I don't want to just 'fill my time' when I retire!

Enjoy doing things at a slower pace. I retired from full time work last summer. Had 6 months off and then have got myself a job 2 days, (10hrs) a week. I volunteer at a community centre for adults with learning disabilities , chat with some of the them but mostly spend the mornings knitting stuff for the centre to sell. Have made new friends doing this and also joined a local church which was very friendly and made new friends there. I have my grandchildren for tea every Thursday and tea and sleepovers in the holidays and mind them holiday times sometimes for my daughter to catch up with her own stuff as she works full time. I belong to a book club that meets one a month and I walk every day . I have time for those annoying little jobs you didn't have time for and as I only have a one bedroom flat I do amazingly keep up with the housework . Best of all I live very near my family so see them most days and live by myself so can do as I like. Enjoy your retirement decide what's important to you and just do it.

As everyone says, take your time and enjoy the opportunity to do so. Two specific suggestions: www.futurelearn.com has many, many free online courses (I'm currently taking genealogy and one about reading the modern novel; volunteering with the RVS (formerly WRVS) is very flexible, at least in our area. I drive folk to GP, etc, on one, two or no days a week chosen by me in advance. Enjoy whatever you choose to do! Or just sit back for a bit...

The hospitals always need volunteers. Ours are particularly asking for people to feed folk who need help. you could go into an elderly care home and do their nails with some varnish for them. hope you enjoy whatever you do!

I think retirement is a joy to some and a nightmare to others. Workaholics who don"t have many hobbies probably dread it most as all they can see is a big empty void in front of them wondering how they will fill it. Others who lead a busy life outside of work probably look forward to all the extra things they want to do when they retire that they don"t have time for now. It also depends on your circumstances as well as anything else. The novelty of not having to set the alarm is lovely in the beginning..also no more of the Monday morning feeling either. For me I have to have a bit of structure otherwise I would feel like Stephanie Cole in the sitcom!! Some hobbies can become paying hobbies if you are really good at them and keen to do it. Volunteering ...local Citizens Advice can be a big help for this. Our library always has notices up about volunteering. Not everyone sees themselves doing certain things but there are lots of ways to get involved in things and make new friends too. Some of the lesser known things are are giving an hour or two respite each week so that someone's carer can have a much needed break and get out of the house themselves. Food banks always needing volunteers . Befriending a lonely person ...so many things plus of course many charities looking for help. If you don"t fancy any of this ...evening classes starting up in September so maybe another hobby or two. Hope you find lots of things to fill any gaps you may find and enjoy your retirement to.

We are of the generation who had to learn a language at school - mine was French. One year into retirement, I am one year into a french course and loving it. Also made friends there which is a bonus. I find that being out at work all day for years has reduced the number of friends I have locally but now I am getting to know the neighbours better and meeting new people. Doing the front garden always brings them out for a chat!

Wait for a bit and see how you feel. You might be one of the 'how did I ever find the time to work?' people. Give yourself space to relax into retirement and then see what you think.

U3A has been mentioned on a number of threads; is there one where you are clickgran ? There could be a photography group! Give it a go, lots of GNs have mentioned it and it opens new doors and can even take over your life!!

I had grand ideas for when I retired. I would make proper meals from scratch, sort out cupboards and wardrobes, go through and get rid of years of paper work, bills etc and keep on top of house work. Doesn't happen! I try to go to the gym 2-3 times a week, look after dgs on Monday's, have a date day most Wednesday's with DH and so on. Took advantage of £10 ew rail fare to London yesterday and went to see Dreamgirls in the cheap seats. Keeping in touch with friends is important too. Love meeting up with my girlfriends, keeps you in touch with the outside world. Housework etc doesn't go away it's always there for another time. Make the most of your retirement. As others may agree don't know how I found the time to go to work!

I hardly get a spare moment I seem to be forever taking parcels in and now discover from previous posts, I could have had a lover.....bugger. Too late now the postman's not an option and I have abandoned all else.

Did voluntary work for some years got disenchanted. Now I have had to abandon my solitary quest to rid the plant of biscuits......not sure what to do next.

Loads of good advice here. I think I would add to the list - make sure you keep up or develop your social connections. As we age, it becomes more difficult to make friends and loneliness is a real problem for many older people. This means working on it when you have the energy and ability.

In addition I'm a big fan of lifelong learning. There's so much you can do with photography - what a wonderful gift if you have the ability to see what makes a good photo. (I'm the type that stands next to my son and takes the same photo with the same type of phone. His comes out looking wonderful and mine is a disaster!)

There are loads of other things to learn more about - life isn't long enough to fit it all in. Good luck with your retirement - may it be long and happy.

Most days I feel I had more spare time when I was working! so a good idea to plan ahead. Retirement to me usually means oh I can do that tomorrow ..... Hmmmm

I moved house, went travelling, got a lover. Can recommend all three? Oh perhaps not the last if you've still got an DH?

I started a business and have never looked back, should have done it years ago. Have done volunteering which I liked as it was newsletter related, tried a charity shop but that was pure chaos behind the scenes! So I stick with what I do. I was never ready to retire but it was forced on us all.

I echo Teetime and suggest becoming a Gransnet Local editor. If there is already one in your area I am sure that they would love to use some of your photographs. There may also be something that you might be interested in listed on your local site.

We have recently retired and I have discovered Walking Netball and Frisbee Golf, both of which are tailored exercise for an older body. I also apply for the monthly Gransnet Book Club book which means that I have broadened my reading beyond my norm.

I have been retired for 8 years and have never had to 'fill my time'. DH is retired too. We are not well off, but we are OK financially. We do what we like, when we like which is a lovely feeling. Enjoy it!

click see my previous thread "new life after retirement" where I got lots of helpful and encouraging advice.

Clickgran I agree it takes some time to work out what you want to do and sometimes you try things and they don't work and its Ok to acknowledge that and move on. It took me several years to find something I enjoy one of which is being a local Editor for Gransnet which you might like to consider. Lots of volunteering opportunities out there but have some time to enjoy things too. I play golf which is not for everyone but also wanted to play croquet and walking netball but there is no provision for those in this town so I'm starting them up myself. It may not work out but I will have had a go. Enjoy exploring your new freedoms.

What not to do:

1. Switch the TV on before 6pm. Ever.
2. Have at least one reason/excuse to get out of the house every day that it isn't actually snowing.
3. Always have at least two social outlets ( husbands count towards this if you happen to have one)
4. Do not become obsessed with smart phone/computer.
I've been guilty of breaching all four of these in the opening months of my retirement, which is fine when you're initially resting after the job, shrugging off the horror of work colleagues that you couldn't stand, doing bucket list things and catch-up things. But when they run out, you have to get with the program!

I think pensionpat is absolutely right. Give yourself time, without initially committing to too much, to see how you feel when you do retire. It's amazing how opportunities come along for all sorts of things! Wishing you a very happy retirement.

I had a sudden 'moment' just after I retired: I was stuck at red traffic lights and getting angry at the hold up. It suddenly came to me that actually, for the first time in years, there was actually no rush. I had time.
That's been the best bit for me. I've got control of exactly what I do and when I do it.
There are busy weeks of course but also leisurely ones. Its my choice. Bliss. Enjoy. You will - but no rush. Just relax into it.

To be honest, I am always perplexed by the number of people who are not sure how they will occupy their time once they finish work.

I had the, now, unimaginable blessing of being dismissed into early retirement through redundancy in my 50s and within weeks my life was as busy as it was when I was at work. As suzied says there were all the house and garden things that I had never been able to find time for, then the outside interests I had never found time for either, finding more times for the interests I already had and, of course, the educational opportunities from crafts to academic.

I sometimes think life would be less hectic if I was back at work.

Thank you all so much for your advice, you have given me lots of food for thought. My main hobby is photography, though only a beginner, so improvement of that would be a good start. Sorting all the cupboards that I normally put off until school holidays may be cathartic ( hopefully). I do have a bus pass, but hadn't thought about using it to go further afield. Keeping my brain active is important to me as I have seen how people can change and slow down mentally when they retire,so finding ways to keep body and brain active locally is a must. Thanks again, at least I have a start and can use your other ideas to make a list.

I didn't 'work' but have always volunteered - doing things that I am passionate about. I now volunteer for the Alzheimer's Society and, as well as helping people, I enjoy myself and have met lots of lovely people.

Is there anything that you really care about and you would-be happy to give your time to?

Don't be fooled by the "fill your time" idea. You will have no trouble doing so, but you will have time to take delight in what is around you and all the things you can now do that you did not have time for.

Here are some of the things that I do: I am a school governor (and hugely valued because I am the only retired person there and can step in for meetings etc. during the daytime when others are at work), I belong to a choral society (also on the committee and responsible for publicity, sponsorship, programmes, including writing the programme notes), I belong to a local book club, I run the village library,I plan and execute a huge community choirs project every 3 years, I run a singing group of my own, I look after GC 2 days a week, I go for a half hour walk/limp every day, I care for my OH who has PD, I do the garden, the shopping, the cooking etc........is that enough!? I also sit in my lovely garden with a drink and a book and enjoy the view - and I get up when I like.

I am never at a loose end, believe me; and neither will you be.

Agree with all the above. When i was out walking with my friendly walkers group yesterday we all said how lovely to be out here enjoying the lovely scenery while others work, as did we to be fair, but everyone i know does not know how they found time to go to work.
Enjoy. I think you will.