But while those open ended days of leisure can be fun for a while, the lack of structure can be hard to get used to when you finish work. The consensus seems to be that retirees who have a purpose seem to be both the happiest and healthiest*. 

But how do you know what your purpose is? For some lucky people, it’s clear. They know their retirement purpose will be looking after grandchildren, restoring a vintage car or maintaining the environment at a local wetland.  But if your retirement purpose is not yet that clear, where do you start?

Create a routine 

While the daily routine of regular work can become mundane after many years, routine does provide structure and purpose. Creating a routine can be as simple as getting up around the same time each day, going for a walk at a regular time, catching up with the world news and checking in with friends and family at specific times. 

The thought of open ended days can be daunting and it can be hard to know what to tackle first. The benefit of drawing up a timetable is it helps structure your days but if you do go down this path make sure you allow for flexibility and spontaneity. When you retire you can, finally, say yes to the friend who invites you to join them for coffee. You can now go to that interesting talk on a Wednesday morning when you would have been working in the past. It’s those spontaneous activities that may lead you to your purpose.

Do your research 

See what’s happening in your local area and further afield. Now is the time to read those local papers and newsletters which appear in the letterbox. Check the notices on the boards at the local shops, libraries and community centre to see what’s going on. 

But don’t confine your research to your local area. Check the websites of neighbouring towns and suburbs. The community centre or U3A (University of the Third Age) a few suburbs away may have just the activity that suits you.  

Go online to see what’s on offer through organisations such as Volunteering Australia#. A recent search came up with such diverse opportunities as writing grant applications for an animal rescue service in Queensland, community drivers to transport disabled people around Melbourne, planting trees in a forest in rural Western Australia, assisting with dance classes for older adults in Sydney and helping school students with their homework.   

Experiment

Take a risk – go along to the open day at a croquet club, sign on for the first day of a dance class, sit in on a talk by a new author or try out a painting group. The first few things you try may not be your thing but you just might find something that piques your interest and gives you that purpose you’re seeking.     
It’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone and saying yes to everything once and giving it a go. You never know where it might lead. 

Meet new people

You may be keen to keep in contact with your former work colleagues after you retire which can work well for some people. Unfortunately, the reality for many others is they find they have less and less in common now that the bond of the shared workplace is no longer there.

Broadening your circle of friends after you retire is not always easy but it can be very important^. Scientists are discovering that social connections can influence long-term health and numerous studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends and their community are happier, have fewer health problems and live longer. The benefits can be quite specific. For example, a Swedish study of people aged over 75 concluded that the risk of dementia was lowest in those with a variety of satisfying contacts with friends and relatives.  

*https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/retirement
# https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/
^ https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships