Being vocationally enriched throughout your life, even in retirement can add that extra spark in your day and improve your wellness!
Globally, about 970 million people volunteer their time and skills – equivalent to over 125 million full-time workers at a value of US$ 1.348 trillion (AU $1.888 trillion) or 2.4 per cent of the entire global economy (UN 2017).
Your job, leisure and service-related activities should engage and enrich you. Finding activities that you love and find mentally stimulating, uses your skills and gives you purpose, meaning and a sense of achievement. Your work should energise you and motivate you to turn up every day.
Globally, only 29% of employees are engaged with their work (Effectory 2018).
79 percent of people who quit their jobs cite ‘lack of appreciation’ as their reason for leaving (Tanner 2019).
Retirement is ranked 10th on the list of life’s 43 most stressful events (Holmes and Rahe 1967).
People with hobbies and passions and/or volunteer opportunities throughout life can improve their wellness and transition better into a meaningful and satisfying retirement (Paggi et al. 2016).
Your work should be your calling and be enjoyable most of the time.
Talk to your manager if your workload is not manageable.
Achieve a balance between your roles, responsibilities and leisure time.
Identify and reduce stress in your vocational activity by learning project/time management, presenting, writing, communication and study skills (PU 2019).
Consider volunteering your time and skills to a worthy cause – without this detracting from your family and work commitments.
Have a heart for service and focus on activities that stimulate you and add meaning to your life!