Whether you are tired of working full-time or thinking about a retirement in the not too distant future, but you still want to work, what are your options? Continuing to work is important to keep your mind stimulated, prevent depression, feel productive and maintain social interactions. Here are some options to consider:
- PART-TIME WORK If you still like what you do, but don’t like the idea of working five days a week, you may wish to explore possibilities of doing similar work two or three days a week. Talk to temporary agencies that specialize in filling short-term or part-time positions in your field. Reconnect with former colleagues and supervisor s to see if your current or former employers need part-time folks. Conduct a job search as you would for full-time work with an eye out toward two or three-day a week positions. Or, you can use some other skills you have such as organizing, writing, public speaking, creating power points.
- CONSULTING– You may parlay your skill set into doing short term projects for your former employer or other companies in the same industry. Re-purpose your skill set into a consulting mindset – whether it involves, IT, web design, strategic planning, event management, interior design or marketing and sales.
- VOLUNTEER – If a paycheck is not necessary, you may wish to consider working as a volunteer – whether it is tutoring English to recent immigrants, helping out at a science contest, or doing branding or brochures for a non-profit provider of services, such as the Taproot Foundation. Soup kitchens always need helpers to prepare and feed the homeless. Local schools need after school tutors for English, reading, math and other subjects. Museums need docents. Theatres and dance companies need volunteers to usher and staff membership tables. You won’t get paid but you will help a good cause and maintain your sense of self-worth.
- LEARN SOMETHING NEW – Maybe you always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, speak a foreign language, lean how to dance the tango. Check your local library, high school and community college for free or low cost courses that will take you from beginner and beyond in your new passion. Learning something new if the best way to keep your neurons growing and prevent dementia.
- TRAVEL – You don’t necessarily need a lot of money to travel. Of course, if you do, then go for it. There are lots of cruises, safaris and exotic adventures. However, if you are on a budget, there are other ways to take advantage of options to see the world. For example, if you put together a group of ten people, some travel groups will give you a free trip. If you volunteer for an archaeological dig, you may also get free accommodations and food. If you can teach a specific subject you may get an all-expenses paid trip to another country. A colleague got a free trip to China to teach youngsters financial literacy through play dough and auctions.