If you are bored in retirement, you are doing something wrong!

How many times have you heard someone say that their retirement is boring? It’s hard to believe that anyone could find this moment in their life as anything other than a dream come true. It’s almost a tragedy when you think about it. Someone works forty years or more, saves as much money as they can, and then doesn’t find that this new freedom is all that they thought it would be. There is something that can be done and it doesn’t take much effort and it won’t cost a penny. It’s called planning and evaluating where you are in your life and charting a course to where you want to be.

You must accept the fact that the only thing preventing you from being happy is you. As difficult as it is for some people to admit, it is the absolute truth. It may be painful to listen to, but it is absolutely a fact. While it is true that some people have experienced incredible tragedy and sadness and deserve our deepest condolences, almost all therapists will tell you that there is a way out. You need to seek advice and resolve your situation with someone who is competent and honest.

But sadly, most people who find retirement boring are not victims of tragedy. They are victims of laziness and lack of creativity. The amount of activities and resources that are available today are absolutely staggering and many of them are absolutely free. Finding a hobby, reading a book, or exploring online resources can be the cure for life’s boredom. If you don’t have your own computer, most libraries have one that you can use for free. Take advantage of senior groups in your area and make new friends and find new interests. If money is an issue, many groups will waive the nominal membership fee they charge. The main thing is to take the first step towards a new life and realize that you are the only one who can make that happen.

Finding a new activity to occupy your time can make a difference in the world and can be a way to make new friends and experience new things. Think about your life and all the things you used to do in your youth. Take a look at all the interests you had and the dreams you might have put on hold. Have you ever wanted to play an instrument, start painting, gardening, or even write a book? There is no reason that it cannot happen now. There is no such thing as being too old. The world is full of examples of people who achieved things in their later years. Winston Churchill didn’t become prime minister until he was sixty-five, an age when many people are just beginning to retire. Ben Franklin was 79 when he invented bifocals and Frank Lloyd Wright was over 90 when he completed work on the Guggenheim Museum. It is time to take the first step and not accept boredom during a moment in your life that should be the happiest and most enjoyed. You worked your whole life for this. It’s time to enjoy retired life.