There’s more than one way to spend your retirement. Most people think that once they leave the workforce, they’re effectively leaving public life. But that’s not the case. You can choose to do that if you like, but if you’d rather stay active and involved, then you’ll have plenty of options available to you. In this post, we’re going to run through some exciting and interesting things to do once you retire—after, of course, your period of rest and relaxation!

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Start a charity

You likely have racked up plenty of experience and expertise during your career. Now that you’ve left the workforce, why not consider using those positive attributes for social good? The idea of starting a charity may sound ambitious, but it’s a lot more realistic than you might think. The goal isn’t to change the world (though you can try!), but rather to have any kind of positive impact. If you can make another being’s life better in any way whatsoever, you can consider it a job well done. The starting point for starting a charity is to think about which cause is close to your heart, then figure out the skills you have that can help.

Get a helping job

We tend to think that once you’re retired, you need to leave the workforce completely. But retirement can just mean leaving full-time employment. If you’ve spent your career working in a more corporate environment, you could consider earning additional money and having a positive impact by getting a helping job. You can put yourself on the path towards success by choosing the right company to work for. Care.com reviews typically say that care workers can make a good hourly salary, and there is a wide range of jobs available to you. Taking this option won’t just allow you to do something positive—it’ll also help you keep your retirement fund topped up.

Start a business

Another option is to start your own business. Many people dream of becoming an entrepreneur but have to postpone the idea because they’re too busy with their regular job. Well, once you’ve retired, you’ll have all the time you need. You might start a small business that just brings in a little extra money each month, or you might decide to go big and really try to do something special.

Study for fun

We tend to think that the only reason to study is so you can get a job, but that’s not the case. You can learn just for the pleasure of learning. When you’ve retired, you’ll have the time and space you need to really dive into studying. And who knows—you might even get a master’s degree or Ph.D.!

Get involved in politics

Finally, you could put all your wisdom and experience into politics. Your community may well benefit from your leadership, and if you’ve built plenty of connections over the years, you may find it easier to be elected than you might think.