10 Productive Things to Do in Retirement
"Our heads are round so thought can change direction." –Francis Picabia
Thought I'd share the best news I've heard all week! A study published in NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE found that at age 60, you reach the TOP of your productivity potential, and this continues into your 80s.
An extensive study in the U.S. found that the most productive age in human life is between 60-70 years of age.
The 2nd most productive stage is from 70 to 80 years of age
The 3rd most productive stage is from 50 to 60 years of age
The average age of NOBEL PRIZE winners is 62 years old
The average age of the presidents of prominent companies in the world is 63 years
The average age of the pastors of the 100 largest churches in the U.S.A. is 71
The average age of the Pope is 76 years
This tells us in a way that it has been determined, that the best years of your life are between 60 and 80 years. Retirement has been steadily growing since the 1950s while the rules and regulations related to retirement have been changing. Recent cohorts have reached this phase in better health than previous ones, and until recently, retirement has been rather void of societal expectations, leaving room for individual decisions regarding amount and type of activity. (SOURCE: N.Engl.J .Med. 70,389 (2018))
For retirees, productivity leads to self-fulfillment and fosters a sense of purpose. This doesn’t mean that you must drive yourself crazy over planning every minute of your day. You don’t need to stay busy all the time to maintain a productive lifestyle. Productivity is about more than staying busy.
Are you retired or approaching retirement? Perhaps you want to maintain a modicum of structure and purpose in your relaxed retirement life. If so, you might want to consider these 10 productive things to do in retirement.
1) Become a Tour Guide
People with outgoing personalities can become tour guides in certain cities. It's not necessarily easy. In New York City, for instance, becoming a licensed guide means passing a background check as well as a rigorous test of arcane city knowledge. Although no one will become rich as a guide, some people can have a pretty good time and make money passing on their excitement about where they live.
2) Rediscover Art
Revive a love of art by taking up drawing or painting. This doesn't require a lot of supplies to start — for drawing, just a pad and a set of pencils or some charcoal will do. To begin, there are online lessons on Craftsy and other websites, but taking a class in person opens up a new social circle. Almost every community college has some sort of art classes, and often a senior tuition waiver is available to lower the cost of those classes.
3) Take Care of Animals
Pet sitters get to indulge the desire to be around animals, usually dogs or cats, which is especially helpful if the rules of their own home prohibit pets. Local pet-sitting companies often advertise for workers with signs in vets' offices or stores that sell pet supplies, but retirees can go independent and put up their own signs advertising for clients. Pet lovers who enjoy being outdoors and are strong enough to handle several dogs at once can also be dog walkers.
4) Start a Mastermind Group
For some, retirement from a day-to-day job just opens up time to try another business. Senior entrepreneurs don't need to go it alone. Look through your address book, find other smart retirees, and form a mastermind group that meets regularly to share connections, advice, and experience. It's like having an instant board of directors, while joining a bunch of other boards.
5) Combine Work and Travel
If working at a canoe lodge, ranch, ski lodge, Buddhist retreat, or bucolic inn sounds appealing, Cool Works might have just the job. Most are low-level, seasonal housekeeping, cooking, gift shop management, or janitorial positions, but they're in spectacular settings and most offer room and board, as well.
6) Visit National Parks
The National Park Service offers people 62 and older a $80 lifetime pass to all national parks, recreation sites, and historic homes run by the agency. It applies to everyone in the vehicle at parks where admission is charged per vehicle and up to three other adults where admission is charged per person. The pass also confers discounts on individual campsites, some guided tours, and other fees.
7) Go to Camp
Another way to get away from it all is to go to camp — a camp meant for seniors. Some concentrate on basic camp experiences, such as archery, boating, and campfires, while others focus on particular activities such as wine tasting, bird watching, or the arts. Some are adults-only, and some offer shared experiences with grandchildren. Adult camps aren't necessarily in the summer, and some last for only a weekend, including some pricey fantasy camps that indulge the inner child and let grownups be cowboys or train for spaceflight.
8) Teach ESL at Home
There are also plenty of people in this country who need to learn English as a second language. Tutors work with them one-to-one on reading, writing, speaking, and sometimes on just getting by in a new setting. Tutoring requires very little training, although teaching a class requires TEFL certification. Finding volunteer positions is easy, starting with classes, conversation groups, or tutoring at municipal libraries.
9) Become a SCORE Adviser
The Senior Corps of Retired Executives offers advice to people starting small businesses. Volunteers with entrepreneurial experience and professional skills lend their expertise by mentoring in person or by phone, leading workshops, and teaching skills such as accounting or writing a business plan. SCORE advisers can also serve as a sounding board and part of a startup team.
10) Garden Like a Master
Take gardening expertise one more step and become a master gardener. Every state has master gardener training that accepts people who are passionate about growing and have some skills to offer; the American Horticultural Society has a guide. After the program, there's work to be had in arboretums and botanical gardens as a volunteer, and sometimes for pay.
