Life is changing

The transition from working life to retirement holds many new opportunities as you now have the time to pursue your interests and make an effort for others. At first, this all sounds very positive, but the transition can also be an overwhelming and dramatic process of change into a new and foreign phase that can unbalance your life.

To thrive is all about balance

While you are working, you typically need to juggle a mix of work, hobbies and family. But what happens when your work identity and social network of colleagues disappear? What is it like to suddenly be with your spouse 24/7? Can you control time when it has no limit, and do you know how to control your own life now? The otherwise multi-coloured canvas of life can suddenly turn chalk-white, large and empty, and this can both be liberating and terrifyingly dull. Therefore, it is important that you create your own setting and find a new balance in your life.

Pursue your interests - old or new

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When you leave the labour market, you get the freedom to do all the things you have been looking forward to. You can take up old interests or find new ones. Pursuing your interests together with others is a good way to keep busy.

Network for everyone

If you reach out, you can find networks for just about anything. Sports, needlework, history, choir, archaeology, railway lines, winter swimming, painting, museums, travelling and gymnastics are but a few examples of interests that people take up when they get the time. Most likely, you have your own interests, and now you have the time to start pursuing them.

Voluntary work

If you do not have any interests that you are enthusiastic about, but would like to make a difference for others, you might consider volunteering. Many associations and organisations need more hands, and it is up to you how much you want to commit. You could help out in the local sports club, lend a hand to the senior centre or volunteer at the Red Cross and sell second-hand clothes in one of their many stores.

Next step

There are many ways to find communities, and below you can find some good ideas for how to start your own network or join an existing one.

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The internet is booming with offers and different associations for you who can no longer call yourself young. For instance, you can try browsing these sites:

Voluntary work

voluntering.dk Job portal for voluntary rel="noopener noreferrer" work 
seniorerudengraenser.dk (Seniors rel="noopener noreferrer" Without Borders) help to the world's poor
rodekors.dk the Red rel="noopener noreferrer" Cross
amnesty.dk Amnesty (in Danish only)
frivillig.dk the Danish Cancer Society (in Danish only)

Work

seniorerhverv.dk mediates contact to employers (in Danish only)

Other

seniorklar.dk preparation for life as a senior (in Danish only)

Facebook

If you are on Facebook, you can search for already existing groups or you can post an update on your profile looking for other people with the same interests. This is a fast and easy way to find people who share your interests, and you reach a broad audience as your network can share your update.