A client sat in my office last spring, three months into retirement from his engineering job. “I’m bored out of my mind,” he said. “I’ve organized the garage twice, read four books, and it’s only noon.”
Sound familiar?
The whole “work for 40 years then play golf forever” idea just doesn’t cut it anymore. Most of us will live 20 or 30 years past our last day at the office. That’s too long to spend watching TV.
Here’s what works better: rewiring your life instead of just stopping it cold.
Why the Old Way Fails
There was a time when retirement meant a gold watch, a pension, and maybe a few quiet years of golf and daytime TV. But that version of retirement doesn’t hold up anymore. You’re probably going to live well into your 80s or 90s. Maybe longer. Do you really want to spend three decades without a sense of purpose?
Take another client who retired from nursing in 2019 with big plans to travel and relax. Six months later, she was volunteering at the free clinic downtown. “I needed to feel useful again,” she told me.
She figured out something important. She needed to rewire, not just retire.
What Does Rewiring Look Like?
Forget the idea that you have to completely stop working or completely keep going. Most people land somewhere in the middle. Think about your house. When you renovate, you don’t tear it down and start over. You keep what works and change what doesn’t.
Same with your life. Keep the parts that bring you joy. Ditch the stress and politics. Add some new rooms you’ve always wanted.
The word matters here. Retirement feels like an ending. Rewiring feels like changing direction. Big difference in how you approach each day.
Where Do You Start?
First, figure out what actually matters to you now, not what mattered when you were 35 with kids at home and a mortgage. What matters today.
Ask yourself:
- What would you do if money weren’t an issue?
- When do you feel most energized?
- What compliments have people given you over the years?
Write down your answers. Look for themes.
Most people discover they want to help others somehow. Maybe you mentor young people in your field. Maybe you teach adults to read. Maybe you help other retirees get more comfortable with spending.
I call this “paying it forward.” You use what you’ve learned to make someone else’s path easier.
How to Make It Happen
Don’t go from full-time to nothing overnight. That rarely works.
Ease Into It: Keep one foot in your old world while you test the new one. Consult for your old company a day or two each week. Take on short-term projects. This gives you income while you explore.
Try New Things: Remember that pottery class you always wanted to take? The language you wanted to learn? Now’s your chance. Learning new stuff keeps your brain working. Plus, you’ll meet people who share your interests.
Stay Connected: Work friends drift away if you don’t make an effort. Join groups. Volunteer somewhere. Show up regularly so you become part of the community.
Make Your Own Schedule: Without a boss setting deadlines, you need to create structure yourself. Set weekly goals. Plan your days. Otherwise, you’ll drift.
The Mix-and-Match Approach
Instead of looking for one big thing to fill your time, try combining several smaller things.
Your week might include:
- Consulting work on Tuesdays
- Volunteering at the food bank on Thursdays
- Photography classes on weekends
- Babysitting the grandkids on Fridays
- Working on that novel you started years ago
This variety keeps things interesting. You contribute in different ways without the pressure of any one thing being perfect.
What Gets in the Way
Your own head, mostly.
We’ve been taught that only paid work counts. But the reading tutor at the library matters. The guy who builds wheelchair ramps for disabled veterans matters. The woman who drives seniors to doctor appointments matters.
Money concerns are real, but many rewiring activities cost almost nothing. Volunteering is free. So is mentoring. So is starting that gardening blog you’ve been thinking about.
If you’re still adjusting to this shift, it may help to think of retirement less as a destination and more as an evolving process—something you continue to shape as life unfolds.
Time to Get Moving
You’ve spent decades building skills and knowledge. You have the freedom most 30-year-olds can only dream about. You can choose work based on what feels important, not just what pays the bills. That’s a gift not many people get.
The question isn’t whether you can afford to rewire your life. It’s whether you can afford not to. Your experience matters. Your wisdom has value. The world needs what you have to offer.
Ready to figure out what your rewired life might look like?
Schedule a time, and let’s talk about how to make your money work with your new plans, not against them.
This material has been edited with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools. The information presented is based on sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publication. This material is for educational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views of the author, presenter, or affiliated organizations. It should not be construed as investment, tax, legal, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation before making any decisions.