In the end, don’t we all want to retire happy?
While we all worry and do our best to make sure we are secure in retirement, the goal should always also be to retire happy. And while for some this sounds like a normal thing that is going to happen, it may take you by surprise that having a lot of free time also leaves space to not be as jolly as you thought you may be.
A lot of retirees are playing it safe and preparing for their retirement in the best ways they know how, making sure they will be covered financially and having a plan for their health, but not a lot of them take into consideration their happiness. Once you retire, a lot of us consider that happiness will come along since we will have so much time to dedicate to whatever we want!
Yet, that time can be our downfall, as there is a lot of time to get all we want done, and some of us find that too much time is just as much of a burden as not having enough time. Some people end up feeling aimless and lost in retirement, and this is why we gathered some of the best tips out there to make sure you retire happy!
If you are ready to see how you can make your golden years as happy as possible, keep reading!
How does a happy retirement look for you? What are your goals for retirement? Let us know about your answers and plans in the comments below!
1. Do not jump straight into it.
It is a good idea to not just jump straight into retirement and not give yourself any time to adjust to a time period where you will have more time for yourself.
Chances are that if you have been with a company for a while or just at a workplace, you may be able to end up securing a smoother transition to retired life and thus not have to deal with the potential shock that comes along with retirement.
If you are close to retirement or are set to retire in a couple of years, do some calculations and see if you can maybe smooth over your transition by taking on a smaller workload.
This can mean taking fewer hours or negotiating a different pay structure and pay so that you can get more time to yourself and adjust to the idea of having more time for yourself as opposed to most of the day being reserved for working.
You can take on fewer hours and start a hobby or see how you adjust to this newfound free time, and over time, when you end up retiring, you will not find the extra time as jarring.
2. Make up a routine for yourself.
Once you are set to retire, you will need to make a routine for yourself. And if it does not seem like part of the recipe to be able to happily retire, think about it from another angle.
While you are working, you have a routine that you stick to and have probably been sticking to your whole life: you have a waking up hour, your morning rituals, and then you probably also going to be around the same hour. You should strive to keep this type of balance, but now instead of having work take up most of your time, you can add in regular activities.
Make up your routine and try to stick to it. See when you are going to wake up, do not skip breakfast, and add in your hobbies, exercise time, and even voluntary work or other activities you have decided to do, along with the mundane ones of cleaning, cooking, and going grocery shopping.
Maintaining a routine will help with the transition and keep your life interesting. Not to mention, it may also help you skip the surprising feeling of not feeling like you have a purpose anymore since it is common in a lot of retirees, and having a routine will maintain this idea.
3. Be aware that for all the ups there are going to be downs.
This is something that you have to expect if you want to be among those who happily retire. A lot of retirees end up thinking that once they retire, everything will be easier and better, but you need to prepare yourself for the fact that there are going to be ups and downs and that you cannot predict them.
You do, however, have the power to be mentally prepared for them so that they do not crush you!
You can end up feeling lonely at times since you do not have the social aspect of a workplace anymore, or lost since you do not have a definite purpose anymore, and a lot of us struggle with that. You may find that your life is drastically changed if you or someone you love ends up falling ill or if you have major changes in your relationships.
There are a lot of things that can happen, and while for some you can think in advance about a backup plan, for others you just have to be prepared for the possibility or just not let the negative aspects put too much stress and pressure on you.
Strive to be positive in retirement and speak with your friends and loved ones, or seek professional help if you feel like the downs are impacting you too much!
There are a lot of things that could make or break your retirement, and the key to being able to retire happy is sometimes in your attitude toward life and how you can live it. What helped us deal with these changes was reading this book on aging and how to be strong and successful!
4. Set up a doctor’s check-up as soon as possible.
Another thing you need to be prepared for in retirement is accepting the possibility of your health deteriorating. This is not to discourage, scare, or even cause injury to you or any other seniors in your life, but as we get older, our bodies no longer function the way they used to; it is just a fact.
One of the keys to a happy retirement is to be aware of it and to always seek to prevent rather than cure any illnesses that may occur. While working, a lot of us end up falling into the trap of not going to the doctor as often as we should, but once we are retired, we should make an active choice to change this.
Schedule an appointment with your GP and get a whole-body checkup. The most common issues that come along with old age include the likes of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, certain types of dementia, arthritis, and even kidney diseases.
If you are between the ages of 40 and 74 and you do not have any of the mentioned diseases or conditions, you will be called periodically for a checkup to ensure that you do not develop them, as well as to be given support and the means to prevent or manage the risk of getting them.
If you have people in your family with a history of any of these conditions or have already been diagnosed with them, make sure you keep on top of your health and that you do not neglect your doctor’s visit so that you can do all you want during your golden years and be one of those who retire happy!
There is a chance that once you retire, you will be hit with post-retirement depression. As much as we try to prevent it, sometimes our brain’s chemistry is not aligned in our favor. If you or someone you know is dealing with this issue, we recommend that you give our article about ways to healthily regain your happiness a read!
