When it comes to retirement, most of the advice you’ll find in books, articles, podcasts, speeches, and the like focuses almost entirely on money.
Obviously, having enough money is a foundational retirement issue (the top worry potential retirees have according to many sources) and I’ve covered the subject myself quite often here at ESI Money.
Questions about having enough are quite fair. No one wants to leave a career only to live paycheck to paycheck—or worse, be forced to unretire because the numbers didn’t work out.
But here’s the thing: a great retirement doesn’t just depend on the money. It also depends on the life.
And that second part—the life side? It gets far less attention. Few people write about it. Fewer still plan for it. And that’s a problem. Because if you’re not intentional about how you’ll spend your time, retirement can quickly shift from “dream life” to “now what?”
That’s why some retirees end up back in the workforce—not because they need the cash, but because they’re bored or directionless.
I don’t want that for you.
My goal here at ESI Money is to help you not just afford retirement—but enjoy it.
The Life Side of Retirement
A great retirement isn’t just about not working—it’s about having a life that’s fun, interesting, meaningful, and even a little bit challenging in the best way.
So how do you get there? How do you build a retirement that feels full instead of flat?
The answer is simple: you plan for the life side of retirement (sometimes called the time side—I’ll likely use both terms throughout this series). The most fulfilled retirees I know didn’t just hope things would fall into place. They experimented before they retired. They tried different activities, figured out what they enjoyed (and what they didn’t), and built a plan they were excited to live out.
It’s not a hard process—and honestly, it can be a lot of fun. But you do have to actually do it. That’s the key.
Still, even with that in mind, many people don’t know where to begin. What should you even be thinking about?
To help with that, I put together a Huge List of Awesome Retirement Activities. It’s packed with over 400 ideas to fill your time with purpose and enjoyment. But let’s be real—400 options can feel a bit overwhelming.
That’s why I’m narrowing it down for you.
After almost nine years of retirement myself, dozens of conversations with fellow retirees, and reading more than 50 books (plus countless articles) on the subject, I’ve identified what I believe are the top seven retirement activities.
These aren’t just ideas I personally like—they’re activities that come up again and again among successful, satisfied retirees. So if you’re trying to figure out how to spend your time in retirement, these seven should be at the top of your list. At the very least, they deserve serious consideration.
In other words, I’m taking those 400+ ideas and boiling them down to the best of the best—to give you a solid starting point for crafting a life you truly enjoy in retirement
How Many Activities Do You Need?
Before we dive into the list of top retirement activities, let’s take a moment to talk about how many activities you need—and what kind they should be. These details matter just as much as having activities in the first place.
Wes Moss, a financial advisor and author who has studied happy retirees in depth, found that the most satisfied retirees have, on average, 3.6 “Core Pursuits”—his term for what he calls “hobbies on steroids.”
If you’ve been around ESI Money for a while, this probably rings a bell. We’ve covered Core Pursuits in detail before. But since it’s been a while (or you’re new here), it’s worth revisiting this concept because it plays a big role in how fulfilling your retirement turns out to be.
To get up to speed, I highly recommend reading this post: What the Happiest Retirees Know: Developing Core Pursuits. It lays out the foundation of why Core Pursuits are so important and how they contribute to happiness and longevity in retirement.
We’ll build on that foundation as we go—so it’s a good idea to give it a look if you haven’t already.
In brief, that post details the following:
“Core pursuits need to be developed and cultivated in advance. Plant the seeds of curiosity before you retire, so you can water them after.
The happiest retirees have 3.6 core pursuits. The unhappiest retirees only have 1.9.
Core pursuits are the building blocks for happiness during your post-career years. They’re like hobbies, but bigger. In other words: they’re your hobbies on steroids.
As a quick refresher, the difference between a hobby and a core pursuit can be explained this way: A hobby is reading an article from American Fencing Magazine every once in a while and talking a one-day fencing class at a nearby university. A core pursuit is joining a local fencing team and starting a weekly podcast called En Garde that charts the career of Hall of Fame Olympic fencing coach Maitre Michel Alaux in his quest to approach the sport as both an art and a science.
Some people believe working was the hard part, and all they have to do for a happy retirement is kick back and not lift a finger. This, my friends, is simply not the case. You have to know what you want to do during your retirement years before you can enjoy doing it. Sleeping in and sitting on the porch are nice perks, but a happy and fulfilling retirement they do not make.
That’s why you need core pursuits. And they’re not just for current retirees, by the way. They’re for people in their thirties, forties, and fifties as well. I’ll say this all day long: I believe it’s critical to find your core pursuits before retirement. The sooner you develop them, the better. In addition to upping your happiness quotient once you reach your golden years, they’ll help you save and invest better because you have a purpose for your money.”
You’re welcome to go back and read the full post if you want to dive deeper (and I’d also recommend checking out The Top Five Money Secrets of the Happiest Retirees—another great resource), but here’s the main takeaway:
- You need at least four Core Pursuits. (Yes, 3.6 rounds up to 4—and I like to round up even more.)
- Why? Because interests change. Life happens. You might get bored with one pursuit, lose access to another, or simply move on to something new. If you have a few extras in your back pocket, you’re far more likely to stay happy and engaged.
- So here’s a simple formula I recommend: Aim for 4 main Core Pursuits, and then keep 2–3 others on the sidelines—things you do occasionally or can ramp up when needed.
That answers the “how many” question. Now, let’s talk about the type of Core Pursuits you need.
What Type of Activities You Need
Based on years of reading, dozens of retiree interviews, countless conversations, and my own experience living the retirement life, I’ve identified five key categories that make up a well-rounded and fulfilling retirement:
- Health and Fitness – Keeping your body in good shape so you can enjoy life longer.
- Fun – Activities that are purely for enjoyment and relaxation.
- Work or Work-Like Activities – Either actual work or structured tasks that feel productive.
- Social Interaction – Regular connection with friends, family, or community.
- Mental Stimulation – Keeping your brain sharp and engaged.
The most successful retirees pull from each of these categories. That’s how they build a lifestyle that’s balanced, meaningful, and sustainable.
So, we now know two things:
- How many Core Pursuits you need
- What types of needs they should meet
That brings us to the question of which activities are the best fit for most people.
I’m about to share the seven retirement activities I believe are the most valuable—the ones that check the most boxes across these five categories, and the ones I’ve seen mentioned again and again by happy, thriving retirees.
But first, a few quick notes:
- These are general guidelines, not hard rules. Everyone’s retirement will look a little different.
- Many activities overlap categories (which is great). Take pickleball—it hits health, fun, and social interaction all at once.
- You can multitask. A walk while chatting on the phone with a friend hits both fitness and social.
- Some of these activities are specific, while others are broader categories you can personalize to your preferences.
- Some are repeatable daily habits, while others are more occasional or one-time efforts.
The point is: these seven are widely used, deeply effective, and worth serious consideration.
So with that said, let’s jump into what I consider to be the seven most important retirement activities—in order of importance. We’ll cover one every post to do justice to all seven, starting with this…
1. Exercise (Get and Stay Healthy)
We all know exercise is important. Staying in shape, being active, and living a healthy lifestyle—it’s nothing new.
But let’s be honest: during your working years, especially if you had a high-demand career (like many early retirees do), exercise was often pushed to the back burner. Long hours, tight deadlines, and constant responsibilities left little time—or energy—for hitting the gym.
Now? You’ve got time. And if you don’t feel like you have the energy yet, the good news is: that can come with exercise.
There’s really no excuse not to build this into your retirement routine.
I’m not going to bore you with the long list of benefits—you already know them. Let’s move straight to the more helpful question: what kind of exercise should you do?
That’s up to you. But here are a few tips from someone who’s been doing this for years:
- Pick something sustainable. It can be fun (like tennis or pickleball) or something more structured (like strength training or HIIT), but it has to be something you’ll stick with. Consistency is the real key.
- Aim to cover both cardio and strength. You need both to keep your heart strong and your muscles/bones in good shape. How you do it is flexible—just be sure both elements are part of your routine.
- Consider hiring a trainer—at least to start. A good trainer can save you time, prevent injury, and fast-track your results. I’ve used one for years and it’s been worth every penny. I always say: you can pay the trainer now or the doctor later. I choose the trainer.
- Make it convenient. Choose a gym or space you enjoy, go at times that work for you (I avoid crowds), and find ways to make it pleasant—like listening to music or watching a show while on the treadmill.
- Give yourself grace. Missed a day? No big deal. Life happens. Just get back to it.
The bottom line: Exercise is foundational. With good health, you can enjoy everything retirement has to offer. Without it, your options narrow quickly.
This is why health and fitness comes first on this list. Without it, the rest of your retirement dreams are harder—if not impossible—to enjoy
My Personal Routine
Here’s what my routine has looked like through most of retirement:
- 3x a week of cardio (usually the stairmaster)
- 3x a week of weight training (with workouts from my trainer)
- New workouts monthly from my trainer to keep things fresh
- Rest weeks every few months to recover
- If something hurts or feels off, I go to my trainer first—then to a physical therapist if needed
Even now, after a recent health setback, I haven’t stopped completely—I’ve just adjusted. I currently swim daily and aim for 10,000 steps a day. I’m also planning to start with a new trainer here in North Carolina soon and hopefully return to my old rhythm
Other Keys to Health
Exercise is essential, but it’s just one part of the equation. To really thrive, add these to the mix:
- Good nutrition. You don’t need to be perfect, just consistent. Eat well most of the time. I still enjoy the occasional chocolate chip cookie (and no, it hasn’t killed me yet).
- Sleep. Don’t overlook it. Getting 7–8 hours of good, restorative sleep each night is a game-changer for both your physical and mental health.
- Annual physicals. Stay ahead of problems. Prevention is far easier (and cheaper) than treatment.
Want More?
Here are some related ESI Money articles to check out:
To read more on this series, check out part 2 here.
Am I missing the part where you state the top 7 retirement activities?
You missed this: “We’ll cover one every post to do justice to all seven, starting with this…”
Ok. I see this is just #1. Others to follow.
I am in my 5th year of my “happy” early retirement and echo what you have outlined in this article.
Regarding health, we actually break it down into 3 areas; physical, mental and immune system.
Core Pursuits took some time to figure out, in part, because those words “used” to mean achieving something; winning a bike race, traveling to x location, hiking x trail. While we do have some of those, other core pursuits include; building/maintaining robust relationships with friends and family. Creating meaningful experiences with friends and family. Using our time, talent and treasure to help others.
How does it look like for you to spend your time, talent, and treasure to help others?
Time: mentor to high school students
Talent: I consider myself a “Maker”. I create gifts out of wood, perform home repairs for those whom have a need, volunteer to help family and friends with projects, donate blood on a regular basis. Mentor others on personal finance, investing, life events. Often, I am one who is always willing to sit and listen. More than a few times, I have said “I may not have any answers, but I will sit with you and listen.
Treasure: financial donation, sometimes a charity, more often to an individual in need.
Thank you for bringing this subject to the surface. Looking forward to reading the coming articles, as i gain knowledge that supplements my retirement life and health.
Good series, ESI. looking forward to reading the rest. Infrequent reader and commenter here, I missed that you moved from The Villages. I hope your back is better.
One thing I’d add is to think about what one does/did in their free time and allocating time to that. For example, if someone loves animals, volunteering at an animal shelter or teaching pet-related workshops. I know some people who are avid cyclists, and now that they are retired, they volunteer with the River Conservancy, and advocate their local government for more bike trails, help train people to maintain their own bikes, and even teach youth how to ride safely.
There is a great need for volunteer/non profit workers and retirement is a great way to give back to things that are important to our way of life.
Perhaps that would fall under “work like” activities (listed above).
I don’t doubt that core pursuits improve happiness, but speaking as a worker, the idea that I need to cultivate four hobbies on steroids makes retirement sound exhausting!
The reality is that you should only need to add one or two.
If you don’t already have several interests, your retirement is likely to be a disaster.
Oh, I have many interests! Just the idea of turning them into core pursuits with the intensity described above feels like it would make life a never-ending exercise in “getting things done.”
Maybe I’ll feel differently when I am out of the workforce, but I am hoping my retirement will be a time when I can dabble in many things and not feel compelled to be productive and check things off a to-do list, if that makes sense.
Retirement is a multi-million dollar, 20-40 year decision. As such, it deserves some thought and planning.
I’m not proposing a “never-ending exercise in getting things done.” You’re somehow making that up on your own.
But I am saying a little planning for one of the biggest life decisions anyone can make is vital. Otherwise, you risk having a terrible retirement.
And to help in this process, so people have both great retirements and can cut through the thousands of possible retirement activities that they could participate in, I am listing the seven top activities that people should strongly consider. This helps people cut through the options and actually makes planning for a great retirement easier.
You can ignore them if you want. That’s your choice. But if you do, it’s highly likely your retirement won’t be as great as it could be (at a minimum) and (more likely) will end in major problems and discontent.
You seem to be taking my comments personally, but they aren’t about what you have written. I was just sharing my impression of Wes Moss’s definition of a core pursuit. I am sorry if my words read like an attack on your post; that was not my intent.
No offense taken.
I just don’t want you (or anyone else reading these comments) to go into retirement thinking they can play it by ear or simply go with the flow.
Those who do that usually don’t end up well…