Introduction
I officially retired in May 2021. Since I had a lot of leave balance, I managed to take my leave in March 2021 prior to my retirement. This means that I have been not working for the past 5 months. With the Covid 19 pandemic and all the restrictions imposed during the lockdown, my plans for retirement had been turned upside down. I had actually wanted to do more traveling which is impossible at the present moment.
Adjusting to retirement from a full-time job is tough. In some instances, people even suffered from anxiety and depression after they have retired. I hope that these seven tips will make the adjustment easier.
1. You Will Go Through Emotional Stages
When it comes to adjusting to retirement, most people go through an emotional process. There's a sense of liberation at first. It's as though you're on a vacation that will never end.
However, the novelty will wear off, and you will settle into a slower pace of life. Once that happens, it may be followed by anxiousness and boredom. You may even feel guilty for not taking advantage of retirement as much as you should.
Allow yourself to feel a wide spectrum of emotions, regardless of what they are. Find healthy techniques to cope with your emotions. For me, I find that writing and going for brisk walks help me cope with my emotions.
2. Your Days Should Be Organized
You had your morning routine before retiring: alarm goes off, shower, breakfast, pack a lunch, and head out the door. There will undoubtedly be a similar structure to the end of your days.
If you thrive on routines, you might want to create a retirement routine to help you arrange your days. Experiment with different activities and time windows to observe how you react.
Schedule time to read the newspaper and drink a cup of coffee, but also schedule time for exercise, social events, charity work, and family meals. While your days don't have to be regimented, having a consistent wake-up hour is beneficial. Having a routine although you are not working will give you a sense of normalcy and gives structure to your day.
3. Keep in Touch
At any age, social ties are critical. However, research has shown that as we become older, feelings of connectedness become even more vital. Unfortunately, retirement forces older people to leave the workplace, where they had spent years cultivating connections and ties with coworkers. Though you may not be able to catch up with coworkers over a cup of coffee in the break room, you can take use of your newfound free time to form friendships with your neighbours and peers. Attend events and activities provided by your city, local park district, community library, or senior centre to make new friends and reconnect with peers.
4. Fill Your Day With Activities That You Like
Now that you've established your retirement daily routine, you can begin incorporating scheduled activities. Meet up with friends for a morning walk in the gardens near your home, enrol in a photography class with your local park district, or create a neighbourhood book club.
A calendar that isn't too full will keep you engaged without being too demanding. You'll also have the opportunity to make new friends and strengthen old ones. Take retirement as an opportunity to keep yourself busy with activities that you enjoy doing.
5. Make Small Goals
Meeting milestones, such as meeting deadlines, completing projects, or receiving a promotion, were all part of your pre-retirement existence. After you retire, you can still focus on your goals, though they may be a little different than they were before. Working on objectives might offer you a sense of direction. And doing new tasks might provide a sense of accomplishment.
Consider what milestones you'd like to achieve in the first month, six months, or a year after retiring, and write them down. Do you wish to exercise more and lose weight? Considering a trip overseas? How about starting a blog? The possibilities are endless. For me, the process of setting goals is an enjoyable activity by itself.
6. Allow yourself the freedom to figure it out.
You may believe that you want to spend your retirement drawing, learning a second language, and dancing, only to discover that spending so much time at home does not provide you with the lifestyle you desire. You finally have time to explore with what you actually want after 30 years in the workplace.
There are numerous options for how you can spend your time. And, thankfully, you don't have to figure it all out right now. It will most likely take some trial and error to achieve the perfect mix of how you want to spend your time. If you wish to keep busier, you can always increase your social activities or create new hobbies later.
The beauty of retiring is that you'll have plenty of chances to try new things. It's entirely up to you to create the kind of day—and life—you want to live.
7. Get Professional Help
Finally, if financial worries in retirement keep you awake at night, schedule monthly meetings with your financial planner. You can seek their counsel before making any important decisions, giving you peace of mind while making large purchases or investments.
Conclusion
I hope that members of the silver bloggers will enjoy their retirement. After working so hard our entire lives, we certainly deserve to enoy our retirement. I am sure that a lot of members here will have their own tips. Do share with us.
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Do check out my previous posts.
7 Strategies To Overcome Demotivation
The Dangers Of Living Under A Flight Path
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