Purposeful Living After Retirement

In your younger years, purpose is easier to define. You have a whole life in front of you: a career ladder to climb, a partner to find, a family to raise. Then, as one decade rolls into the next, your priorities and purpose are likely to shift. It’s when the wheels slow and you ease into life after retirement that you may find yourself seeking renewed purpose.

The transition into retirement can be a time of uncertainty as your roles and responsibilities dramatically shift. The newfound freedom, while exhilarating, can also be overwhelming. Reshaping and redefining your purpose may actually be the greatest gift you can give yourself as you ease into this new stage of life.

If you’re newly retired or perhaps see that milestone rapidly approaching on the horizon, learning more about purposeful living can help you make the most of this new stage of life.

What does it mean to live with purpose?

A sense of purpose is what propels you forward in life, guiding your intentions and actions. It shapes your goals and aspirations, how you spend your time and who you spend it with. More than how you pass the day, purpose helps you define your relationship with yourself and the world around you.

In fact, having a strong sense of purpose can influence your mental and even physical health.

The implications for your physical health are actually quite logical: those who live with purpose tend to be more active, which supports mobility and reduces the risk of numerous chronic illnesses. Researchers have even found correlations between healthier sleep and a sense of purpose among older adults.

When it comes to mental health, living with purpose offers numerous advantages, including reducing feelings of loneliness and depression; stimulating cognitive function; and encouraging activity and socialization, to name a few.

How can I develop a stronger sense of purpose?

What gives your life purpose and meaning is a deeply personal consideration, and it may change with time. As you explore life after retirement, you may find purpose in your personal relationships, including your family, grandchildren and friends who share your interests and passions.

The career that once gave your life purpose may now provide you with transferable skills that allow you to pursue new hobbies or become involved in your community in new and rewarding ways. Friendships you weren’t able to fully nurture may now have room to blossom.

Finding purpose begins with self-reflection about the values, ideas, people and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. You may need some time to “try on” different interests. Let your curiosity guide you to delve into topics you’ve always been intrigued by and dig into the world of opportunity you now have the freedom to explore.

Know that exploring your sense of purpose may be more of a journey than a destination. The end goal isn’t as much about pinpointing a specific purpose as it is living a meaningful, enriching life.

Does having a sense of purpose ease the retirement transition?

It certainly can! Adjusting to life after retirement is a big change for many seniors. In a matter of days, you may go from the chaos of a professional career to the very loud silence of an empty calendar. Even if you’ve been counting the days toward retirement, the change can take some adjusting. Finding ways to bring more purpose into your days can help smooth that transition.

Activities and Hobbies

This may be the first time in your life that you have enough time available to truly pursue your personal interests or passions. These may be hobbies you enjoyed through the years, when you could fit them in among your other responsibilities and obligations, or they may be topics or interests you’ve put off with the idea that you’d get to them “someday.”

Retirement is your chance to fill your days with the activities that bring you joy, including common retirement hobbies like gardening, low-impact sports, outdoor recreation, sewing, and reading.

Working/Volunteering 

For some retirees, work was a vital piece of their purpose in life, so working after retirement is a way to honor that passion. For some seniors, that means diving into second careers that repurpose their skills and talents or taking on a part-time job to stay connected to the workforce in a productive way.

Others transfer that professional drive into another direction by volunteering their knowledge and expertise to help a nonprofit organization fulfill its mission. This route can be particularly rewarding if it means aligning your skills with a cause you care deeply about supporting.

Are there other resources to help older adults find purpose?

A change of scenery could be the trick to help you find purpose and begin enjoying retirement more fully. Some older adults find that moving to a senior living community can help them discover purpose in ways they never imagined.

One reason is that independent living can give seniors more freedom than they had previously because they’re free from responsibilities like housekeeping and home maintenance. They’re able to live on their own terms.

What’s more, communities like Riverside Senior Life encourage residents to connect with the things that matter most to them. Recreational activities, an array of community spaces for socializing and lifelong learning, and amenities like a creative arts studio and individual gardening beds allow residents to make each day meaningful and rewarding.