How to Keep Retirement Interesting (Plus, 5 Tips on Active Listening)

Variety is the spice of life. Being curious and trying new things keeps life interesting.

Fortunately for us, living in an active adult retirement community, there are plenty of new things to do. You can try some activities for a while, then for a change and try some new ones. Retirement is the time to try everything you wanted to do when you were working but put off for one reason or another. Here are some of my suggestions for things for retirees to try:

• Food tours
• Cruises
• Traveling in an RV
• Senior education classes
• Setting up a small business
• Learning a new hobby
• Joining a book club
• Getting active in your local senior center

People Are Interesting

Activities are fine, but people keep our lives even more interesting. If you like to meet new people and carry on conversations, there is no better place than here in the community.

I got down to our clubhouse this morning at 5:45 a.m. to get in line to buy It’s Showtime tickets for the tribute to the Beach Boys and Four Seasons. After getting a queue ticket, I had about an hour to kill. I sat at one of the high-top tables in the back of the lower level, and a gentleman came over to join me and we talked. Here’s what I learned from listening.

Are You Listening?

I have been taking a course online called “Maintaining a Mindful Life.” I’m learning how to listen mindfully. That means not letting your mind wander but paying attention to what the other person is saying. Part of this is not trying to formulate a response before the other person finishes speaking but paying full attention to what they are saying. My course said to practice this, so this gentleman was my test case.

After talking about the procedure for assigning tickets, he told me about going to Gibbs Gardens and hearing a concert. He was so impressed with the group that he got the business card in hopes they could perform at our community. The group was also flexible in size ranging from 2 to 12, depending on the needs. I carefully listened and nodded. He was passionate about this!

I’m Listening

What I found out was that by actively listening, I could learn more about the other person. I also really enjoyed my conversation with the gentleman, which I told him before I went to pick up my tickets. While I didn’t even get this gentleman’s name, this is an example of the interesting conversations that go on all day all over our community. People are interesting if you only take the time to listen and truly hear them.

5 Tips on Active Listening

1. Give Your Full Attention

When engaging in a conversation, eliminate distractions and give the speaker your full attention. Put away electronic devices, make eye contact, and show that you are genuinely present.

2. Ask Clarifying Questions

Ask open-ended questions to seek clarification and delve deeper into the speaker’s thoughts and feelings. This not only demonstrates your interest but also encourages the speaker to share more details.

3. Avoid Interrupting

Allow the speaker to express themselves fully without interruption. Avoid finishing their sentences or formulating your response while they are still speaking. Patience is key to active listening.

4. Demonstrate Nonverbal Cues

Use nonverbal cues to convey your engagement and interest. Nodding your head, maintaining an open posture, and offering facial expressions can signal to the speaker that you are actively listening.

5. Paraphrase and Reflect

Summarize or paraphrase what the speaker has said. This will demonstrate that you understand and have processed the information. Reflecting on their words shows that you are engaged in the conversation.

Looking for More?

If you enjoyed this article by Robert Fowler, make sure to check out these next:

• Robert Goes for a Walk (Plus, TEN Reasons Why Walking May Improve Your Health!)
• A Boomer’s Memories of His Grandparents
• 6 Ways Baby Boomers Can Be Happier Today
• Remember Dancing with a Transistor Radio on Your Hip?
• It Took Us 10 Years to Move to an Active Adult Retirement Community!
• Georgia Retirement Options: Serenbe Community