Retirement presents many challenges. It is an ending but also a beginning. Many are relieved that working life is over: others are anxious about what they will now do. There are some universal issues around retirement, but the process varies from person to person.
All people have to design their retirement plan. For some this is easy but for others not so much. Here are some issues to think about as retirement approaches.
1. Think hard about what you really like to do. Retirement doesn't work well if you are doing what you think you should do. Sometimes it is not so easy to figure out and may take some trial and error.
2. Work at retirement. Create structure. Don't waste time.
3. Try to get good at things. Whether it is cooking, golf, travel, or gardening, study and get better. Being competent makes any endeavor more fun.
4. If you value relationships, get social. Take the initiative. Time is limited, and you have an opportunity. Don't wait for your phone to ring. Reach out!
5. Retirement brings freedom. Don't worry about what others think. The canvas is empty. Paint away.
6. If you want to try new things, do it now. Learn and grow.
7. Take some time to assess your past life and try to put it in perspective. Acceptance that you did the best you could brings peace and makes it easier to move on. Think of your working life as an athletic contest. The game was played. It is over, and you are free to move on to other endeavors.
8. Try to stay as healthy as possible. Illness compromises retirement.
9. As aging makes one activity difficult or impossible, move onto to another activity. If you can't play tennis, play pickle ball. Find things that are fun and do them.
10. Remember that we can all keep growing and learning. You really can teach old dogs new tricks.
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