Retirement is not the end of anything. It is actually the beginning. But without a plan, the days can start to blur together faster than you might expect.
That is where a bucket list comes in. Having a set of goals gives your days structure and real purpose. And the best lists mix big adventures with quieter pleasures, so you are never feeling pushed too hard.
Here are 20 ideas to get yours started.
Travel and Adventure
- Plan your dream vacation. Maybe it has always been cooking your way through Europe, visiting temples in Southeast Asia, or cruising to Antarctica. Start planning it now. It does not have to be the first thing you do, but it should be on the list.
- Tour the National Parks. The U.S. National Park system has some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. The America The Beautiful Lifetime Pass gets anyone 62 and older into any park for a one-time fee of $80.
- Enjoy the journey. A slow drive up the California coast or a train ride across the Canadian landscape is not really about where you end up. It is about the miles in between. Grab the people you love and take off for a few days.
- Visit a new country. If you have never crossed the border into Canada or Mexico, both are easy drives from the continental U.S. If you want to go further, pick one country you have always been curious about and book a week there.
Learn Something New
Lifelong learning does more than fill time. Ohio State Health and Discovery found that adults aged 60 and older felt a sense of satisfaction and community when taking college courses.
- Get your degree. Have you always wanted to study philosophy or marine life? Many states offer free tuition for people over 60. It does not have to lead anywhere. You can do it purely for the joy of learning.
- Master a language. Learning a new language opens a door to a new culture. Whether your grandparents spoke Greek or you love the Spanish-speaking staff at a favorite restaurant nearby, the sense of mastery alone is worth it.
- Write something. Try your hand at a novel, a screenplay, or a blog about your retirement experiences. You can even submit poetry to competitions that offer prize money. Take a writing class to learn the basics, then let it flow.
- Become an expert. Are you fascinated by the migration patterns of Pacific sea turtles? Do you want to move beyond basic crochet into more complex patterns? Whatever the topic, dive deep and own it.
Give Back
- Feed people. Soup kitchens and organizations like Mutual Aid help feed people for little to no cost. You can volunteer to serve or to cook.
- Host a story hour. Contact a local library, bookstore, or community center about hosting a story hour for kids. Acting out the stories and engaging with the children may be exactly where you shine.
- Help with errands. Driving older seniors to the grocery store or a doctor appointment eases real stress. You are providing a service and some much-needed company at the same time.
- Join a non-profit board. Non-profit organizations need passionate board members. Joining one lets you help shape the programs and services that benefit your whole community.
Reconnect and Celebrate
The Mayo Clinic notes that finding community in your retirement years can help protect against both emotional and physical decline. So take the advice you used to give your kids: get out of the house.
- Join a group. A camera club, a book club, a hiking group, any social circle built around something you love gives you a ready-made community of like-minded people.
- Visit old friends. Is your college roommate living across the country now? Plan a trip. Or start a monthly rotation where your local friend group spends an afternoon at each other’s homes.
- Host a block party. Neighborhoods change fast. You may not know the family three doors down. Organize a block party and bring as many neighbors together as you can.
- Plan a family reunion. Life gets busy and families drift. Bringing everyone together helps everyone refocus on the relationships that matter. The Atlantic has reported that cousins are becoming rarer in American life, so reach out to your second and third cousins while you can.
Personal Pursuits
Retirement can shake your sense of who you are, especially after years of defining yourself by your career. Personal pursuits help you find yourself again.
- Get active. Staying physically fit gives you goals to reach. Try a new yoga move, start lifting at the gym, or find a class that makes you look forward to moving.
- Try arts and crafts. This is not about popsicle stick baskets. Beekeeping has become popular lately, and you get honey out of the deal. Woodworking, macrame, painting, pottery… any of these can lead to creating something beautiful that only you could make.
- Pick up a side job. Many people find fulfillment in retirement through a small job that connects to something they love. If you love thrifting, try flipping vintage jewelry online. If you love books, take a position at a local bookstore. Just make sure you are enjoying the work.
- Do something wild. Jump in the car and drive to Vegas on a whim. Dye your hair electric purple. There are no rules in this chapter. Do something just for the thrill and joy it brings.
Pick a few of these to start. Write your list out and post it somewhere you will see it every day. That small act makes it real, and real goals are the ones you actually go after.