[USER]

I am in my 40s, and this year is the first year I am not working. I feel too young to retire but lost my motivation to go back to work, with the 621K increase on my NW in less than a year.

I need some recommendations on activities I should take on. People suggested me to travel more, which I am already doing.

However that travel definitely messed up my diet and workout, and I don’t want to get fat! So I am planning to stay home for the next few months to get back on track with my fitness, but need some other activities to keep life more fun.

P.S. in case anyone get curious, the 2 big bumps on the NW were just some data integration issue between empower and my mortgage provider, and my moving assets between brokerages.

[Donna]

Do some purposeful hobbies. Feed the homeless, volunteer for shelters and seniors. Be a coach for kids’ recreational sports, mentor for kids.

Learn a new thing – rollerblades, swimming, scuba diving, gardening etc. Foster some animals. Baking. Buy a fixer upper home and fix it.

[Robert]

Find something that you are both passionate about; and that you enjoy doing. AND…….I look at this way- clearly, you have some gift or gifts that allowed you to get where you are today.

Why not teach others about the things that worked so well for you.

Each one reach one and each one teach one.

[Noa]

Do you have kids? If not, having a few could keep you busy for a few decades… Congrats!

[Kate]

I have too many interests… I would attend conferences and talks in the field of interest, I would become better at photography and videography for fun, I have a huge list of books I’d like to read, I’d learn a third language (fluent only in 2), I’d slow travel, I’d taking cooking lessons from grandmas in those countries I’m slow travelling, I’d learn how to make my moms recipes that she saved for me, I’d try a crazy career I haven’t thought about trying, I’d get better at yoga, I’d train for Mount Everest and hike a lot, I’d finally properly learn to use a telescope my dad gave me and actually travel outside the city to use it and I’d learn constellations, I’d geek out with a microscope I have, I’d spend more time doing the above with kids…

I can go on and on.

[Christopher]

Are you just doing stuff by yourself? Maybe you should find a partner if so. Or a good friend. Personally none of this would be very rewarding to me by myself.

[Eva]

Have you slow traveled? Stay somewhere for a month or more so you can settle in, meal prep, and join a local gym.

Live abroad instead of vacationing abroad.

[Tiffany]

I bought a book, iki gai for teens for my kid. I’m sure there’s a adult version, although, I gotta say, the ten version was really good.

anyway, iki gai is the Japanese idea of discovering your purpose in life. Best wishes on this new chapter of your life

[Eric]

I’m also in my 40s and retired. I go to the gym, play golf or go for long walks 6-7 days a week, fix things around the house, travel, bake, learn another language…

I forgot to mention we moved to another country.

We come back to the US every summer for 1.5 months while the kids are out of school.

[Stuart]

You can also go back to work and not take a salary. I am a 42 year old physician. Once I hit 4.725 million in assets I have told everyone I am no longer collecting a salary and all my patients will get a physician fee refund check.

Hospital will still charge I can’t stop that.

But I came from zero and don’t plan to spend every day of my life struggling for more and more money

[Shannon]

I agree that travel doesn’t help with routine, diet, and exercise. It’s a hard thing to balance because I also love to travel! What I find helpful is to build community and do shorter trips every few months.

[Osama]

Farming. Not in commercial aspect but small micro farming with few animal. Lots of reward from just build something

[Poppy]

I like to hike when I travel. Some of the most amazing hikes I’ve done have been in Bulgaria, Japan, Italy, etc… I travel a LOT and also take my health seriously (99% plant-based for over 20 years), so I get the struggle.

But I would never let it stop me from travel, I love it too much!

[Cecily]

Maintaining health can take up plenty of time. Join a gym or take up a new sport. Use AllTrails and find hiking trails near you.

Join a running or biking club.

I try to fill my day to day spare time with something for my mind (classes at community college, trying new hobbies), body (gym, swimming, hiking), soul (volunteer in community/help people I know/therapy)

[Lucile]

Start therapy to do self introspection. That will leads you to your core values, what’s important to you and options on what you can do to satisfy the needs in accordance to those values

[Chantal]

The book How to Retire and Not Die may offer you some good insights.

[Barbara]

I’m similar (40s, single, no kids, not working) and have immense joy simply being, instead of doing. I take more walks, listen to more podcasts – literally stop to smell roses.

Some things that I have enjoyed this year are: visiting museums, visiting art galleries, attending local events just to check them out, antiques shop, look at map of nearby parks or places and pick a spot I have never been to before.

I’m also in to fitness and have done two-a-days, fasted workouts, tried new equipment.

For me the joy from time gained from not working has filled me with a “sure, I’ll try it” spirit.

And some days I stay home, only leaving to workout. But the joy of knowing I get to choose is always there!

[Author]

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