After years of hard work, retirement is your chance to relax and take some time just for you. There are so many different ways that you can have a happy retirement and a bit of retirement planning can help you work out the best options for you. Let's have a look at some of the possible activities you can pursue to make the most of your time.
In retirement, many people find they have more time on their hands and miss the stimulation, sense of purpose and social interaction that full-time work provides. If this sounds like you, why not give volunteering a try?
Through volunteering, you can give back to the local community while sharing or building your skills and making new friends. Volunteering is a great way to stay connected to what's important to you or even try something totally new. Who knows, you might even find you have an interest you could build into a second career.
There are a range of volunteering opportunities available in metro and regional areas, so no matter what you're interested in, you should be able to find an opportunity to suit you. You could assist the elderly, help children learn to read, maintain buildings and facilities or even sit on the board of directors for an association. There really are opportunities for everyone.
If you're not sure how you can help, ask yourself:
Once you have a clearer picture of what you want and what you can offer, it's time to choose a role.
State government associations
Each State Government provides a range of resources for local volunteers. You can browse opportunities, read testimonials, find training materials, and contact the association in your state. For New South Wales, you can visit volunteering.nsw.gov.au.
Seek
The job search site Seek also offers a dedicated volunteering portal at volunteer.com.au.
Being out of the workplace can make you feel a bit disconnected from world events at first, but it doesn’t have to. Getting into a good daily or weekly reading habit can help you to keep up with the latest news, world events and discoveries. Whether you love a good fiction novel or the Australian Financial Review is more your thing, expanding the time you spend broadening your knowledge can keep you connected and also mentally active.
Travelling, exploring new places and connecting with different cultures is a great way to spend your new-found leisure time. Without the pressures of work and family, you can also take advantage of any deals that are available and visit places at cheaper 'low' seasons.
If you want to learn more about how to fund your adventures abroad, one of our Financial Planners can help you calculate the impact a withdrawal could have on your future and discuss alternative ways to cover your travel expenses.
Make sure you take advantage of the great discounts on flights and accommodation offered by our Loyalty Rewards program. If you haven’t activated your membership yet, you can activate now.
When you spend eight hours a day at the office it can be difficult to find the time or energy to exercise as much as you should. But in your retirement, you have more time to focus on your health. Keeping fit is even more essential as we age and it can be a great way to spend time with friends or have some time in nature.
Our Loyalty Rewards program also offers great discounts on activities including bowling, theme parks, harbour cruises and movie tickets. Find out more.
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