9 Suggestions to Maintain Mental Stimulation In Retirement
The following is adapted from Retiring? by Ted Kaufman and Bruce Hiland.
The most common non-financial concerns among soon-to-be retirees appears to be:
“What the heck am I going to do with all my free time?”
Many folks think they’ll just sort of take the time to walk the dog three times a day, get caught up on their reading, and visit more often with friends and family. While those are all perfectly fine options, they may not fill the day to a satisfying level.
With that in mind, let’s ponder a larger list of possibilities for a daily routine.
A Starter Menu
Professor Cary Cooper, a UK expert in organizational psychology, tracked 3,400 retirees. His work confirmed the necessity of multiple mental stimuli. If you have no idea what “activities offering mental stimulation” look like, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Do the daily puzzle, sudoku, or crossword.
2. Play bridge, chess, or a challenging computer game.
3. Do arithmetic in your head, rather than using a calculator.
4. Read. Perhaps join or start a book club. Remember, however, that not all books offer the same level of stimulation. Light reading is fine for relaxation, but the goal is to stretch and exercise your mind. Your local independent bookstore will have great suggestions; just ask.
5. Try something completely new — painting, pottery, birding, photography, a new language. The list is endless.
6. Take a day or evening class. If a college or university is nearby, ask about auditing their classes. (A hidden benefit: you’ll find that communicating with other students, particularly younger ones, offers both mental and social stimulus.)
7. Volunteer. Mentoring younger people, in particular, will keep your mind sharp.
8. Teach. If you’re an expert in a particular subject, teaching will be a really exciting challenge.
9. Write. This includes memoirs, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, even correspondence — anything that requires you to commit your thoughts to paper (or screen).
10. While these options (and many others) provide excellent choices for intellectual stimulation, there are others that offer that and emotional exercise as well.
Adding Emotional Stimulation to the Menu
For instance, performing music stimulates aspects of your mind often left fallow during your career. Learning or relearning an instrument can be a satisfying intellectual challenge. And then playing (or singing) with others in larger ensembles provides social connection.
As well, attending performances and concerts engages both your intellectual and emotional brain. The same holds true for going to the theater or cinema with others and discussing afterward what you’ve seen. Multiplayer card games — bridge or poker — also can keep your brain sharp while allowing you to stay in touch with others.
Staying Positive is Essential
Even though some research shows aging may start to affect the brain in your forties, the odds are heavily in your favor that you’ll begin retirement with your particular mix of intelligences in good shape. However, there’s no question that as the years pass, aging will eventually have its way, which is why planning properly is imperative. The most important lesson is that all current research confirms keeping your body and brain fit will help put off aging’s effects.
As you move through your late sixties and into your seventies, you’ll likely become aware of mental changes. Or your good friends or partner will point them out to you. While this can be initially disconcerting, you’ll observe your friends sharing similar experiences — forgotten names, misplaced keys, and other “senior moments.” Don’t overreact, and stay positive! Too many people self-diagnose this natural phenomenon as the beginning of Alzheimer’s or dementia. If you need it for your peace of mind, a talk with your physician can help, but keep in mind that Alzheimer’s and dementia affect only 7 percent of people over 65.
Simple math therefore concludes that it’s around 93 percent likely you’ll have your complete cognitive abilities in place after retirement. Your goal at that point will likely be to keep it that way by finding the right set of activities (listed here, your own, or some combination) to enjoy. Remember, time is on your side in this case. If you embark on something that turns out to not be your “cup of tea,” move on. There are plenty of options to choose from.
For more advice on non-financial retirement planning, you can find Retiring? on Amazon.
Ted Kaufman is the former U.S. Senator from Delaware succeeding Senator Joseph Biden. Ted was Biden’s Chief of Staff for nineteen years and led his presidential transition planning in 2020. He taught at Duke Law School for twenty-six years. At 81, he and his wife, Lynne, celebrate their 61st anniversary this year. Bruce Hiland’s career included McKinsey, more than four years as Chief Administrative Officer at Time Inc., twenty years of independent consulting, and four startups. Now 80, he and Ginny, married fifty-seven years, are enjoying their family, dealing with aging, and harvesting the fruits of their labor.
