Adjusting to Retired Life
Retiring is a major, life-changing event. After working for years and letting your profession mold your identity, you are now free from the chains of employment! While this may be a joyous thought, many retirees struggle to adjust to retired life. MarketWatch states, “Research shows that adjusting to retirement is difficult for such people, who report more boredom, anxiety, restlessness, and feelings of uselessness. Retired men, for example, were found to be 40% more likely than employed men to experience depression, and the greatest increase in suicide rates between 2000 and 2016 occurred among 45- to 64-year old men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Here are four factors to evaluate when entering your Golden Years.
The Situation with Family and Work
Evaluating your relationship with your work and family can be a good place to start when managing your transition to retirement. Did you spend a lot of time at work during your working years and miss out on family time? Retirement is the time to spend with your family and compensate for lost time due to work.
Sense of Self
Many people’s identity is closely tied with their career, so it is natural to feel a sense of loss during this time. This is a good time to take a look inward and do some soul searching. Without the limitation that a job brings, you have the time (and funds hopefully) to truly discover what makes you happy. By having a strong sense of what you like, don’t like, and who you are, you can conquer retirement.
Support
Leaving your daily routine can leave people feeling lonely. It is important to have a strong support group during this transition. Look into joining a retirement community or senior activity group to be around others in the same stage of life and experiencing the same issues. Maintaining healthy relationships or activities can help get you out of the house and enjoying your time while having new experiences.
Strategy
Having a game plan for how you will spend your retirement is important. While your finances need to be planned, other factors need to be considered. Planning how you will spend your time and money can help ensure you feel like you still have a purpose.
Like all new stages in life, retirement can be confusing and intimidating. By evaluating these four factors, you will be more prepared for a happy, fun retirement!
The information provided here is for general information only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice.