Find myself unexpectedly retired - not sure what to do with myself

[DroopyTulips]

I have unexpectedly been made redundant and am not sure what to do with myself. I was planning on retiring next year anyway, but this is a bit sudden. I'm financially OK and can just about manage through the next year, but I feel a bit bereft and am not sure what to do with myself.

It's early days, so I'm still quite confused, but I don't know whether to try to get another job or just give in to it. I'm late 50s and there are very few jobs in my sector, let alone for those my age.

I could happily "retire" but I don't know what to do with myself. My husband has another 8 years to work and none of my friends are retired, so I don't really have much to occupy me with. If you're retired and are in your 50s, what do you do?

I'd try to get a job or volunteering position in an area I was passionate about. Charity roles / working in schools / helping patients - often very low paid but very rewarding.

I've started a fantastic creative writing course and am writing a book.

Also intend to get my fitness/physical health improved after years of sitting around.

University of the third age

look up for a local group online

join lots of stuff
meet people just like you
make new friends- it’s why most people join
all at a bargain price

I also retired this year in my 50s and it is quite an adjustment (I enjoyed working and enjoyed my job). Here’s the five proven ways to
well-being which might give you a framework to work with.

1. Connect
2. Be active
3. Take notice
4. Keep learning
5. Give

Wishing you well OP!
(Edited to add missing word - makes more sense now)!

Hello, welcome to the early retirees club!

I retired early last year and am very content, no desire to return. My DH is also retired so that does make quite a difference I think as we have travelled quite a lot since stopping work & also spend quite a lot of time planning trips.

How do I spend my time? Firstly, I am trying to become fitter and now exercise minimum 3x a week. I have taken courses in dressmaking and really enjoyed it. Joined a book club. Look after our GC occasionally. Do word games / puzzles. Cook more than I used to. My friends know I am around so I probably have lunch or coffee about once a week. Visited friends & family who don’t live nearby. Days out! Gardening. Theatre. Pub quiz. Some ad hoc charity work. I do still have capacity for some more routine activities but the travel prevents that at this point really.

Just generally feel much more at peace and more well than I have for a long time.

All the best finding what works for you.

Practically a couple of points:

• if you don’t earn anything more this tax year you should get a tax refund.
• check your state pension entitlement https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Try to build structure and routine into your day and week. I retired during lockdown and regret I was not able to do this.

Research what is on during the day that you couldn’t do when working. Exercise, education and hobby classes, learn a new skill etc.

Take your time e.g. enjoy sitting and having a coffee.

Think of this as the start of the rest of your life, what have you always wanted to do but haven’t had the time?

I joined the gym and go to classes regularly. I've made some good friends there who I can meet up with outside the gym as they are retired too.

There are way more volunteering opportunities out there than I'd ever realised so depending on where you live, it's highly likely there'll be something that interests you and fits with how much time you want to spend doing it.

We were comfortable enough not to have to work but I would have done if I'd felt isolated.

I enjoy just taking time to do things I never had time to do before, like trying out new recipes from the pile of books I've got; trying to use up some of the craft material mountain I have, I'm spending time brushing up on a foreign language.

Are you on Facebook? If so, join Facebook groups for your area/ i picked up one of my voluntary activities there, but other things are advertised on there that might interest you - someone was wanting to teach people to crochet for example.
I'm already in a book club, but have seen new groups being advertised etc

I’m planning for early retirement and will be doing the following:

-getting fitter, to include swimming 3/4 times a week, Pilates, gym & regular hiking
-lots of trips away. Some short breaks in UK & quite a few city breaks & holidays abroad. Maybe skiing
-watching local sports team & following them away
-learning language & visiting that country quite a lot
-playing bridge with friends
-meeting friends for coffee/lunch
-learning to paddleboard
-cinema
-theatre
-eating out in London at a different restaurant at least once a week
-continue with book club & read more
-some volunteering/helping others. Not sure what form this will take though.

Op I could have written your post, I totally get where you are coming from. After the initial enthusiasm I am soooo bored. Suddenly the activities I used to do for relaxation like gardening seem to be a chore now I can do them anytime. Like you my friends all work and I seem to be hanging out with older people who are happy in their retirement. After working hard and looking after kids life seems so flat and pointless. A lack of purpose that I can't resolve.

Anyhoo, sorry that wasnt more constructive but hang in there!

I retired three years ago in mid 50s.
I built structure into my week by committing to do reading support in a primary school twice a week and also volunteer on a session by session basis with a food charity (so on a busy week I would be volunteering Tues/Wed/Thurs).
I try to swim twice a week, walk 10,000 steps a day, gardening is a pleasure not a chore, I joined a craft group and have more time for a local charity I was already involved in.
I did look at part time work a few times in the first year but never found anything I fancied.
If I wanted something else now I would look at Nordic walking, and perhaps adult literacy. My local council has a volunteer database and it's worth a look through to see the huge range of volunteering roles. (DH volunteers in the local hospital and changes roles every 6-9 months).
I am now a classic "not sure how I would fit work in" person.

My best friend and I left the civil service last year, both of us under 60.
I had been planning to go for some time and left specifically to become a foster carer
My friends was much more senior than me. She just hated the.civil service. Initatially she looked at office roles which still had some level of responsibility.
Then she got a Christmas job at M&S and hasn't looked back, still there a year later. She does 12 hours a week, overtime if she wants it. No responsibility, has structure to her week, earning a bit to boost her pension, keeping fit running round the shop.

Oh wow - thank you all for the responses. There's so much to think about.

I feel like you do @MrsPuddle. I have a real lack of purpose and that's what's driving my unease.

I have a few ideas now of what I can do:

I definitely want to get my fitness up. I enjoy walking, so I might see if there are some local walking groups.

Thanks @Dartwarbler for the info about the University of the Third Age. There isn't one very near me, but I see there is an online option that I will probably join.

I want to read more. I have about 20 books I have bought but not had time to read over the past few years.

I'd love a part time job, but only really want a few hours a week. There's nothing that suits me at the moment, but I'll keep looking.

And I've joined Duolingo and am going to try to brush up my schoolgirl French.

I took voluntary redundancy at 57, at first I was going to get a part time job with zero responsibility with the full expectation that I would be paid a lot less than I earned before in my 37 year career. In the end I didn't bother because the ones around 12-16 hours a week, which is all I wanted, expected at least one day on a weekend.

Before I knew it every day was filled, I don't have time to work now even if I wanted to. And I don't.

I volunteer one day a week, I walk DS's dog 4 days a week, I take the elderlies to countless hospital and healthcare appointments. I garden and cook. I lie in on a morning if I want and read until I'm ready to stop. I took up horse riding again after a 15 year break.

Good luck, don't look back.

I’m being made redundant at the end of the month.
I’m still a few years off retirement and I’ve had some health issues. I’m intending to take it easy for a few months, then hopefully look around for some activities that I’ll enjoy.
more friends seem to be retiring now, so people are around .
There are some good positive stories here

Is there anything you would like to learn but have not had the time. DH did an Open University course on photography. 12 years on, he is still involved. I contacted my local volunteers group from our council and managed to do lots of varied voluntary work.
I was a story lady at the local children’s centre, helped out at the food bank and did a summer reading scheme at the library.

The most important thing is not to rush into anything without checking it out fully. There is no point in filling in time just for the sake of it.

I would also make a list of things you would really like to do. From the mundane, cupboard clearing, to the ambitious, travel. Make a plan with timescales that will give you focus.

This resonates with me.

I quit my NHS job at 60 (inability to tolerate the increasingly poor management); DH at 62, 16 months ago.

DH goes to the gym 3x a week, reads loads, plays and gigs ukulele, drinks real ale, does a couple of long distance walks a year, gets up at 6.45am.

Whereas I can't be bothered. I do a bank job that pays well, but the hours are erratic so I make the excuse that I can't structure my week around them. When I'm not working, I often just sit in bed til 11.

I think menopause at 50 did a bit of a number on me, to be honest. I just can't be bothered. Those days I waken with some enthusiasm to do something, I end up getting stuck in to the other mundane jobs that I've been ignoring instead. I'm putting on weight, drinking too much, and exercising less; and I think I need to try and change direction.