Toronto Star Archives. 1987. " Work as usual: Art Hopkins; who turns 90 today; will be at his usual job of repairing bicycle tires at Hopkins Cycle and Sport; a shop run by his son; Ken. The senior Hopkins; who joined his son's business in 1959; says his second career has kept him alive and active. People who look forward to retirement as a never-ending vacation are mistaken; the nonagenarian says."

Many of us dream about and countdown to retirement life; the freedom, leisure, and the possibility of spending endless time vacationing and relaxing. But when retirement comes many may find that they actually begin to miss the work, old coworkers and even the action. A longitudinal study, whose findings were published in the international Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in March 2016, found that "continued participation in volunteer activities and paid work in old age after retirement could delay the declines in physical, cognitive and mental functioning and reduce the risk of morbidities, which leads to better survival."

If you are hungry to return back to work life, "there are many ways to leverage your passion and experience into a rewarding post-retirement career”, says Kira Botkin of MoneyCrashers.com. She offers the following advice that demonstrates that “retirement can provide the opportunity to train for a new, exciting job or volunteer position with minimal time investment.”

1. Work for your former employer

If you enjoyed your old job consider calling up your former boss to see about working part-time. You will be able to renew contact with old co-workers and continue a job that you always enjoyed but on your schedule.

2. Work as a consultant

If you have advanced degrees or specialized experience you can leverage your years of expertise, training, and connections by taking on a job as a consultant. Begin by researching skill shortages and which experience is needed in your field. In this role, you can set your hours and avoid a full-time workload. Once you begin, remember to think of ways to find more work once your current assignment ends. Taking on part-time or short term projects can help expand your network of contacts and aid you in finding additional work in the future. 

3. Start a retail business

If you have a large collection of any kind, whether it is an attic full of dusty antiques or boxes of books, you may have the startup inventory needed to open your own retail business.

You can also consider taking your store online. With the relatively low overhead costs of selling and advertising online, sites like eBay, Craigslist, Amazon and Kijiji make it easy for anyone to sell items online.

If you have other business ideas check out our Small Business page. Take part in our free programs and seminars on everything you'll need to run your small business. We have books on everything including marketing plans, human resources and more and we also have online databases and e-magazines you can access 24/7 from the library's website. And we have spaces for you to work and meet – everything you need to make your business a success.

4. Seek out low-stress, part-time work

If you want to stay busy and be around other people, look for low-stress work with light responsibilities. Some popular part-time jobs for retirees include:

• Retail Positions. These are a dime a dozen. They do not offer high salaries but offer flexible hours.
• Call Center Jobs. These are ideal for seniors with low mobility.
• Tutors. Tutors can be self-employed or work with a larger organization.
  
• Childcare Services. There is a demand for childcare services for busy families. Babysit for friends, family and neighbours for extra income, or offer daily childcare services in your home.

Some jobs can also offer rewarding perks. If you work in an entertainment venue (ex. movie theater or concert hall) you might receive free tickets to shows and if you are an usher during theater or sporting events you can enjoy the entertainment during your shift. If you need help finding a job check out one of our recent blogs, Looking for Job Postings?, for some tips and advice.

5. Work as a temp

If you want to balance work with leisure consider getting a temporary job. Temporary jobs don’t require a specific skill set, significant work experience or an advanced degree. The length of assignments vary and can range between one day and several weeks. If you ever feel like you need a break, you can pass on one job and wait for the next to come along.

6. Give back

A number of retired individuals look to use their time to give back. Check out Canada’s largest volunteer centre, Volunteer Toronto, to find a great volunteer opportunity in your area. Search by category of interest, keyword, area or organization of interest. New positions are posted daily so you have the most up to date opportunities available. If there is a category that interests you, subscribe to it and receive email updates when new positions are posted.

7. Retrain for a career

If you are between the ages of 55 and 64, the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers will help unemployed older workers increase their ability to find and keep a job while the local economy changes.

If you plan to work after retirement also take a look at some of the suggested companies on Canada's Top 100 Employers annual list: Top Employers for Canadian Workers Over 40.

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"And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years." — Abraham Lincoln