The Ultimate List of 200 Activities to Fight Boredom in Retirement – Part One

Retirement is often seen as the golden years, a time when you can finally relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But for many retirees, the transition from a structured work routine to a slower pace of life can lead to boredom and a lack of purpose. Here is the Ultimate List of 200 activities to Fight Boredom in Retirement to help you get past that feeling of boredom.

In fact, according to a study by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, 75% of retirees cite staying mentally and physically active as a top priority. That’s why we’ve created The Ultimate List of 200 Activities to Fight Boredom in Retirement. From physical activities to creative pursuits, social outings to intellectual stimulation, and volunteer opportunities to self-development, we’ve got you covered. So keep reading to find out how you can make the most of your retirement and never have a dull day.

Ways to fill your day has been updated from 125 ways to 200 ways. I hope these 200 ideas help you in your quest for what to do each day. Or maybe they will stimulate your mind toward something you would have never thought about. So go out there and enjoy your day! Be aware, there is only half the list in this post. Next week I will publish the second half.

Staying physically active is not only important for overall health and well-being, but it can also help combat boredom in retirement. Not only will you stay active, but you’ll also get the bonus of a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy. So put on those sneakers, grab a water bottle, and get ready to feel energized and engaged with these physical activities in retirement.

Physical Activities

1. If you want to relax, start taking a daily, or as-needed, nap.
2. Take a daily walk. Gradually build up to 5,000 or maybe 10,000 steps. Or run if you prefer that.
3. Start attending a yoga class. Or try goat yoga.
4. Sign up for a community softball league.
5. Gardening. Start one in your backyard and share your bounty with your neighbors or family. Check into a community garden if you don’t have room in your yard. And if there isn’t a community garden, see if you can start one in your neighborhood or city.
6. Plant fruit trees in your yard. It will take a few years to get a big harvest, but it is worth it when it comes. I would suggest orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, cherry, apple, plum, and avocado. Maybe add a few berry bushes and grapevines. Be sure to check if these will grow in your area and what extra care they may require.
7. If you don’t know how to swim, take lessons. There are adults who have never learned how to swim. One day that skill could come in handy, whether to save your life or the life of others. The YMCA is a great place for group lessons. IF you would rather learn one-on-one, try looking in local Facebook groups for private instructors.
8. Swimming in your backyard or a community pool.
9. Water aerobics class.
10. Put aside your former excuses and join a gym (be sure to check for a senior discount.) Be sure to check with your doctor before starting something new.
11. Spare your children a multitude of decisions by decluttering your house now. Or give them the items you plan to give them in your will now. Donate what you can. Or, if you want to sell things, have a garage sale or sell them online through Facebook groups, Craig’s List, etc.
12. Go golfing or learn how to play golf. If golfing doesn’t appeal to you, try tennis.
13. Dog walker? Advertise your service and become friends with the animals in your neighborhood while getting exercise. If you need to find dogs to walk, try Wag.com or Wagwalker.com.
14. Hike somewhere local or far away. If you are an expert, think mountains.
15. Start training for the next 5K, half-marathon, or marathon in your area. Be sure to invite family and friends to join you, or at least cheer you on at the finish line.
16. Roller skate or ice skate like you did as a kid. Extreme caution is suggested.
17. Start riding your bike. If it has been sitting in your garage for a while, you may need to do some maintenance on it first.
18. If you love riding your bike join a bicycling group. Purchase the correct bike and accessories and ride across your state, or the country, or maybe someplace a little closer.
19. Go bowling. If you like it, try joining a daytime bowling league.
20. Learn about birds (possibly buy a book) and go birdwatching.
21. Go kayaking or canoeing.
22. Join Silver Sneakers if you are on Medicare. Free or discounted fitness classes and education.
23. Start playing pickleball. Find a group that plays regularly in your community.
24. Try out Frisbee Golf.
25. Take a karate, self-defense, or kickboxing class. This skill may come in handy if you are surprised by someone trying to steal your purse or rob you of your wallet, cell phone, or camera.
26. Have you ever been Whitewater rafting? Try it if you are a daredevil.
27. Weight lifting. Get back into shape.
28. Learn something new, try archery.
29. Snorkeling is fun. If you do well at that, try scuba diving.
30. Do you own a gun for protection? Go to a gun range and practice.
31. Refresh your billiards skills. Check out your senior center.
32. Did you always want to ride a horse? Maybe it’s a good time to take lessons.
33. Load up the boat and go fishing. If you are lucky, you might bring home dinner.
34. Learn how to play cornhole. Make your own cornhole boards from scratch or buy a kit. Maybe make your own cornhole bags? Get together with friends and family and have a cornhole tournament. Be sure that someone knows the rules.
35. Buy or rent a boat and teach your grandkids how to water ski.
36. Learn how to sail a boat.
37. If you really like sailing, rent or buy a sailboat and sail on weekends, or maybe if you buy a big enough one you can live on it permanently.

If you have creativity in you, bring it out by trying something new, or stick to the things you like best.

Creative Pursuits

1. Take a painting class.
2. Sign up for a drawing class.
3. Sign up to take a pottery class.
4. Start creating jewelry for yourself or sell it to make some money.
5. Sewing or quilting – take a class at a local fabric store.
6. Are you a user of Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.? If not, have someone help you learn how to use them. I would definitely recommend Pinterest. Pinterest is full of ideas that you can save to your account. I use Pinterest to find out about places I travel to so that I can see what others recommend. Pinterest is also a great place to find recipes.
7. Needlework or cross stitch. Buy a kit, be sure it fits your skill level.
8. Journal daily your thoughts on life, what is happening in the world around you, what you did today, etc.
9. Take a writing class at your local junior college.
10. Write an article for your local paper. If you have more experience, try a magazine.
11. Write a novel or your memoir. It doesn’t need to be for publication, it can be for your own satisfaction.
12. Have you had an adventurous life or possibly a desire to write a novel? It could be time for you to write a book. Learn everything you can about the ins and out of writing and publishing a book, and then have at it. If that worked out successfully, write another.
13. Learn how to play a musical instrument. Piano, guitar, or violin?
14. Join a local choir or band.
15. Try out for a local play.
16. Take cuttings from succulents and grow them into more plants to sell to others at an annual garage/yard sale.
17. If you have some valuable jewelry that needs repair, find a jeweler and bring the items in for repair. My mother had a ring that I loved that needed a lot of repairs. I took it in myself so that I can wear it in her memory. Had she gotten it repaired, she would have had many more years of wearing it.
18. Join your church choir, either as a singer or a pianist, or even a director.
19. Attend the opening of a new artist at an art gallery.
20. Take a cooking or baking class and impress your guests at your next dinner party. Homemade pasta, anyone?
21. Take a cake decorating class or learn how on YouTube videos. Become the aunt, grandma, etc. whom every child wants to make their cake.
22. Learn photography and take quality pictures of every trip you take. Enter them at your local country fair.
23. Take pictures off your phone or digital camera and make photo albums. I love Journi Print, especially for travel pictures. They have maps included.
24. Take dance lessons and show your progress at the next wedding you attend.
25. Try out woodworking and create a birdhouse or Christmas lawn decorations.
26. Practice your woodworking skills and create children’s wooden toys. Give them to neighbor children, grandchildren, or charity.
27. Make an old dresser new, by re-staining it or repainting it.
28. It’s easy to change out the fabric on cushions at your dining room table. Find the fabric, cut it into large enough pieces, stretch the fabric (if necessary change the cushion padding), and use a staple gun to replace the fabric. I would suggest leaving one chair intact so you can see exactly how tight to pull the fabric and where to make folds.
29. Learn how to use calligraphy. You can charge for your service when you address invitations or write bible verses or quotes, for wall hangings.
30. Are you funny? Try Standup Comedy.
31. If you are super talented (or not) try out for America’s Got Talent.
32. Take a flower arranging class. Or learn how to make wreaths.
33. Make your own greeting cards.
34. Cricut creations are something to make for family or friends. How about T-shirts, mugs, and signs? T-shirts for a family reunion?
35. Make your own candles or soap. Check for local classes. Or try YouTube.
36. Buy a pizza oven, and learn how to cook pizza. Your grandchildren will love it.
37. Go to a hobby store and buy a model airplane kit with a motor. Put it together and find a field or parking lot and have some fun. Take your grandchildren and create memories like you possibly have from your childhood.
38. If you have exceptional musical skills, join a local orchestra or band.

Retirement can be a time of relaxation and leisure, but it’s also important to keep your mind engaged and stimulated. Intellectual stimulation is an excellent way to achieve this, and there are countless activities available to help you do just that.

Keep Your Mind Sharp

1. Take a course at the local junior college – from agriculture to zoology – there are so many options. In my city, they usually offer courses in jewelry making, composting, music lessons, cooking, dance lessons, CPR, and more. Or if you prefer, try Accounting, Geology, or Math. You don’t need to go for a grade. Go to learn something new.
2. Take a CPR class from the Red Cross or your local Fire Department.
3. Take an online course or attend webinars.
4. Start a book club in your neighborhood or join an existing one.
5. Puzzles and games: Buy paperback books of crossword puzzles, word finds, and Sudoku.
6. Attend lectures and seminars. Check out your local community offerings.
7. Learn about local issues in your community so that you can discuss them wisely.
8. Work on puzzles. Puzzles can be the 500-piece kind or larger. If you want to start smaller, go ahead.
9. Learn how to play chess.
10. If you already know how to play chess, find someone to play with or teach a child to play chess.
11. Play games on your computer or phone like Candy Crush.
12. Do a Wordle a day on your cell phone.
13. Play Nintendo and other games with your grandchildren.
14. Play board or card games with your friends or family. Play Tripoli, Life, Monopoly, etc. Or, Candyland, with your grandchildren. That’s our oldest granddaughter’s favorite.
15. Start a blog.
16. Watch a documentary on National Geographic TV and learn about different countries and animals.
17. Start a Podcast.
18. Are you tech-savvy? Help neighbors or friends fix their computers or set things up.
19. Memorize your social security number and Driver’s license number. One day your spouse may not be there to help you out when you are asked for these numbers.
20. Are you feeling lost when it comes to using a computer? Take a class at your local junior college or a place like Computer Tutor. Or have a grandchild help you. Kids are smarter than ever with technology.

Travel is one of the best things to do in retirement. Especially if you were too busy in the past to do any traveling.

Travel

1. Isn’t traveling what you planned to do in retirement? If you are alone, check into packages for group travel. Maybe take a cruise.
2. Travel to visit your grandchildren or, if they are local, take them out for a special day at the zoo or the lake.
3. Create a list of the states in the United States you have never visited and begin planning trips to see them. A great way to show your progress is a scratch-off map you can hang on the wall. Check Amazon for an excellent section.
4. Take a train ride on Amtrak. Be sure to take advantage of the 10% senior discount.
5. Take a hot-air balloon ride. Or, if you are fearless, go skydiving.
6. Visit your state capital.
7. Buy your Senior Lifetime National Park Pass for $80 and start seeing all the National Parks. It’s a super deal. https://www.nationalparks.org/connecty/blog/understanding-national-park-senior-pass-rate-increase.
8. If you are brave enough, try a zipline. If you like that, keep searching for ziplines when you travel. They are exciting and can be amid breathtaking scenery.
9. Go to your State Fair. If it’s far away, make a weekend to it.
10. Winery tours are common in California. What tours do you have locally? Cheese? Beer? Jelly Bellies (also in CA)? Take a day to visit them.
11. Go on a cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean. Or another place of your choosing.
12. Plan a second honeymoon with your spouse. Maybe to a different state or country or to the place you went on your original honeymoon. Be sure to find a nice romantic destination. Splurge a little if you can.
13. Visit the country your ancestors came from. Take a DNA test to verify where most of your relatives came from.
14. Do you love sports? Follow your team through their season, seeing every home and away game. Or possibly visit every professional baseball stadium, even if it may take you a few years.

By taking advantage of classes, clubs, and groups, you can continue to learn new skills, meet new people, and pursue your passions well into your golden years. Retirement should be a time to unwind and enjoy life’s simple pleasures, but it can also be an opportunity for growth and exploration. Retirees can stay active and engaged in their communities by engaging in physical activities, creative pursuits, social outings, intellectual stimulation, volunteer opportunities, and self-development. Remember, boredom shouldn’t be a part of your retirement. Embrace this chapter of your life and try something new!

As you embark on this journey, keep in mind these words of motivational speaker Tony Robbins and go out there and make a difference:

“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”

Learn something new every day. There is a world of knowledge out there waiting for you to discover. Most of all, make the most of the rest of your life. You don’t have any guarantee for tomorrow, so enjoy today.

Well, that’s the first half of the list. 109 so far. Next week, the list continues. Let me know which idea is your favorite in the comments below. I know you have a favorite! Don’t be shy.