You Should Have At Least
Two Hobbies in Retirement
Hobbies are a wonderful part of retirement. While many people think that they are a nice little addition to your life, I happen to think they are an essential part of your existence during your post-working career. I would go even one step further and say that having one hobby isn’t enough. You should have at least two hobbies in retirement and at least one of those should require some kind of physical activity. The more active the better. What people don’t realize is how a hobby can present the challenges you need in retirement to stay mentally sharp and physically active. Remember, your working career took up forty or more hours every week and probably much more when you add in your commuting time and all the hours that you “thought about” your job and what was waiting for you on Monday morning. It provided an important part of your existence: purpose. Everyone needs a purpose in life and, believe it or not, a hobby that you truly enjoy can do exactly that.
But don’t just take my word for it. None other than Winston Churchill felt the same way as I do about the importance of hobbies and how they can enrich your life. The man who led Europe in the battle to save the free world, had more than a few hobbies. A visit to Chartwell, his home outside of London, will provide evidence of his love for his personal pursuits. The brick walls around the property were constructed by the Prime Minister and provided him with a great sense of fulfillment. He had a whole building to store all of his artwork because painting was his first love and true escape. He played card games and loved taking care of his goldfish. Although I’m not aware of golf or tennis or some other physical sport creeping into his daily routine, the brick laying and wall construction certainly provided a physical workout and a skill that needed to be precise and exacting if they were going wall-off his garden without collapsing. He must have been a competent bricklayer because the walls are still standing sixty years after his death. Churchill was a firm believer that you should have at least two hobbies in retirement and so am I.
If you have no hobbies at this point, I hope that you consider adding some to your daily routine and take some time to think about what might appeal to you. You need more than one to really challenge yourself and make sure that you’re staying mentally and physically active. Keep in mind that the weather can play a role in how often you can engage in a sport or outdoor undertaking. The golfer who has a week of rain to deal with can get pretty grouchy if he or she is not out doing what they love. That’s why that second or third hobby becomes important. You want to have an activity that can be done no matter what kind of weather is in the area. It should be something that you look forward to and, ideally, can challenge you with a skill that needs to be mastered and provide satisfaction at the same time. For Churchill, it was painting and he became quite good at it. He would spend hours by himself with only his paint, brushes and a cigar but it was all that he needed. He balanced his brickwork with his canvas creation and could challenge himself both physically and mentally and that’s precisely why you should have at least two hobbies in retirement.
You should have at least two hobbies in retirement that challenge you physically and mentally.
While golf, tennis, swimming or pickleball can provide physical activity and challenge you in skill development and even mental discipline, the creative side of your personality needs to be nurtured as well. Have no doubt that we all have a creative side that is dying to express itself. It may require some thought and self-examination, but almost everyone had a creative activity that they gave up when life became a little too busy. I developed The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement to help people search their memory bank for the things they did in their youth as a hobby that somehow got put to side when we started working or raising a family. They might be something you consider resurrecting in your life or choose a completely different activity that you had an interest in but never got around to doing. The more creative it is, the better. Remember, things like woodworking and gardening can be very creative and challenging as you increase your skill level and tackle bigger projects. You should have at least two hobbies in retirement and the more activities that you have that you can’t wait to get to, the more fulfilling your life will be.
Don’t overlook the possibility of making some extra money from your hobby either. There’s nothing wrong with that and it can add some excitement to your life even if you don’t need the money at all. If that’s the case, donate it to a worthy cause. Not only will you get fulfillment out of your hobby but the chance to help others can give you even greater incentive to master whatever your activity of choice is. You need at least two hobbies in retirement to avoid being that person who sits in front of the television eight hours a day or complains to everyone that there’s nothing to do. Make the most of your retirement and begin by adding a hobby or two to your life if you don’t have one already. There’s nothing better than getting so interested in something you lose track of the time and everything else going on around you. If you can make it part of a social event like a club of like-minded hobbyists, you really have a winning activity on your hands. Social networks based on an engaging activity will keep you young and give you a positive outlook on life and that’s the secret to a fulfilling life. Go out and start a new hobby. 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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