There’s plenty of advice out there on how to prepare financially for retirement. Save early – save often, pay off your debt, diversify your portfolio, and make sure you get your employer match on your retirement fund. But what you don’t see as much is advice on how to cope mentally and emotionally with this major lifestyle change.
Your Time Is Yours
Now that you have extra time on your hands, you might find people reaching out to you for help. Whether it be basic errands, help with grandkids, or transportation needs. At first, it might be a welcome distraction or a way to keep busy, but when it becomes habitual, you may feel like you’re being taken advantage of. Without work as an excuse, you’ll need to establish parameters and be OK saying “no.”
Map Out Your Day
Losing the structure and routine of your day and week might be one of the most drastic lifestyle changes you’ll experience. You might initially look forward to not waking up to an alarm but without purpose and structure to your day, you could find yourself feeling adrift. Create a replacement routine that keeps you on track, even if something as simple as walking the dogs, watering the plants, or trips to the grocery store.
“Losing the structure and routine of your day and week might be one of the most drastic lifestyle changes you’ll experience.”
Find Meaning
After a lifetime spent facing challenges, solving problems, and accomplishing tasks, retirement can feel empty – maybe even boring. When you leave your workplace behind, you also leave your work behind. Considering that a large portion of your identity is shaped by your career you may struggle to define who you are and what you do. While some may joyfully tell people they’re retired, others may twinge at the thought of admitting they no longer work. When you have a plan to fill that void, it can help to ease the transition.
Maintain Social Interaction
From conversations shared around the water cooler to close collaboration with coworkers, jobs provide essential social interaction and emotional stimulation. A positive review can lift your whole mood, tight deadlines can trigger stress, and the drive to achieve can boost your productivity and focus. Losing this vital facet of your life can lead to loneliness, which can exacerbate health and cognition issues. Mentoring, joining a community center, or continuing to work part-time can keep you connected with peers and younger generations.
As important as it is to make sure you can afford retirement, it’s equally important to make sure you can enjoy retirement.
