Things you can definitely look forward to in retirement 

Some people are scared of getting older. But there are many things to look forward to as well. You’ll have tons of free time, plenty of money (hopefully), and a new thirst for life. Here are 16 things you can definitely look forward to in retirement. 

No more alarm clocks

Since you’re no longer trapped in a 9-5 job, you can sleep as late as you want. You can also be more flexible with your sleeping habits because the stakes for getting up on time are much lower now that work is over.

You’re your own boss

You don’t have to worry about pleasing your boss anymore. Your only job is to enjoy yourself. This allows you to make choices that are more likely going to benefit you, instead of options that might upset the people who sign your check.

Lots of family time 

Once you’re out of the workforce, you can start spending more time with your family. This can include taking trips together, cooking dinner every night, and playing board games instead of watching TV. You also might be able to visit family members that live far away (or talk to them on the phone) without worrying about going into work the next morning.

Lots of relaxing time 

The biggest downside of working full-time for 40-plus years is that you don’t spend much time relaxing. Or, you may have enjoyed being able to unwind after a stressful day at the office. But let’s face it, that was stressful for a reason. Now you can sleep in and do nothing all day without feeling guilty about it. You might even be able to take up a relaxing hobby like golf or fishing. You could even move into somewhere like the retirement community Aliso Viejo. Then, you can spend all day relaxing.

Staying home on a rainy day 

Since you’re not bound by the schedule of an office, you don’t have to go out in even the worst weather. Look at it this way – once summer is over, and winter comes again, do you really want to be walking around outside when sleet is falling from the sky? No, you should be inside, where it’s warm and safe.

Comfortable clothes 

Nobody will tell you that you’re overdressed when you wear your favorite slippers around the house. Sometimes, it feels good to just throw on baggy sweats and a ratty old T-shirt. Why should the people who work for you get to decide what type of clothing is appropriate for relaxation? That’s not your problem anymore.

Avoiding rush hour traffic 

You’ll probably spend a lot of time on the road during your retirement. You might be visiting relatives, traveling for fun, or going back to college. It would be so much easier if you didn’t have to deal with traffic jams and millions of other drivers on the freeway. Instead, you can leave at midday and miss all of the commuters.

Improved social life  

An improved social life is another great benefit of retirement. You can go to lots of social events and meet new people whenever you like. It will be a lot easier than trying to schedule time with friends who may have busy schedules of their own. Your only responsibility now is to enjoy yourself, so why not take advantage of your new social freedom?

Volunteering opportunities

You can volunteer at retirement homes or hospitals. This will give you a chance to help people that are even older than you. And they might have some great life advice to share with you about how to make the most of your golden years. If that’s not your thing, there are probably lots of other volunteering opportunities that you can do.

Learn new things

There are a lot of new things you can learn now that you’re retired. It might seem like your formal education is over, but don’t let that stop you from learning something new every day. You can pick up a book or take an online class on whatever interests you. Maybe you’ll even take up a new hobby.

Visit museums and art galleries 

When you retire, you have even more free time than when you were working. That means that there’s plenty of opportunities to go visit whatever museums or art galleries may be in your area. You can also make trips across the country to see some amazing works of art.

Senior discounts

You’ll be glad to hear that you get plenty of perks now that you’ve retired. For example, just look at all of the discounts and deals that are waiting for you when you retire. You might be able to save money on travel, entertainment, or big purchases.

Unlimited naps  

Once the kids are grown and your career is over, you can take as many naps as you like. What if it’s 10:30 in the morning? As long as you don’t work anymore, or have any responsibilities to attend to, you can take a nap whenever it feels right. If that means falling asleep at the dinner table with your family, so be it.

No more annoying coworkers

You can start spending a lot more time with the family since you don’t have to spend your days working. This makes things much more pleasant for everyone in your family, including those annoying coworkers that were driving you crazy at work. No one is going to harass or annoy you now – and when they try, it will be easy to ignore them.

Traveling

When you’re retired, you can travel whenever and wherever you like. You won’t have to worry about taking enough time off from work or booking a vacation at the right time of year. Of course, there will be plenty of new opportunities for traveling now that you’re not tied down by your job. You can meet up with old friends or relatives who you haven’t seen in years.

More time outdoors

It’s easier to spend plenty of time outside when you’re retired. You don’t have to go to work every day and deal with coworkers, bosses, and annoying customers. Instead, you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying yourself outside. You might take a walk through the park with your grandchildren, or go for a bike ride.