Most people think that once they
retire, the only thing they’ll have to worry about is how to spend their newly
gained free time. It is true that for most people, retirement is the time of
happiness and relaxation, but even though not going to work has its benefits,
it also comes with problems that you might not have thought about. So, if you’d
like to learn how to make the best of this golden period of your life, here are
some issues you can expect and ways of dealing with them.
Health
It’s safe to say that your health
will definitely not be the same as when you were in your 20s. You might have
all the time you need to travel around the world, but you could also lack the
energy to do so. Or, perhaps you’ve finally decided to take those French
classes you’ve always wanted, but focusing on grammar and memorizing new words
is much harder in your 60s than it would have been in your 30s. This doesn’t
mean you should give up on your dream of finally seeing Paris though; start
thinking about your health in advance and make sure that you are as healthy as
you can be at any point in life. Exercise, eat well, play games that improve
and maintain your brain function, and you will be able to use the free time you get when you retire much more
efficiently.
Finances
The finances might be one of the
biggest worries when it comes to retiring. After all the traveling and treating
yourself to celebrate your newly gained “freedom”, will you have enough money
for a comfortable life? Many retirees today are living on a bare minimum and
hardly making ends meet just because they haven’t prepared well, so it’s
definitely something you should think about before you retire.
There are many online tools that can
help you calculate your income, organize your finances, and save up for the
future. Besides your basic income, you should also take into account any
potential debts, valuable assets, and your social security. For example, when
speaking of social security, you should think about when you will want to
collect it since the amount you get varies depending on when you decide to use
it.
Plus, since your resources will
naturally diminish, you should also consider investing in a skill that you will
be able to use even after you retire. Such a skill can not only become a source
of income, but it can also offer you something to look forward to and dedicate
your time to.
Loneliness
Even if you find yourself enjoying
your life in one of the amazing luxury retirement homes, the chances are that you will
still miss your family and friends once your job no longer gets you out of your
home every day. Plus, as much as we all hate thinking about it, the fact is
that the older we are, the fewer friends we have – some pass on before us, some
become estranged, some are too busy to socialize, and some are simply too far
to reach. The same goes for our family members – most of them are too busy
taking care of the youngest family members to even think about the oldest.
That being said, there are always
ways to connect and reconnect with your loved ones, and as a retiree, you
should have plenty of time for that. Make use of technology and learn how to
Skype, arrange fun events with your grandchildren, and catch up with your old
friends, even if it’s just for a coffee once every few months. Once you get
old, quality conversations are one of the best things you can have, so find
people with whom you can share your thoughts and experiences – and listen to
theirs.
Is Retirement Really the Most Careless Period of Life?
Most people think that once they
retire, the only thing they’ll have to worry about is how to spend their newly
gained free time. It is true that for most people, retirement is the time of
happiness and relaxation, but even though not going to work has its benefits,
it also comes with problems that you might not have thought about. So, if you’d
like to learn how to make the best of this golden period of your life, here are
some issues you can expect and ways of dealing with them.
Health
It’s safe to say that your health
will definitely not be the same as when you were in your 20s. You might have
all the time you need to travel around the world, but you could also lack the
energy to do so. Or, perhaps you’ve finally decided to take those French
classes you’ve always wanted, but focusing on grammar and memorizing new words
is much harder in your 60s than it would have been in your 30s. This doesn’t
mean you should give up on your dream of finally seeing Paris though; start
thinking about your health in advance and make sure that you are as healthy as
you can be at any point in life. Exercise, eat well, play games that improve
and maintain your brain function, and you will be able to use the free time you get when you retire much more
efficiently.
Finances
The finances might be one of the
biggest worries when it comes to retiring. After all the traveling and treating
yourself to celebrate your newly gained “freedom”, will you have enough money
for a comfortable life? Many retirees today are living on a bare minimum and
hardly making ends meet just because they haven’t prepared well, so it’s
definitely something you should think about before you retire.
There are many online tools that can
help you calculate your income, organize your finances, and save up for the
future. Besides your basic income, you should also take into account any
potential debts, valuable assets, and your social security. For example, when
speaking of social security, you should think about when you will want to
collect it since the amount you get varies depending on when you decide to use
it.
Plus, since your resources will
naturally diminish, you should also consider investing in a skill that you will
be able to use even after you retire. Such a skill can not only become a source
of income, but it can also offer you something to look forward to and dedicate
your time to.
Loneliness
Even if you find yourself enjoying
your life in one of the amazing luxury retirement homes, the chances are that you will
still miss your family and friends once your job no longer gets you out of your
home every day. Plus, as much as we all hate thinking about it, the fact is
that the older we are, the fewer friends we have – some pass on before us, some
become estranged, some are too busy to socialize, and some are simply too far
to reach. The same goes for our family members – most of them are too busy
taking care of the youngest family members to even think about the oldest.
That being said, there are always
ways to connect and reconnect with your loved ones, and as a retiree, you
should have plenty of time for that. Make use of technology and learn how to
Skype, arrange fun events with your grandchildren, and catch up with your old
friends, even if it’s just for a coffee once every few months. Once you get
old, quality conversations are one of the best things you can have, so find
people with whom you can share your thoughts and experiences – and listen to
theirs.
Goals
As you reach a certain age, it’s
inevitable to start thinking about what you’ve achieved in life – and what you
haven’t. One of the scariest thoughts any person can have is thinking about the
person they could have been if they haven’t made certain mistakes or passed on
certain opportunities because they thought there will always be “next time”.
This is why the most important thing to do when you reach a certain age is
accepting yourself. There is no point in thinking about the past when you can’t
change it, and you will still have plenty of time to work on yourself when you retire. Anything is
possible if you put your mind to it, so don’t get discouraged.
As long as you are able and willing,
you can keep learning new things, seeing new places, and meeting new people.
Therefore, regardless of how close you are to your retirement, keep in mind
that the only true way to be happy with who you are is to let go of your past
mistakes and start enjoying your present.
As relaxing and liberating as it
might sound, retirement is a period that comes with certain worries in terms of
finances, health, redefining one’s identity, and socializing. This is why it’s
important to think in advance and be well prepared for this change of
lifestyle. If you stay positive, motivated, and healthy, you can rest assured
that your retirement will be one of the most enjoyable periods of your life.
Goals
As you reach a certain age, it’s
inevitable to start thinking about what you’ve achieved in life – and what you
haven’t. One of the scariest thoughts any person can have is thinking about the
person they could have been if they haven’t made certain mistakes or passed on
certain opportunities because they thought there will always be “next time”.
This is why the most important thing to do when you reach a certain age is
accepting yourself. There is no point in thinking about the past when you can’t
change it, and you will still have plenty of time to work on yourself when you retire. Anything is
possible if you put your mind to it, so don’t get discouraged.
As long as you are able and willing,
you can keep learning new things, seeing new places, and meeting new people.
Therefore, regardless of how close you are to your retirement, keep in mind
that the only true way to be happy with who you are is to let go of your past
mistakes and start enjoying your present.
As relaxing and liberating as it
might sound, retirement is a period that comes with certain worries in terms of
finances, health, redefining one’s identity, and socializing. This is why it’s
important to think in advance and be well prepared for this change of
lifestyle. If you stay positive, motivated, and healthy, you can rest assured
that your retirement will be one of the most enjoyable periods of your life.
