If you can stop working around the age of 67 and start living off your AOW benefit plus accrued pension, you must find meaningful daytime activities. This is good for yourself, but also for others because they can benefit from your knowledge and experience. Babysitting the grandchildren occasionally is fun and useful, but make sure you don’t become a daily babysitter. After all, you can be of great use to society with your valuable know-how, capabilities and life experience. And nothing is better for a (retired) person to receive appreciation and recognition.
Retired
You can finally enjoy the pension benefits and state pension rights that you have built up through hard work. Many have been looking forward to this for years, because although the working process also has its nice aspects, it is often a race against time on a daily basis. And that constant rush in particular will wear you down as you get older.
The first weeks after your farewell reception it feels like you are on holiday, because you are relaxing after years of effort. But the word says it all: you can only relax if you have first made an effort. That is why the so-called ,Zwitserleven feeling, by definition does not last long. Because when you stop working, you feel boredom after just a few months. Then those months-long cruise holidays with those palm trees on that white tropical beach are really going to get to you.
So get back to work as soon as you’ve rested and taken that long vacation. As a retired employee, what activities can you undertake that are meaningful, healthy and enjoyable? And also receives recognition and appreciation.
Earn extra
You have knowledge and a lot of experience, why not use that to earn some extra money:
- If you have two right hands, you can quickly charge a nice hourly rate as a handyman by hanging curtain rails, connecting lamps, assembling cupboards, wallpapering and painting, etc. for others who are less handy.
- If you have administrative skills, there is a need for someone who can keep track of the accounts or fill out the tax form for a few hours a week.
- If you are a hairdresser or nurse, you can probably think of something to do in a meaningful way and also get something out of it. As a nurse, make sure that your registration in the BIG register does not expire unnecessarily.
Volunteer work
Because of your enormous experience, you can certainly make a difference at an (ANBI) Public Benefit Organization, such as Red Cross, Zonnebloem, Vluchtelingenwerk, Amnesty-International, etc. But you can also make yourself useful close to home, through all kinds of agencies, such as driving the local bus, transport for the disabled or being a companion in the local Nursing Home. Or you can become a volunteer at a telephone helpline such as ,De Luisterlijn, or 113.nl
Association or club
You have been a member of the local sports or theater club for years. Then it is high time, now that you have the opportunity, not only to benefit but also to invest. So you will take a seat on the association board or in a working group, because there is always plenty of work at such a nice club.
Photos and old papers
For years you have kept all kinds of photos or stuck them in albums. You have also faithfully preserved your old diplomas, certificates or other papers with sentimental value. Now you finally have time to take out all those boxes and rearrange and classify everything. Give away what you need to your children or others. And turn the very special photos, letters and other valuable papers into a beautiful digital photo album that you can give to your loved ones.
Stay healthy
Keep an eye on yourself and make sure that you keep moving, not only mentally, but also physically. And think more often about the meaning of this special and often bizarre life on Earth, where you already know that the answer to it is not available.
Oh yes, and keep drinking enough healthy fluids, because many older people over 70 forget their 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, which is not even enough on hot days.