In thinking about what to write for this month’s newsletter, I decided to reflect upon my path and how I envision my future. I live in Laguna Woods, where I have met many retirees; and have often thought to myself, “What does everyone do all day?”
Personally, I’ve been working since I was 10 years old. My parents owned a delicatessen in New York City and worked ungodly hours… 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, except on Sundays when they worked from 4pm-7:30pm. My job was cleaning the house while my brother delivered orders to customers on his bike. Working is part of my DNA: I don’t know how not to!
Personally, I’ve been working since I was 10 years old. My parents owned a delicatessen in New York City and worked ungodly hours… 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, except on Sundays when they worked from 4pm-7:30pm. My job was cleaning the house while my brother delivered orders to customers on his bike. Working is part of my DNA: I don’t know how not to!
Last week, there was a moment when decided to “retire” just to see how it felt. I shut down my computer, silenced my phone, turned on the TV, and watched 9 hours of Lenox Hill on Netflix. (Great show, by the way!) At the end of the day, I felt proud of myself and thought… WOW!… That was great! I had never before, in my entire life, watched television all day. NEVER!
The next day, I tried it again. This time, I read everything I could lay my hands on and, by the end of the day, I felt proud of myself again and thought… WOW!… That was great!
The following day, I thought about what I could do with my time now that I’d “retired.” And guess what? I couldn’t come up with a single thing! The reason? I felt guilty! So, I went back to work and thought… I’m proud of myself! WOW! That was great!
And it was… and it is. I really love what I do and have no intention of giving it up any time soon. So much for two days of retirement! It was fine, but not yet for me.
And it was… and it is. I really love what I do and have no intention of giving it up any time soon. So much for two days of retirement! It was fine, but not yet for me.
What about you? Perhaps you’ve retired. Maybe your job was high stress and you couldn’t wait to stop. Maybe you hated your job and were thrilled when you could finally walk out the door for the last time.
Perhaps now, after some time has passed since you’ve officially retired, you’ve begun to feel restless and you want more. You miss the meaningful interactions with people. You think it might be nice to earn a little money again, but you have no idea where to start. Yes, you play Pickleball (doesn’t everyone?), you watch TV, walk your dog, go to the movies, travel, and have lunch with your friends; but ultimately, even though you’re having fun, these activities aren’t as fulfilling as you thought.
You’ve decided you want more. But what? A job? Not really. Not the way it was. The ultimate objective is this: You would like to work, but you don’t want any stress. You also know it’s important to be involved in a variety of activities to keep yourself engaged mentally and physically. And earning some money would be great too.
You’ve decided you want more. But what? A job? Not really. Not the way it was. The ultimate objective is this: You would like to work, but you don’t want any stress. You also know it’s important to be involved in a variety of activities to keep yourself engaged mentally and physically. And earning some money would be great too.
To sum it up:
- If you want to stay active physically and mentally, you need to involve yourself in enjoyable activities. Without doing any work, you may find yourself feeling useless and invisible which can cause depression and anxiety.
- Whether it’s necessary or not, people want to earn money for their efforts. If you have the expertise and your health permits, why not earn some additional income?
- By engaging in various activities, you’ll be able to connect socially. Frequent interaction with people keeps you and your mind fresh and facile.
In fact, there are lots of things you can do to meet your criteria. I’ve done some research for you and have found the following 15 low stress jobs for your consideration:
#1 – Consultant: I know, I know… everyone’s a consultant; but being a consultant is a terrific way to use the knowledge you gained throughout your working life to serve others. So in this case, experience and knowledge are your primary skills. You can work your own hours, choose the people you want to work with, and leave plenty of time for the activities you enjoy as a retiree.
#2 – Tutor: If you were a teacher previously you can continue teaching privately or as a home tutor. Also, in the case of private tutoring, you will not be required to follow any regulatory guidelines.
#3 – Research Assistant: Through this work, you can make your time valuable and also earn some extra income. Personally, I love to do research. Imagine how nice it would be to get paid for it? Required Expertise: Data analysis and critical thinking ability, necessary computer skills, patience, communication skills, etc.
#4 – Event Planner: Planning & designing an event is an art. As an event planner, you can start your own business or do the job under an organization. An Event Planner designs and implements events such as: wedding receptions, birthday parties, inauguration ceremonies, etc. Caution: If you don’t want stress in your life this may not be the job for you. I did this for a living at one time and I can tell you, it’s fun, but fraught with stress. Required Expertise: Ability to communicate well and direct others, organizational skills, problem-solving ability, negotiation expertise, budget preparation, and multitasking.
#5 – Pet Sitter/Dog Walker: If you are searching for a low stress job after retirement, dog walking or pet sitting can be the answer. Besides doing the job, you will also be getting regular exercise. At the same time, this activity can be a lucrative earning medium for a retired person. You may want to contact the pet sitting service, Rover, to get you started.
#6 – Gardener: Many people love to garden. Gardening can also be a source of income, if you do it professionally. This is a very low-stress job that allows you to exercise your creativity in a peaceful and relaxing environment. Required Expertise: No special expertise required but should enjoy nature and be somewhat physically fit.
#7 – Child Care Services: There are many retirees who love spending time with their grandchildren. If that translates into caring for other people’s children, this may be a great fit for you. Required Expertise: Caring mind and desire to spend time with kids.
#8 – Artist: Are you an artist? Painter or sculptor perhaps? Do you like to teach? If you’re talented in this way, you have the ability to bring joy into many people’s lives. As people age, their creativity tends to blossom. I’ve read studies which confirm this to be true. I’m currently taking an art course from my neighbor who was a professor of art for many years. I feel the class is a wonderful complement to the work I do as an insurance broker. Required Expertise: Recognized artistic ability and experience in the respective field; as well as the ability to teach, coach and be patient.
#9 – Online Business: Nowadays, income through an online business is a very popular and common trend. People love to work independently, and online work offers this opportunity. Among various online businesses, some of the more popular ones are online teaching, blogging, assisting virtually, SEO consultancy, web designing and developing, writing articles, affiliate marketing, and many more. You can start your online e-commerce business through a webpage or even through a Facebook or Linked-in page. Required Expertise: In depth skills and experience in the respective online work; and, of course, a computer with internet connection.
#10 – Translator: This is a difficult but relatively low stress job. Why difficult? Because as a translator, you must have a complete and thorough knowledge of the language you’re translating. Required Expertise: Competency in one or multiple foreign languages and communication skills.
#11 – Driver (Uber/Lyft): If you love driving and enjoy meeting new people, becoming an Uber or Lyft driver may make sense for you. This job offers a great deal of independence and is ideal for someone who has patience and is somewhat physically fit. I fact, my last Uber driver was a retiree. When asked why he did it, he replied, “I live alone and wanted to get out of the house and make some extra money. Most importantly, I wanted interact with other people.” Required Expertise: Driver’s license, relevant skills/experience, a good knowledge of your area, and the ability to be personable and attentive.
#12 – Babysitter/Nanny: To be a babysitter/nanny, you need to have the ability to build good relationships with children of all temperaments. You have to take full responsibility for the child including keeping them safe, preparing meals, perhaps helping with homework, bathing, dressing, playing games, etc. Being a babysitter/nanny is a big responsibility that requires patience and stamina. Required Expertise: Must love kids and have relevant experience.
#13 – Writer: Writing is an art. It’s not an easy task to transcribe thoughts and views via pen and paper or online. Creative writing can be totally independent work with limited time boundaries, and hence, it can be relatively stress-free. Required Expertise: Excellent writing skills and use of language and grammar. Imagination, patience, ability to do research, and perseverance.
#14 – Library Volunteer: A Librarian typically needs a Master’s degree, but a library volunteer, just needs to be a book lover. There is much to do in a library; such as keeping books organized, checking people in and out, answering questions, etc. If earning money isn’t an issue, volunteering in a calm, stress-free environment may be just right for you. Organizations everywhere are looking for volunteers. The library is just one option.
#15 – Crafting: Crafting is the activity or hobby of making decorative articles by hand, and can be a fashionable form of self-expression. Here are some examples: embroidery art, pottery-making, crocheting, quilting, weaving, whittling, etc. Required Expertise: Creative thinking and expertise in any craft.
Many of the above activities are widely identified as low stress jobs after retirement. However, stress completely depends on the way a person chooses to live their life. Moreover, if you enjoy your work, you are more likely to be able to stay away from stress. Since it is important to be active, I posit that most everyone should consider doing some work after retirement in order to enjoy life as fully as possible.
Thanks for reading. I hope you’ve found this information valuable. You may even decide to pop out of your home and try one of my suggestions. But remember, you’re retired! So, if you don’t like what you’re doing, or the people you’re involved with, you don’t have to stay. That’s the freedom of retirement. Isn’t it wonderful?
In support of you,
Christina
Quote of the month: “According to your latest figures, if you retired today, you could live very, very comfortably until 2 p.m. tomorrow.” – Dave Erhard
P.S. – To learn more retirement options or if you have any questions about Medicare, contact me at christina@christinamartel.com or call 949-677-7631.