Retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter in life. And at My Pension Expert, we believe it’s the perfect time to enjoy your new found freedom by exploring passions that may have taken a back seat during the hustle and bustle of a career.
After all, our own survey of 2000 UK adults found that the overwhelming majority (71%) of people dream of a comfortable retirement with time and money to pursue their interests, passions and hobbies.
Having a hobby can benefit you in many different ways. They let you connect with family and friends, give you an excuse to get out of the house, and leave you feeling accomplished. Hobbies are brilliant for your mental and physical well-being!
Don’t have a favourite hobby yet? No problem! We’ve been doing some research and found some of the top activities people might consider taking up in retirement…
Green Fingers
If you find comfort in nature, gardening can be the perfect hobby for you! According to Reassured.co.uk, gardening is the number 1 favourite pastime for those who have recently retired. And it’s no surprise, as gardening is well known for being relaxing and rewarding.
And you can start as large or as small as you want. Even if you don’t have your own private garden, there are still plenty of options available, such as hanging basket for a selection of marigolds or a rectangle pot for your home-grown carrots.
If you’ve found your passion in growing, you could look into an allotment for considerably more space or join a local gardening club. Gardening clubs and community gardens are a brilliant way of bringing people together, and we’ve talked about the benefits of them before.
Not only can gardening benefit you, it can also bring a sense of joy to those around you and have a very positive impact on the environment.
A Chef’s Touch
Your retirement is an ideal time to experiment with cooking and baking. The kitchen can become a place of creativity and sharing your results with family or friends can be incredibly satisfying.
You can start with simple recipes you’ve found on the web or go all out and enrol in a cooking masterclass. And as an added bonus, classes and groups can be a great way to connect with new friends over a shared interest.
Experimenting with new cuisines can also be the perfect opportunity to start up a new supper club with friends. Even if the end result might not quite meet the approval of Gordon Ramsey, your friends will certainly appreciate the effort – and likely keen to return to taste your future attempts!
Do it Yourself?
Retirement provides the perfect canvas for channelling your inner creativity. Whether that be painting, pottery or general household DIY, they all provide an outlet for self-expression.
Creating something from scratch can boost your confidence, and you’ll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment once you finish your project. If you’re not sure where to start, local community centres often hold activity sessions for trying something new, or there is always the world wide web.
Crafting is also a great way to spend time with your grandchildren, especially if they’re younger, as kids love to get hands-on and creative. They can be inspiring!
Adventure Awaits
Everyone loves a holiday! In our survey, more than half of people (54%) want to travel and see the world once they retire. With your newfound time, and perhaps a loved one by your side, now is the perfect opportunity to tick some of those dream destinations off your wish list.
Recently, we told you all about the different types of holidays there are, from exploring cities of culture to relaxing on the beach with a good book. The biggest issue you may face is deciding which one you’d like to do!
Travelling can be a brilliant way of expanding your cultural knowledge, meeting new faces or just simply unwinding from everyday life.
How we can help
Of course, the first step to a happy retirement is a strong retirement strategy. You’ve spent years, maybe decades planning to retire, now let us help you make the choices to open to doors to your new favourite hobby!
Our team of friendly and informative financial advisers, at My Pension Expert, are here to help you. We take into account everything that’s important to you, and help you develop your personal retirement plan. From your initial consultation, choosing the right pension product, all the way to your retirement dreams becoming a reality, we’re here to help you every step of the way.