On my post titled 7 Steps to Millions More: Continue Learning and Developing Skills, one reader left the following comment:
This could maybe even be its own post but how do you feel you apply this concept into your life now that you are retired?
For instance:
1. Do you still try to learn and grow in your career field perhaps because you are still interested and just enjoy learning and thinking about it or perhaps because you want to keep your skills sharp for possible future opportunities you may want to explore?
2. Do you still network in your career field for the same reason or are you networking in other areas?
3. Are you trying to branch out and learn new things in areas you were previously interested in but didn’t have as much time for perhaps in side businesses and how are you doing that?
4. Are you trying to pick up new hobbies or explore new leisure activities and how are you learning about and finding those options?
5. Anything else I didn’t think of.
As someone approaching this stage I am quite curious about how others who have gone through early retirement handle the growth and learning phase in retirement.
Thanks.
Here’s the response I gave at the time:
These are some GREAT questions!
To some extent, it’s still too soon to answer them. I will give my 100-day retirement update in a couple weeks and you’ll see how it’s going, but there’s still a lot to be determined about how my retirement time will play out.
For now, I’m treating retirement as I would any other major life change (death in the family, divorce, etc.) and not trying to make any major decisions/plans for six months or so. I’m just “being’ to some extent and trying to relax, slow the pace of life, and do a lot of thinking. This is totally opposite of my fast-paced lifestyle prior to retirement, so it’s taking me some time to detox.
So I don’t have great (or any) answers to the above at this point. I can tell you what I’m doing and answer them, but it won’t be meaningful because it’s not really intentional. So I’ll give it another couple months and then will use them as the basis of a new post.
But let me give you at least a taste of what’s going on to tide you over.
I can say that I am still learning (mostly about personal finance, blogging, technology, and fitness) and doing so will probably always be part of my life. I’m also networking but not nearly as much as I was previously and mostly not in business circles (I am doing some volunteer stuff where networking is vital).
I am spending more time on fitness — I just got back from a 3-mile walk this morning on a crisp, Colorado morning. I’ve also done several things around the house that needed taking care of. As for hobbies, this blog and my other one have ramped up (something you might consider — what to be a regular contributor here? ;)) and I enjoy them both.
I have taken a few side trips and was able to attend my college reunion which was something I never would have done while I worked.
I’ll share more in my upcoming retirement update and then even more when I answer the questions in a new post.
So now it’s been over eight months since I retired and I think I’m ready to answer these questions.
Here goes:
- I don’t spend much time reading/growing in my field (business/marketing) at this point. I do read business-type articles now and then but that’s because they may have use as background material for a post I’m considering.
- I do network a bit now and then with colleagues, friends, recruiters, etc. because 1) I enjoy it and 2) you never know what might happen. If the perfect opportunity came up, I might take it (my kids asked me the other night if I would clean toilets for a year for a $1 million salary and I said, “Of course!” It’s still hard to pass up an easy million!) Networking also helps for the volunteer position I have, which is fundraising for a charity that helps poor, single mothers get back on their feet.
- I am learning and reading a TON about personal finance. I read about 200 blogs, have polished off a couple books this year (one I’ve told you about and the other will be covered in an upcoming post), still read Money and Kiplinger’s magazines (though I’ll let the subscriptions lapse when due as they are next to worthless), and listen to a handful of money podcasts. I also listen to “personal improvement” podcasts like those by Tim Ferriss and Lewis Howes. I’m also plowing through a few books on the US Virgin Islands since I hope to get down there this year. And of course I’m reading on fitness and health quite often. So yes, I’m still learning a ton, just not in my work field.
- I have picked up some new hobbies. I’m blogging (of course) and am always learning about writing, technology, and so forth. I really enjoy it and probably spend an average of 3-4 hours a day on it in one way or another. I also started hiking a bit and am training to climb Pikes Peak this summer (it’s in my city, so why not?) I’ve read up on how to make the climb, talked to some people who have done so, and planned out my training schedule from now until September when I plan to walk up it. I am also traveling more than ever this year as noted in my vacation post. BTW, anyone have a recommendation for a GREAT hiking backpack? I’m in the market for one.
- I did do some free consulting for a local business owned by a friend. It was fun for me, helped her out, and got me a couple free perks to tourist sites around town, so it worked on several fronts.
You didn’t ask this specifically, but other than the career-related questions, it seems the heart of you inquiry might be, “Is there enough to do during retirement or am I going to be bored out of my mind?”
It’s a wise question to ask.
I’ve heard others say that if you have something to retire to, then retirement is great. But if you don’t, it will be torture. (In case you missed it, I wrote a guest post on this subject for another site.)
I can’t agree more. You have to have something(s) to do when you retire or else most people will find it extremely boring.
It doesn’t matter what it is: reading, working on cars, volunteering, visiting family, physical fitness, etc. You have to do something with your waking hours and TV and video games won’t cut it for long.
I am busy enough now with my interests that I don’t get bored but not so busy that I’m stressed. I am busy, for sure, but it’s a good busy, doing things I want to do, so it’s different than “work busy”. As such, it’s quite manageable and totally fun. I imagine through the years that some activities will fall by the wayside and some new ones will pop up, but time will tell on that front. For some added perspective, see 10 Things I Didn’t Expect in Early Retirement, a guest post I wrote for my friend at Budgets are Sexy. It was picked up by Michelle Singletary, who I’ve admired and read for years, and the Washington Post.
Anything else anyone would like to know about post-retirement activities? If so, ask in the comments and I’ll share my thoughts.
photo credit: michaelstephanfotografie _MG_9098-2 via photopin (license)
The magic bean counter says
Great insight in to what its like to be retired. Sounds like overall you are enjoying the heck out of life!
Dads Dollars Debts says
Thanks for re-posting that comment as I had missed it previously. I imagine there are some people that would be bored with early retirement, but those are not the ones thinking of doing it. If you are motivated to plan an early retirement, then you are likely motivated enough to stay busy in retirement.
Glad you are having fun. What is your second hobby, outside of blogging?
ESI says
Well, it depends on how you define “hobby”, but here’s my list:
*Working out — 5 times a week at the gym, walk 14k steps per day at least, training to climb Pikes Peak
*Reading — Blogs, books, magazines. Also listen to audio books in the car and podcasts during my walks.
*Watching Hallmark movies with my wife. 🙂
*Video games — I like Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin’s Creed, Batman (the pre-Telltale ones), FIFA, and Uncharted.
*Travel — Working to make several trips a year.
*Volunteer — Currently work as a board member for one charity.
There are probably a few I’m forgetting, but these are the highlights.
Coopersmith says
My father always said ” I am so busy in retirement, when did I have time to work?” Sounds like you are filling your time nicely and wisely.
I agree in keeping active and involved and I am actually looking forward to using my talents in other ways. I have many interests in developing my art and will persue some of them as I get closer and start developing them before I retire. I Have have the tools necessary for woodworking and stained glass and the last thing I want to develope is metal working scuplture.
I know you had though about more with cooking with your special grill. Any other things that might spur an interest. Coin collecting? 🙂
ESI says
Ugh. Don’t temp me!
I’ve always loved coins, even as a kid. But I’m afraid I’d spend a gazillion dollars on terrible coins so I’ve never taken it up.
Chess is so much cheaper. 🙂
Coopersmith says
I am doing it simple. Only New Silver American Eagles Brilliant Uncirculated not graded in an archive folder from 2014 on in a lot of 15. I will stipulate in my estate plan that each grandchild gets one from each year collected and the remainder distributed to my sons in equal ammounts and the rest sold. Heck I might even sell 5 of them if things get crazy with silver prices again to keep it going.
FullTimeFinance says
I can’t imagine being bored in retirement. As it is there never seems to be enough hours in the day. My fear would be more from a sense of purpose perspective. Hot off the presses this week my stay at home mom wife is back to work now after only six months. Admittedly it will be contracting ten hours a week, but the cause is ultimately feeling of accomplishment from going to work. How do you deal with that after years in a type a style position.
Randal Graham says
Re: hiking backpacks, check out the Osprey line. They have multiple sizes, and essentially all either come with or can incorporate a water bladder with a tube you can drink from without having to access a water bottle. They include chest straps, are comfortable, have multiple pockets and are durable. Great warranty, too. There are plenty of other good backpack lines, too, but having the right gear is essential and will maximize your experience. Happy hiking!
ESI says
Thanks!
You’re the second person in two days who mentioned them, so I will need to check them out for sure.
Randal Graham says
You’re welcome! I’m really glad I found your blog (courtesy of a Michelle Singletary article I read in the paper recently). I retired 2 years ago after a career as a surgeon, which was not only hugely stressful, but for me, lacked any prospect of being able to control my hours going forward. I basically had done the same ESI-type program as you did, and was able to walk away, to the astonishment of my colleagues and former partners. I have always enjoyed hiking, but have developed a chronic musculoskeletal injury, presumably from hiking too far and too often for my age (now 60), in the Smoky Mountains, near where I live. I was trying to make up for lost time from all the days working, but even though I was in fairly good physical shape, I apparently overdid it. Like your back issues, I have been given different diagnoses and treatments, and it’s not going away. So I will probably take your advice to read some of John Sarno’s books. Your blog is great, thanks, and have fun out there!
ESI says
Welcome! I appreciate you reading. I’ve got some good things planned so stay tuned. 🙂
Let me know what you think of the Sarno book. It did wonders for me.
Mrs.Need2Save says
So nice to see a mention of Michelle Singletary. As DC area residents we’ve read her for a long time and I thing her advice to area residents about mindful spending and debt reduction are generally spot on. At the moment, we don’t get the Washington Post any longer but she is probably the only contributer there that I miss.
Always a good read, ESI! It’s true that you need to sustatin many interests to avoid getting ‘bored’ in retirement.
Bennyboy says
Hi there ESI. I stumbled on your “10 things I didn’t expect in early retirement” article through LinkedIn a few days ago. First of all I want to say a huge THANK YOU – it is so enlightening, inspiring and reassuring to read the thoughts of someone so in tune with my own. I live in the UK and retired 2 years ago just before I turned 50. I worked and saved hard for 28 years as it was always my plan to do this. It made perfect logical sense to me and my wife, but the reaction of almost everyone around me made me feel as if I had grown two heads!! Like you, I had a high flying, very well paid job in marketing…and one day I simply walked away from it. I stepped straight off the treadmill, haven’t really looked back, and couldn’t be any happier! All the reactions you describe I have also encountered. The most common question I get is “don’t you get bored?”. Like you, I am evolving my answers to people as I settle in to my new, amazing, liberating, stress-free life. So now I politely say…” No, not at all. But I can tell you what was REALLY boring – sitting in an office, looking at spreadsheets, trying to hit targets, standing in the security queue at Heathrow airport at 7am on a Monday morning, feeling my blood pressure rising every day, dealing with unreasonable customers/staff/suppliers, etc…” Anyway, thank you again – I’m not someone who lacks in self-confidence but it’s just great to read the views of other like-minded (and smart) people and also getting some good life and financial ideas. I look forward to reading through the rest of your blogs and if you ever need any input or tips from a UK perspective I am more than happy to help. Cheers!
Chuck Kohout says
Great article. Anyone reading this have suggestions for blogs on post retirement, such as volunteering, mentoring, teaching, etc…?