Many people eagerly anticipate retirement. Others approach with trepidation, worried over how they’ll fill their days.

Bob retired from work in his early sixties and, deciding he was way too young to retire from life, downsized his suburban home for a country lakeside retreat. He bought a little boat, adopted a shelter dog, and got busy.

The local volunteer fire service deemed him past firefighting age, so Bob helped by cleaning the station and equipment. During emergencies, he was an important member of the team manning relief centres and distributing food and drink to the firefighters.

At home, he grew vegetables and revisited the hobbies of his youth: re-learning the guitar and painting landscapes. Summer afternoons found Bob and his dog out on the boat. During winter Bob did odd jobs around his cottage.

His children complained that he was never around, but Bob had worked since he was fifteen and had been hanging out for retirement. He’d planned for it, dreamed about it, and now he was living it.

Australians are living longer; it’s not unreasonable to assume you’ll be retired for 20 or 30 years. In the years leading up to retirement, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what retirement will mean to you. If you have a partner, talk to them about their goals for retirement. Together come up with some specific plans as to how you will work towards achieving these goals. Having a clear direction for your retirement will help you easily settle into your new life and ensure it will still have a certain amount of structure and purpose.

• What do you want to achieve?
• Do you want to make a difference?
• Do you want to change people’s lives?
• Do you want to chase dreams?

To better prepare for retirement, it’s also a good idea to:

• spend time with like-minded people, brainstorming the possibilities for activities to add purpose to your life;
• talk to retirees for advice and guidance, and find out what sort of activities they’re participating in and how they are putting their newly found free time to good use.

If retirement has snuck up and caught you unprepared, think about what you enjoy doing, what your skills and interests are, and get busy. You’ve still got a lot of living to do – and finally, it’s all about you!

Not sure how you’ll fill all those days? We have a few ideas to kick-start your new life.

Learn/Teach something or be a mentor

Do you have skills and talents you can share with others? Are you interested in learning from others in return? The University of the Third Age (U3A) may be your kind of group.

Located all over Australia, U3A groups meet regularly to provide learning and engagement for older people and disabled younger people. Organisers run structured courses with professional leaders or casual knowledge-share sessions conducted by group members or guests.

Look up the U3A in your area or visit www.u3a.org.au for information.

Keep active

You’ll have more time to dedicate to your training. Return to your favourite sport or learn a new one. Sports like archery and golf are Olympic sports! Or closer to home, you can begin preparing now to enter the Pan Pacific Masters Games.

Write your memoirs

Everyone has a story to tell – yes, even you! You may think your life is rather ho-hum, but your children and grandchildren might disagree. With digital printing options nowadays, you can produce a beautiful memoir with a short print run, perfect for family and friends.

Community

Feel like giving something back? The Australian Men’s Shed Association is a body that supports the health and wellbeing of men. It’s a terrific organisation for retirees with academic or practical skills to share through events and learning activities. To find a Men’s Shed near you, go to www.mensshed.org for details.

If that’s not your thing, or you’re the wrong gender, consider helping 4-legged friends at your local animal shelter. Love children? What about becoming a “Pyjama Angel”? Full details can be found on the Pyjama Foundation website www.thepyjamafoundation.com. Or check out your community notice board or online for local opportunities like Meals on Wheels.

Many types of organisations appreciate volunteers. Think about what matters to you and what you’re passionate about, and you’ll find one that is perfect for you. Volunteering is a great way to stay busy and valued, meet new people, and feel good about yourself while contributing to a good cause.

The information contained in this article is general information only. It is not intended to be a recommendation, offer, advice or invitation to purchase, sell or otherwise deal in securities or other investments. Before making any decision in respect to a financial product, you should seek advice from an appropriately qualified professional. We believe that the information contained in this document is accurate. However, we are not specifically licensed to provide tax or legal advice and any information that may relate to you should be confirmed with your tax or legal adviser.