How to Get Out of a Retirement Rut
Like most people who cross the retirement “finish line”, I have nothing but good things to say about this time in my life. Like most of our readers, I spent over forty years working and saving to get to this day and we have been very fortunate to have had a wonderful first nine years of retirement. Sadly, however, we come across people who say that retirement isn’t as good as they thought it would be and that they’re bored. One day blends into another. They’ve fallen into a rut. If that sounds familiar, and you’re wondering how to get out of a retirement rut, the good news is that it’s easier than you might think and you can begin by doing something new, exploring a place you’ve never been to or learning something you never knew before. We live in a fascinating world and the only ones who don’t believe that are the ones who have never really thought about it.
If you’re going to learn how to get out of a retirement rut, you’re going to have to behave like a little child who never tires of asking why or how a hundred times a day. Become curious again. If you’ve ever seen a picture of outer space with millions of galaxies and never stopped to think about the vastness of the world we live in, I have to step back and wonder how that is even possible. How could you not have the slightest bit of curiosity about our existence in this incredible creation we call the universe. That question alone has caused the great thinkers of the past thousands of years to offer their perspective on why we are here. What’s your perspective? Have you ever wondered why you were created in the first place and how you have become the individual you are today? I’ve thought about this often without coming to a complete answer but, in the process, I have learned quite a lot about the world and, for that matter, myself. Many people don’t know themselves as well as they think and they have forgotten the things that got them curious and engaged. I invite you to explore your own personality with a process that I developed. It’s designed to help people get re-engaged with life.
Finding a new interest or re-discovering an old one may be how to get out of a retirement rut.
We all have hidden pockets of curiosity that we’ve never fully explored. Traveling has been something my wife and I have enjoyed all through our marriage and it continues to be one of our favorite things to do. We don’t just visit a place. We try to understand as much as we can about the places we are visiting. I married a saint who has indulged me with almost any historical trip you can think of and we have seen more President’s homes and graves than most of the people that you know. I think when you study the people who shaped our history, you make these events come alive and gain a better understanding of what life was like. History should be taught through well-written biographies and getting to know the people behind the events that changed the direction of our country. Becoming interested in a subject is one of the best ways to bring new interest and excitement into your life. If you’re wondering how to get out of a retirement rut, it may be as simple as a trip to a nearby historic site and learning as much as you can while you’re there. It doesn’t have to be about the American History you learned in school. It can be about the old west and Wyatt Earp, the exploits of Al Capone or Lucky Luciano, the dark alleys of Whitechapel where Jack the Ripper created a string of murders still talked about today or even analyzing the state of baseball or football by visiting every stadium.
What we’re really talking about here is to start a new hobby or interest that you can get lost in. It can make all the difference in the world when you’re staying up late to read the latest book you’ve gotten or watch another documentary on your area of interest. It’s the best advice I can give on how to get out of a retirement rut, and it goes to the simple fact that we live in an incredible world that is just waiting to be explored. The amazing thing is that no matter how obscure you think your interest might be, you’ll find there are hundreds of others who have been down that path before you. Don’t be afraid to follow your passion. I’ve had an obsession for history ever since I can remember and no matter how much abuse I took for it, I never lost my desire to learn more. Learning new things in retirement is one of the best things you can do and you’ll never run out of things to learn. Go out and start a new hobby or find a new subject that you want to research. Write a book about it if you want to. You won’t believe how much fun it can be. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. You’re never too old to discover something new about yourself!
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