What would you do if you retired early? Let’s explore some ideas that might get you excited about retirement!
A lot of people aren’t sure what they want to do once they retire. If you’re aiming for financial independence and early retirement, it’s a good idea to plan out what you want to do beforehand. Why? Because you’ll have a lot of free time to fill, and the transition from a busy work life to retirement can be quite drastic. It’s like a stock market crash—you don’t know how you’ll react until it happens.
I’ve thought a lot about what I want to do when I retire. For the first few years, I have a clear plan. After that, things get a bit fuzzy. So, I decided to write this post as a kind of thought experiment. I’m considering what will change in early retirement, what I want to do more of, what I want to skip (besides work, obviously), and how I plan to spend my days.
One thing I’ve always loved is traveling. I had a taste of early retirement when I graduated from university and traveled in South America for four months. I also negotiated a four-month break with my current employer to travel to Central America with my partner. We’re planning to move in together afterward, so big changes are ahead! Traveling gives me the same sense of freedom that I hope to achieve by retiring early.
When I travel, I usually spend about a month in each country. In retirement, I’d love to travel more slowly, spending several months in one place to really get to know the culture and the people. I might even live in some of these countries for a few years. This could also help keep my costs down compared to living in the expensive Netherlands. I plan to explore South America, Patagonia, Asia, and more. When traveling in pricier countries, I’ll make sure to budget accordingly.
I also love the mountains. They’re majestic, beautiful, and green, and hiking through them is something I enjoy immensely. In the Netherlands, I try to get outside as much as possible, especially in the spring and summer. I aim for 8,000 steps a day by walking or running. I live in a green part of the Netherlands, so it’s easy to find parks and forests nearby. Being in nature recharges me and gives me energy.
In winter, it’s harder to get outside because it gets dark early. If I could enjoy more daylight hours during winter, that would be great.
I’ve always enjoyed reading. As a kid, I went to the library twice a week and read everything I could get my hands on. But in high school and university, I stopped reading for fun because of all the required reading for classes. Now, I mostly read when I’m on holiday. I also enjoy writing book reviews for my blog and plan to do more of that.
Fitness is another passion of mine. I went through a fit phase in university, going to the gym 5-6 times a week and cooking healthy meals. I’d love to get back into that routine. While I don’t cook every day, I want to spend more time making delicious and healthy meals.
Working out makes me feel great, even though getting to the gym can be tough. Once I’m there, I feel fantastic, and I’m always glad I went. In university, I had a routine of going to the gym first thing in the morning, and I’d love to get back to that.
Blogging is something I really enjoy. I write posts three times a week and find it very fulfilling. If I were retired, I’d spend more time on my blog, rewriting old posts, increasing my social media presence, and creating new content.
I also love playing computer games like Sims, Rollercoaster Tycoon, League of Legends, and Super Mario Bros. It’s a great way to relax and take my mind off things. While I wouldn’t play non-stop, I’d like to spend a bit more time gaming.
These are just my current thoughts on retirement, and things could change. I might find new hobbies, my health could change, or I might even find a job I love. The most important thing is to find joy and do more of what I love and less of what I don’t.
Writing this makes me even more eager to reach financial independence. Knowing that I’ll get there eventually gives me peace of mind. I just want to do the things I enjoy and skip the work stuff.
What about you? What would you like to do if you retired early?