| With retirees seemingly getting younger and younger, | | | | or how about extending your present knowledge, |
| in the mind if not in the body, enjoyment is the name | | | | and learn more about using your computer, or go to |
| of the game! But to get the most out of retirement, | | | | a golf clinic for a holiday, join a choir etc. |
| you need to have a plan. One of my favorite sayings | | | | 3. Work Part-time. Rather than going back into the |
| is "If you don't know where you're going, how are | | | | workforce, which you've just escaped from, try |
| you going to get there"! | | | | turning a hobby into a business. As well as keeping |
| For any would-be retirees who haven't tried | | | | you and your mind young, this has the additional |
| goal-setting yet, having a plan is great. You can make | | | | benefit of giving you extra income. For instance if |
| daily goals ("today I am going to sign up for a French | | | | you have always sewed for your family, you could |
| course"), 3-monthly goals ("I will be able to converse | | | | start an online ebay shop where you sell the items |
| in French at the 'hello, how are you' level"), yearly | | | | you make. Like scrapbooking? Start teaching other |
| goals ("I will save enough money to go on that cruise | | | | people how to do it. Enjoy using the internet? Want |
| I've been talking about for years".) | | | | to earn cash online? Try some internet marketing, |
| The following are just some suggestions I have | | | | you'll be amazed at what you can earn, and learn. |
| come up with while planning my own retirement! | | | | 4. Become a Volunteer. Place such as Community |
| Hope they give you some ideas to be going on with. | | | | Organisations, Respite centres, kindergartens, schools, |
| There are of course many, many more things you | | | | Meals on Wheels, church or the local community radio |
| could do with your time, but the following might help | | | | station are always looking for volunteer workers. As |
| to start the ball rolling. | | | | well as keeping yourself occupied, you are also |
| 1. Develop an Exercise Program - it doesn't need to | | | | helping others, which always feels good |
| be at a gym, and can be as strenuous or not as you | | | | 5. Go Out with a Friend. Plan to spend one day per |
| choose. It could be walking, tai chi, line dancing (boot | | | | week/fortnight/month out with your partner or a |
| scooting), taking up a sport..... | | | | friend. You could go to the movies one fortnight, to |
| 2. Learn Something New, it keep helps keep your | | | | the zoo another time, or perhaps just a day out |
| mind active. There are hundreds of different Home | | | | shopping with a nice lunch. It not only gives you |
| Study courses to choose from, or you could become | | | | something to look forward to, but keeps you in |
| a mature age student at your local tertiary college, | | | | touch with previous workmates and buddies. |
| which would have the added bonus of mixing with | | | | Now go to it and have a ball in your active |
| lots of new people, young and old; you could join | | | | retirement! |
| that Thai cooking course you were always looking at, | | | | |