Your post-career retirement doesn’t necessarily start the day you walk out of work or career. Some planning and experimenting beforehand can be worthwhile and even fun. Especially if you’re near retirement, you can start thinking about some areas that interest you or that you’ve always wanted to pursue. Perhaps an area related to your previous job if you enjoyed that, or a hobby that you pursued in your spare time while still working. You may even want a part-time job in an area you love, or even exercise your entrepreneurial spirit to start a business you’ve always dreamed of.
Even if you foresee retirement a year or more in the future, now may be time to begin to explore areas of interest. Perhaps you’ll be doing some research or subscribing to magazines about areas you want to explore. Make a list of possibilities and narrow them down based on your research. Joining a meet-up group might give you resources and allow you to make new friends with common interests.
When you’ve selected several topics of interest, start trying them out. For example, if cooking is on your short list, try out recipes with friends and family. I’ve noticed that people who love cooking post recipes on Facebook and ask for feedback. And lately there are a number of crocheters who show us pictures of the handiwork and use the pictures as a way to advertise their skills to others whom they could teach.
Especially if you’re thinking of venturing into an area which is new to you, you might set up a few informational interviews; i.e., meetings with people more experienced than you from whom you can ask questions and gather information. In any event, enjoy the process after the many years of work.
