Keeping your brain active in retirement

[Floofydawg]

I've just retired at the age of 55 (not entirely through choice, but that's another story). I've been going to the gym, reading, walking the dog and just trying to adjust to a slower pace. But I'd like to keep my brain active and am looking for ideas of what other retired people do to keep busy.

I may get some part time work at some point but I'm not ready to do that yet.

U3A; taking a more active role in hobbies/charities. Socialising a lot.

Volunteer somewhere, and I agree U3A is great too.

well what kind of things do you like?

• my first bf’s gran joined a French class culminating in a jolly to Paris with her pals

• planning a complicated holiday is a good brain workout - would an interrailing hobby be fun… once you turn 60 it’s cheap?

• invest £500 in shares and make it grow

• my mum always did Wordl at breakfast - her informal “proof of life” was sending me her wordl score in her old age.

• my mum also loved games on her iPad, she would play them for hours!

• library books

• One of my friends set up a games club (board games, cribbage and backgammon) for casual games among friends. Lovely with a mulled wine and a mince pie in a wintery day.

I do Duolingo, loads of online puzzles, play golf twice a week (great for meeting other retired women as well as 15 000 steps per round), volunteer at the local library, go to a scrabble club and a knitting group. I’m considering volunteering at our local national trust property as well.

Charity work, U3A, WEA, WI, anything to keep socialising and meeting people of all ages.
I'm a similar age to you and currently not working. I do a lot of different volunteering things on different days. My favourite is when I go to a WEA class with a bunch of older retired people; it might be just the area I live in, but they are amazing - all interested in keeping alert, all engaged, and progressive in their thinking.

^also, a friend of mine has just retired. She's currently learning Japanese and is arranging a cultural trip for her and her DH next year. She's also revisiting her craft skills with dressmaking and painting.

Thanks, some good ideas. I'd never heard of U3A.

Kick start the day with Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee and Strands from the NYT. Squeeze in soduku

Monday is tv quizzing.

Other than that meet friends, talk to them, it is the best therapy.

Develop new hobbies/skills to learn

Yeah I already do all the NYT puzzles.

My dad picked up language learning. Italian. He loves it.

Any skill like a craft or coding. Something that keeps the synapses firing.

If you're worried about developing dementia later in life - socialising, socialising, socialising

Part time work or volunteering is a good shout, keeps you around younger people as well. My neighbour volunteers at a playgroup and a national trust. The national trust is mainly similar aged people but obviously the playgroup is much younger and she really enjoys it. She says being around the parents and preschoolers livens her up and prevents her just socialising with people of her own age/background.

If you like moving to music, look for an RAD Silver Swans class near you. It's adult ballet suitable for those who've never done ballet before, and the brain work required in learning new movements is quite considerable!! Good for flexibility and posture too

I've just retired at 60 and have started to learn the cello. Lots to engage your brain, and ideally you need to practice every day, so it adds a bit of structure to your day. I love it! Also upping my gym habit, trying different and more sociable daytime classes at my local leisure centre.

Daily: read the paper (physical rather than online), do suduko and the Guardian codeword, read, Mumsnet (obviously!)
Twice a week: 30 minutes of swimming; trying to sort out a good gym class to go to as well, so there will be some exercise three times a week
Once a week: 1hr Mandarin class (with various times spent doing homework through the rest of the week)

DH and I also try and find places to visit, either in Central London (using our free travel passes) or day trips to places like Margate, Rye, Folkestone, Brighton.

Definitely socialising too - easier when you have friends who have also retired.

U3a music groups
Join a choir (reading music not required)
Learn a new language (I use Duolingo)

Plus yoga, exercise etc.

Tai Chi

I love the cello. That will get all your brain working. I got my grade 8 piano 6 years ago so am getting back into that. I retired a year ago and go to the gym 4 times a week and learn french too.

Take a course in something you're interested in.
I've done courses in creative writing and English Literature online.

Lots of universities have 'Continuing Education' departments with online courses for pleasure (not uni credits). York, Edinburgh...

FutureLearn is also very good.

When I eventually reach retirement I plan to do a PhD.

I usually do voluntary work and U3A but am recovering from a back injury. I video game, it’s good for hand eye co ordination and working things out, adding stuff means statistical changes, puzzles and problem solving. DH has just retired and as well as declutteirng is making inventories of everything. We had a go at origami today,

I worked as a scientist. When I retired I did an English degree.

Independent monitoring board need you

Volunteering
Join a choir
U3A
Hundreds of free online courses

No-one seems to have mentioned Sports - I am retiring at Xmas aged 63 (tho hate that word ‘retiring’
Joined a club and took up rowing last year and loving it.
Also paddle boarding and swimming.
Much better for keeping the brain active and socialising rather than ‘puzzles’