4 Tips to Help You Find Your Purpose
Most people view retirement as an opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of a career built on hard work and commitment. From traveling to finding new hobbies to spending time with loved ones, retirement can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. While these benefits are wonderful, some retirees discover they miss the sense of purpose and belonging their career provided. Without the structure of a work schedule, some retirees begin to feel unproductive and isolated.
An effective way to fill this gap is to share your talents by volunteering or mentoring others. The following tips can help you get started.
Tip #1 – Find what interests you.
Consider how your interests and talents may align with different organizations. For example:
- If you enjoy carpentry and home improvement, consider volunteering at an organization that builds homes, such as Habitat for Humanity.
- If you enjoy helping animals, consider caring for pets at a local animal shelter.
- If you have a background in teaching, consider tutoring at a local school or library.
- If you enjoy the outdoors, consider cleaning up litter in a park or on the highway.
- If you enjoy gardening, consider helping plant, weed and harvest at a local community garden.
Tip #2 – Start now.
A great time to discover your volunteering and mentorship interests is while you’re still working. Take some time on evenings or weekends to volunteer with a few organizations, and discover which ones you enjoy the most. Another advantage of starting now is that you’ll have the opportunity to make connections with other volunteers who share your interests. The people you meet may become great friends in retirement.
Tip #3 – Establish a regular volunteering schedule.
One of the things retirees often discover they miss most about working is having a regular schedule. Having a consistent volunteering schedule can provide structure to your days and give you something to look forward to each week. Scheduling just a few hours per week can potentially provide you with the purpose and drive you need to enjoy retirement.
Tip #4 – Consider how you can share your knowledge and talents.
If you discover you miss your career field after you leave the workforce, you may enjoy mentoring others. The following tips can help you stay engaged while supporting others within your industry:
- Serve on a board – Many nonprofits, community organizations and schools welcome the expertise and insight of a seasoned professional.
- Join professional organizations – Professional organizations offer a way to connect with others within your industry. Younger professionals often participate to network with and learn from those with more experience, which is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and support a young professional’s career.
- Consult – It’s not just individuals who can benefit from your experience and insight; businesses can as well. Serving as a consultant to a business can allow you to help the organization grow and thrive without the commitment of a full-time career.
- Teach – Universities often invite guest lecturers to share their wisdom with students. Consider reaching out to local schools to ask if your expertise would benefit their curriculum.
