Life is to be lived deeply and passionately, not just dealt with and endured. Whatever money you make, and however you choose to arrange your personal finances, you should always create openings in your life for fun, and set aside a reasonable portion of your income for experiences that make you feel alive. 

Of course, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t kill two birds with one stone. Where you can  have those “fun” activities also serve your personal growth.

Whether you’re on the path to retirement or already retired, here are a few ideas for how to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Using Some of  Your Money for Fun and Growth

Learn a skill you’ve always admired

At the core of our memories and recollections of our lives are stories. A great way to develop those stories and add new textures to our life-tales is to learn new skills and put ourselves in new situations.

Everyone has an idea of a skill they’ve always admired or been fascinated by in others. Why not take the plunge and sign yourself up for a class in one of those skill-sets? Whether it be learning how to play the guitar, or starting a course on rock-climbing.

Not only will you have a blast, make new memories, and meet more people. But you might even find new future-income avenues down the line, as an instructor or guide.

Travel

Travel is one of the most uplifting and intriguing experiences a human being can undergo. It’s fun, eye-opening, and if done right, can be an immense source of inspiration.

By travelling to those natural wonders or medieval cities which have always fascinated you, you not only allow yourself to feel truly alive, you also give yourself room to innovate.

The simple fact is that being in unfamiliar environments allows the mind the space to work in unconventional ways. Don’t be surprised if great revelations about the direction of your life, or inspired ideas about your hobbies or career, come to you when travelling.

Invest in self-development

In a sense, this entire article could be said to be about investing in self-development. This point is somewhat more specific, however.

Instead of just investing in activities where self-development is a byproduct, consider also those activities where self-development is the main point, and where fun and satisfaction happily come along for the ride.

By starting a new fitness program, or even a meditation regimen via a service like Headspace, you’ll be directly enhancing your own physical and mental well-being. The renewed sense of vitality you experience as a result can be truly breathtaking.

Meet up with friends

While it’s probably best to avoid spending too much money drinking a bunch of beers down at the bar. Meeting up with your friends should never be seen as just a luxury. It should be seen as something integral to your health and well-being as a human being.

We discover ourselves most deeply in our interactions with other people. The friendships we nurture today can pay dividends in years to come — as a source of happiness, support, contentment, and even opportunity.