Retirement Hobbies Are Best Developed Before Retirement.

The following comment was made regarding retirement planning. "Hobbies and civic activities should only be included if they relate to your job or if you have achieved some level of distinction in doing them."nnNow just a minute! Unless the brain is to be retired immediately, this is in no way the facts. The body can be slowed down as it gets older, if we choose to do so, but certainly we do not want to slow the brain. Medical experts tell us to keep the brain active to avoid many unpleasant things that can cause us to break down mentally.n nWe have huge energy stores inside of us, both mentally and physically, as well as our unique talents, gifts and capabilities. Channeling these gifts and talents into hobbies will give us rewards that will make retirement free time a major contributor to those truly "Golden Years".nnFor many there is a total mismatch between the things we enjoy doing in our free time and our profession. Yet more than 8 hours every working day is spent in the work place; doing things we don't enjoy doing. But it puts food on the table and pay bills.nnFortunately the job or profession utilizes only a minute proportion of our talent and potential. Free time could be used to manage a business that is aligned to our interests, hobbies, strengths, passion and desires. You should identify ways of periodically re-working your life's blueprint, especially after facing life changing events and through proper channeling of your abilities, this makes the flow into retirement much smoother.nnStrangely, if you put talent and potential to good use they will flourish and shine, you will become so passionate and involved in such a venture it will almost always succeed. Of course, there will be moments of uncertainty and doubt but you can always overcome such challenges and succeed. What a wonderful way to consume your free time and build an extra income stream while you are working and to build a base for retirement free time enjoyment. Most still in the work force will fail to believe that retirees can face numerous mental traumas pertaining to the loss of recognition and status in their working society. Building an active retirement hobby that you are passionate about will replace this trauma. nnDocumented facts tell us that we usually do not change our established personality norms when we retire. If we have developed a jovial personality we will continue to be jovial. A dominant personality will remain dominant. If we have no leisure time activities we will definitely have a difficult time developing them when we retire.nnThe vice president of a large corporation who retired because of his doctor advised him to quit, a few months later, he started getting new business cards printed with the designation of “corporate consultant”. The reality was that after being a high-profile vice-president for many years, it was very difficult for him not to have a business card or title. nnYou need to understand your personality traits and plan for them. Just remember age is no longer a barrier. The amazing breakthroughs in helping us live longer, healthier lives has made us just as old as we feel. (some days older than others). As one senior citizen loves to say, “I never think of my age.’’ That’s a sentiment many others would agree with. nnBuilding of an active retirement hobby that you are passionate about will replace free time stress and boredom. n