Challenges of defining the new you as you evolve in retirement.
When you think of retirement you may think only of “the new”. New hobbies, new friends, even new destinations may come to mind.
One thing to keep at the forefront is this perfect opportunity for reflection. With this new chapter in your life you are able to reassess your priorities.
Ask yourself, What do I care about in my life? This can be a person, a hobby, maybe even your favorite book. You know, the one with the worn pages and spit spine from the many times you’ve read it.
Now that you’ve thought of a few answers, think about those items that did not make the list. Keep in mind those items as you continue reading.
While financial impact assessment is an important step in the retirement planning stage, something that gets left out completely is the emotional impact retirement can have. Three things you should consider are:
- Identify your support system- Who do you have in your life that you can count on? Who just came to mind that you definitely can not count on in an emergency situation?
It is important to take inventory of the people in your life, especially since these are the people that would be helping you combat loneliness in retirement.
- Explore options to build new relationships- You may get along great with people you work with! Have you stopped to assess what that will look like when you no longer work together?
Think about your favorite coworker, have you ever hung out outside of work? If the answer is no, ask yourself, What will that relationship look like now that we will no longer see eachother everyday?
You still need connection in retirement and it is perfectly fine to replace those relationships that are ending. There are many ways to meet new people in retirement such as taking a public fitness class, an enrichment class, or even volunteering. Get comfortable chatting up folks before or after class and then when you are ready, propose a group coffee or meal. - Plan what your days will look like- Don’t guess what you are going to do in retirement. This can lead to a lot of uncertainty and wasted time. Be mindful of how you want to spend your time and stick to it.
For many, your identity is tied up in what you do for a living. When you retire you may feel as if you no longer have a purpose in life. It is imperative to shift your focus to all of the opportunities you have now that you are not working and also getting rid of those habits that don’t allow you to be fulfilled.
Remember retirement is about you. Finding your joy as you move on to this next stage and knowing it is okay to let go of the things that aren’t bringing you joy anymore. I’d love to hear about the new exciting things you’re planning for retirement in the comments below.
