Depending on your definition of productivity, you’ll need to do more than generate retirement investment income to lead a full life after you leave the workforce. Some of your goals might include building healthy relationships, while others will focus on contributing to your community. In either case, financial security is a starting point for helping create the life you want in your senior years.
MaintainYour Financial Stability
Whether you want to turn a hobby into a part-time business, travel, immerse yourself in charity work or re-connect and develop deeper relationships with family and friends, having enough money to pay your bills and explore new opportunities is important. If you haven’t worked with a retirement planner or financial adviser, do so to make sure you haven’t missed attractive and safe investment opportunities that help you protect your portfolio with diversification. Comprehensive financial planning explores retirement factors and strategies that include mutual funds, pensions, life insurance options, real estate investments, 401(k) matching, Individual Retirement Accounts, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Prepare For Future Endeavors
After retirement, you may want to travel, donate your time to nonprofit organizations or start a small business. You can wait until you retire to look into these options or begin planning before you retire. Your goals after retirement might require developing new skills, such as learning computer and software use or getting certified in a specific area. For example, if you like to write and want to create a website that lets you share knowledge or musings with others, learn to use blogging software and social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. If you want to coach youth sports, you might need to take a coaching workshop, get certified in first aid and pass a background check. Part-time or substitute school teaching will require different levels of preparation, depending on the state where you retire.
Get Involved in Volunteering and Activism
A productive retiree gives back to the community in any number of ways, and you have myriad opportunities with varying levels of commitment required. This can include volunteering at senior centers, tutoring school children, serving on the boards nonprofits, volunteering at animal shelters, helping run fundraising events, running for local office and providing young entrepreneurs with business advice through organizations such as the Service Core of Retired Executives. You might want to find one cause that’s near and dear to your heart and make a commitment to helping is succeed. This can include writing to legislators, submitting letters to the editor, helping fundraise, serving on a board of directors and participating in rallies and marches. Causes that need volunteer help include those in the areas of the environment, education, medical research, religious tolerance, animal rights and politics.
Make Health Lifestyle Choices
No matter your good intentions, you won’t be as productive as you want to be if you have ongoing health issues after retirement. Meet with your doctor and a registered dietitian to create a therapeutic diet and fitness regimen. Get regular checkups, participate in physical activity on most days and eat foods that reduce unhealthy nutrients and provide extra vitamin and minerals to reduce the risk of diseases and conditions such as osteoporosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, poor blood cholesterol and obesity.
Donate Wisely
When donating to charities, be aware that not all nonprofits have charitable status. Some nonprofits do not pay taxes, but do not allow donors to write off a contribution. Even if you donate to a charitable organization, if you specify exactly what your donation must be used for, you might not be able to claim a tax deduction. Check with your financial adviser and the charity before you give money to determine whether or not you’ll receive a write off.