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Live well – have a hobby.

At Olson Wealth Group, we are always working diligently on financial aspects of our client’s life. We had a client couple who was very financially secure, having both worked in high level careers.  The problem: after decades in the workforce, they had neglected their hobbies, didn’t know what to do with their time, and were very fearful of retirement. We went to work on creative problem solving and came up with a list of interests, hobbies, and volunteer opportunities they might consider.  Hopefully, this guide will help to spark your interests and follow your passion to a new hobby.

Hobbies are Healthy!
 A recent self-report study (Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test (PEAT)) of 1399 participants (74% female, age 19-89 years) measured ten different types of leisure activities as well as assessing positive and negative psychosocial states.  The results showed better physical health, lower blood pressure, lower BMI and better overall physical function.  People who scored high on the PEAT test got better sleep, showed lower levels of depression, and higher positive attitudes than low-scoring participants.

Intuitively, most of us know that following your passion can be good for your health. However, adjusting to the new flexibility and slower pace of retirement takes some insight and active life management on your part to learn new habits.  We covered some of the challenges of shifting gears from career to leisure in a previous blog post: New Beginnings.

Follow your interests and develop a hobby.
Interests are a desire to learn something.  It doesn’t require an action. Hobbies combine interest and physical action.  Hobbies typically require more commitment, more dedication, than an interest.

What made you happy as a child?  Take a closer look at your interests and then take it a step further to develop the hobby.  As a kid, you may have loved to swim – now you have time for scuba lessons or a membership at the local pool. You may have stopped learning French after two years to qualify for college.  Now is the time to discover these lost talents for that trip to Paris. Or your love of baseball or tennis can morph into pickle ball or lawn bowling, both great outlets for outdoor activity and socializing.

You may love to read or cook or garden or dance.  The interest of reading takes on a new dimension by adding a new twist to reading.  Joining a book club, tutoring school kids in reading, story-telling at the library, writing short stories, or starting a blog all combine action with social aspects to create a hobby.  Cooking could transform into chef school, specialty cooking classes, volunteerism at local shelters, cake decorating, etc.  Revisiting that musical instrument you played in high school could result in a band or playing in a community orchestra.   If your career was especially rewarding, join a mentor program to share your experience.  Interested in public service? Now is the time to get involved in your community or run for office.

Consider everyday activities as potential hobbies.
Family interests can develop into scrapbooking, tracking family history, or creating videos of family photos for your friends and loved ones.  ‘Walking the dog’ can turn into training him as a therapy dog for hospital or nursing home visits.

Whatever you do, be kind to yourself.  All you overachievers need to keep a perspective.  If you’re a runner, be happy with a 2-3 mile jog or even a run around the block – you don’t have to train for the marathon.  However, if you truly want to train for a marathon, don’t let me stop you. The important take away is to keep your mind, your body and your social life active.  Turning your interest into a sustaining hobby is the first step to enjoying those golden years.

 

Olson Wealth Group is a full service wealth management firm. With wise counsel and clear strategies, our experienced specialists provide tailored approaches that strive to maximize wealth. For more information, please visit OlsonWealthGroup.com

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. Registered states include: AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL,GA, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

At Olson Wealth Group, we are always working diligently on financial aspects of our client’s life. We had a client couple who was very financially secure, having both worked in high level careers.  The problem: after decades in the workforce, they had neglected their hobbies, didn’t know what to do with their time, and were very fearful of retirement. We went to work on creative problem solving and came up with a list of interests, hobbies, and volunteer opportunities they might consider.  Hopefully, this guide will help to spark your interests and follow your passion to a new hobby.

Hobbies are Healthy!
 A recent self-report study (Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test (PEAT)) of 1399 participants (74% female, age 19-89 years) measured ten different types of leisure activities as well as assessing positive and negative psychosocial states.  The results showed better physical health, lower blood pressure, lower BMI and better overall physical function.  People who scored high on the PEAT test got better sleep, showed lower levels of depression, and higher positive attitudes than low-scoring participants.

Intuitively, most of us know that following your passion can be good for your health. However, adjusting to the new flexibility and slower pace of retirement takes some insight and active life management on your part to learn new habits.  We covered some of the challenges of shifting gears from career to leisure in a previous blog post on our website: New Beginnings.

Follow your interests and develop a hobby.
Interests are a desire to learn something.  It doesn’t require an action. Hobbies combine interest and physical action.  Hobbies typically require more commitment, more dedication, than an interest.

What made you happy as a child?  Take a closer look at your interests and then take it a step further to develop the hobby.  As a kid, you may have loved to swim – now you have time for scuba lessons or a membership at the local pool. You may have stopped learning French after two years to qualify for college.  Now is the time to discover these lost talents for that trip to Paris. Or your love of baseball or tennis can morph into pickle ball or lawn bowling, both great outlets for outdoor activity and socializing.

You may love to read or cook or garden or dance.  The interest of reading takes on a new dimension by adding a new twist to reading.  Joining a book club, tutoring school kids in reading, story-telling at the library, writing short stories, or starting a blog all combine action with social aspects to create a hobby.  Cooking could transform into chef school, specialty cooking classes, volunteerism at local shelters, cake decorating, etc.  Revisiting that musical instrument you played in high school could result in a band or playing in a community orchestra.   If your career was especially rewarding, join a mentor program to share your experience.  Interested in public service? Now is the time to get involved in your community or run for office.

Consider everyday activities as potential hobbies.
Family interests can develop into scrap-booking, tracking family history, or creating videos of family photos for your friends and loved ones.  ‘Walking the dog’ can turn into training him as a therapy dog for hospital or nursing home visits.

Whatever you do, be kind to yourself.  All you overachievers need to keep a perspective.  If you’re a runner, be happy with a 2-3 mile jog or even a run around the block – you don’t have to train for the marathon.  However, if you truly want to train for a marathon, don’t let me stop you. The important take away is to keep your mind, your body and your social life active.  Turning your interest into a sustaining hobby is the first step to enjoying those golden years.

 

Olson Wealth Group is a full service wealth management firm. With wise counsel and clear strategies, our experienced specialists provide tailored approaches that strive to maximize wealth. For more information, please visit OlsonWealthGroup.com

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. Registered states include: AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL,GA, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.