunting for vintage treasures just for me. I still get to enjoy my passion for vintage collecting without my time being consumed by running a profitable business.
And I love it!!!
Tip 3. Give Yourself Time to Adjust to Retired Life
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Retirement is a big adjustment for those of us that have worked the majority of our lives.
Just like it takes time to feel comfortable at a new job, retirement requires that you find your rhythm. You may not have a boss in your new position of Happy Retiree, but you do have a new position in life. Give yourself time to adjust to your new life as a retiree.
And change (even good change) is stressful. Don’t feel like you have to hit the ground running and figure everything out right away. There will most likely be a few bumps along the road just like there is in any new position in life.
Give yourself ample time to find a retirement rhythm that works for you.
Finding my Rhythm at Home
During my first couple of years of retirement, I tried lots of new things. I signed up for Water Zumba classes at our local pool, I completed the Master Gardeners certification program, I volunteered weekly at our local food pantry, I opened a booth at an antique mall, and I started a blog.
A couple of things stuck, and I’ve let go of others. I love my water classes and participate several times each week, I enjoy volunteering on an irregular basis at the food pantry, and I enjoy writing for my blog.
I’ve also learned that I love gardening for myself but not as part of a community program that has lots of requirements and guidelines. And I love searching for antiques and vintage collectables, but I don’t enjoy the constant running around needed to keep my booth stocked 53 miles from home.
I’ve also discovered that I really do love being at home. I’m naturally an introvert. I like spending time writing (like I’m doing now), enjoying slow mornings, binge watching a televisions series or puttering around my country home and garden.
I also enjoy sharing our retired life at home in our country garden with you through the blog and newsletter (sign up below), Instagram and on Pinterest.
Thanks so much for being here!
Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!
x Penny
You may also like these posts about retired life…
How to Enjoy Retired Life: Creating a Retirement Routine
Why you Need to Create a Retired Life at Home that you Love
My First Year of Early Retirement and Four Lessons Learned
or my weekly home & garden updates.
My New Etsy Shop, Zinnias, Tomatoes, and Monday Musings, 3.4.24
The Good Life: Zinnias, Tomatoes, and Monday Musings, 2.26.24
Vintage Loves Times Two: Zinnias, Tomatoes, and Monday Musings, 2.19.24
The Start of Something New: Zinnias, Tomatoes, and Monday Musings, 2.12.24
Tracy Pellin
Hi Penny-
I loved this so much. I ‘m 54 and just retired in April after 29 years in social services. It almost didn’t happen; my husband passed away suddenly in September and I was afraid to take the leap, knowing it would look drastically different than a I’d planned. I’m giving myself time to figure it out, spending more quality time with my MIL at her retirement community and helping my two grown kids as we navigate our grief together.
I loved the idea of your “staycation” in Tulsa during the winter months ! Also, like you, I ‘d like to find something I love to do that will bring a little extra money but doesn’t require early days, fighting traffic or being chained to a laptop, My daughter has suggested pet sitting or even grocery delivery with Instacart. We’ll see what sticks. Thanks for being so vulnerable and honest in sharing your story!
ppweeks
Thanks so much for sharing your retirement story. I am so sorry about the loss of your husband. I can imagine how much this changed what you had planned for your retirement.
I love the ideas that you shared. Sounds like you and your daughter had a successful brainstorming session. Best wishes!
Kimberly
I loved this, you are a great writer ,and I really enjoyed reading this. I m not retired but was a part time stay at home mom. Now I’m ready for retirement but hubby is still working. So I often ask myself what I should be doing or what I need to do to stay content and happy. I love that we can choose. I look forward to more great writings 🥰. @rusticvalleyviewfarmhouse
ppweeks
Sounds like we have a lot in common. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and for the compliment regarding my writing. I appreciate it!
Patricia W
I just discovered your wonderful blog! Thank you for your insights so beautifully presented. I have been retired since summer of 2016 and it took several frustrating years (add the COVID pandemic to that) for me to find my rhythm. I will be 67 in a few weeks and I have slowed down some these days. At the beginning of retirement , I felt pressure to schedule every hour with activities. Whew, am I glad that was a fail! The things that made the cut— painting, quiet mornings and errands with my husband, drop-in exercise class, reading, walks, lunch with friends, impromptu badminton in our yard, and flexible volunteering — make up my days and evenings. My husband and I reserve every Thursday as a special date day, too.
This year I’ve added an early afternoon nap to my schedule as I am an early riser.
I am looking forward to your next installment.
ppweeks
Thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing your retirement experience. Your retirement routine sounds wonderful, especially with the addtion of naps (one of my favs) and Thursday date days! Enjoy and congrats!!!