If you’ve spent your life building your career, nearing retirement can be a very scary thing. While you might welcome a change of pace and be excited for less stress in your life, such a big difference can also be hard to cope with. But since you can always see your retirement coming, you can prepare for this event, even if it means planning for your life in an assisted living facility or getting yourself ready financially.
To help you with the more sentimental parts of this, here are three ways professionals should prepare emotionally for retirement.
Be Ready For A Tough Transition
Although you may recognize that you deserve a break after so many decades of working, making the transition from professional to retiree can be difficult.
According to Sharon Jayson, a contributor to AARP, most people say that the first 18 months of retirement are the hardest. During this time, recent retirees are simply trying to figure out what their lives are like now that they don’t have to go to work anymore and can’t rely on the paycheck they once were getting. But once you get past this stage, the level of happiness that retirees experience rising drastically, so try to stick it out as best you can until then. Another tough transition might be planning for any future care you may need, whether that’s how you are going to save enough money for this or researching providers like https://www.careforfamily.com.au/ so that you know who you may wish to get in contact with, should you need their services.
Plan For Your Purpose
To make this transition easier on you, what you really need to do is find some other purpose in your life outside of the career that you had before you retired.
Some options you might want to consider, according to Alessandra Malito, a contributor to Market Watch, could include things like volunteering, becoming a freelancer or consultant, spending time with your loved ones or family members, or taking up a new hobby that means something to you. Anything that can help you to focus your time and attention in a positive direction that gives meaning and purpose to your life will be extremely beneficial.
While you are thinking about this, you may also wish to think about what will happen to things like your finances once you have passed on, and how you are going to make sure that your family won’t have to worry about covering things like your funeral and any outstanding personal expenses. This is where having a good life insurance policy in place can really help, so it’s worth looking online to learn more about what your options are when it comes to this, and how to go about getting yourself covered.
Find A Way To Be Social
A big part of life that seems to be missing once someone retires is the social interaction that they once got through working.
To combat this void, Ron Carson, a contributor to CNBC.com, suggests that you try to join a club or group where you can meet with like-minded people to do something you enjoy. Even if it’s just once every now and then, continuing to be social is helpful for all retirees, even if you might feel like you don’t miss this aspect of working as much as others may. The last thing you want when you retire is to be lonely, but as your mobility starts to reduce, it can get harder and harder to go out and see people. Luckily, there are options like senior assisted living where you can live with your friends and make new friends, all whilst being supported by helpful staff that you can chat to and get to know better each day.
If you’re worried about how you’ll handle being retired, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare mentally and emotionally for this new stage in your life.
Can’t get enough of MiddleMe? You can find me sharing my thoughts here as well:
Instagram @kallymiddleme
Twitter (MiddleMe_net)
FaceBook (MiddleMe.net)
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kallytay
Best things in life are meant to be shared, start spreading MiddleMe around, after all, sharing is caring.
MiddleMe 
Great advice! I’m hoping to transition my husband into retirement over the next couple of years.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Sheree. Good luck to your husband!
LikeLiked by 2 people
😎
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for that, I have my plans socially, fitness wise and working wise projects…. I think I won’t run out of stuff to do. Planning is all!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good for you, Ute. You are a role model of what retirement should look like!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Damn. And here I am counting down the 35 years I still have to go xD. This is a transition I know I’m gonna be awesome at 😅😳
LikeLiked by 5 people
Haha. Don’t be too sure. I was so sure that I’ll be happy to take a long break. I didn’t last more than 3 months before I’m screaming bored!
LikeLike
Excellent, and totally to the point. I’m still trying to figure, but the pandemic isn’t helping…
LikeLiked by 5 people
Take your time to think and mull on it, Bea. You have all the time in the world. Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can it help to do the retirement gradualy. May be by starting part time first and building work off and retirement up?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Definitely, Raymond. So even go into a quirky dream job of yours part time. Like a barista or a bartender. Something fun.
LikeLike
“Retirement isthe silver-golden age
of joy, happiness, and relaxation
the ultimate vaction
to be carefree as when you werea child.”
_-Van Prince
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well quote, Van Prince! Love it.
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLike
Excellent and again very timely. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much, Bryan. Have a wonderful weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good advice, Kally.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Glad you like it, Janet.
LikeLike
Wondering if my “complaint” of being a septuagenarian prompted this post!?? 😉
Good advice for future retirees!
Actually have enjoyed the first year of real retirement; I finished my last house in 2016, but kept Alliance Builders for another three years, closing it in Dec, 2019.
The Wuhan Virus lockdowns have been comforting to me; less busy, more time for blogging, longer walks with my “bride” of 31 years. Still looking for excuses to NOT clean my basement! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
You definitely play a part and inspire this post. Lol! But mostly, I was thinking of how I should plan for my retirement. Probably won’t be able to do it until after I’m 60!
LikeLike
Yet another priceless bit of advice.
Thank YOU my friend Kally
I retired at 62 (some 14 years ago); and transition really was not much of an issue. I had already long been involved in teaching my beloved Catholic Faith, so I just increased the scope of what I had been doing.
So even now Between Co-teach RCIA (Rights of Initiation for Adults); and my FREE to anyone interested Catholic Home Study Course; which I E-Mail each week: Building Blocks of The Catholic Faith….
Just contact Me at patrickmiron66@hotmail.com
It hasn’t been a issue for me,
God Bless,
Patrick
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good to hear that you have a steady mission, a calling to fulfill, Patrick. Stay special and stay healthy, dear friend.
LikeLike
Dear Kally, after retirement it took me one and a half years of uneasiness and strong feelings of loss – and then I got seriously ill (cancer). It took me another one and a half years to get healed again and then I understood that being alive and thankful for that is decisive. The painful and difficult illness startet in 2009. Since 2011, I haven’t stopped enjoying life. Thank you for your interesting posts. I enjoy reading them. Love from Elisa
P.S. The man on your photo is probably 80 years old!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Big hugs, Elisa. I’m glad that you are enjoying life and as well as my posts. You are such a good supportive reader. Well, even at 80 years old, one is never too old to enjoy life to its fullest!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Kally, you’re right, of course. It just didn’t seem to match the subject. Big hugs, Elisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
My only emotional attachment is the dignity of work. I don’t know how difficult it’ll be overcoming that, but I think I could learn to love being shameless. Lol.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh well, you can try your hand at freelancing. Behind the screen, nobody will know who you are and how you look anyways.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry I’m not sure I follow?
But you know you are fast! I think that you’ve revealed the ultimate secret of success, being fast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! First time, someone told me I’m fast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a trailblazer! Ok sorry I’ll stop commenting now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! Stay well, Tiege. You’re hilarious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s right, a great piece of advice. I’ve witnessed 3 big changes and even more exists which I am not aware, type writers are missing, ledger maintaining accountants, people that failed to adapt the changes. Big transition occurs very frequently and if we don’t adapt into that changes, future will definitely be more scary. In the end, it’s all about money, save when you can, also have fun, focus on needs and not what you want. Wanting is the only reason why majority of people with zero account balance. It can go on.. Like you said, it’s all in planning and adapting into the changes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for contributing your thoughts, Simon! How have you been? Still enjoying your job?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m good. I like the job and I’ll take it positively for the opportunity. I always believe the one that adapts into changes can survive. I am not doing the job I supposed to do, I have joined for a different purpose and doing a different portfolio and still loving it 😊. tough time recent days, lost my FIL, lost my diet and unexpected weight increase and now back to workout, things are getting better. all is well. 🤗 Thanks for not forgetting me Kally 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
My sincere condolences to your loss of FIL. As for your diet and increased weight, you are not alone. I think it is the effect of lockdown and not enough exercises. I’m glad you hear that your days are getting better. Do push on! You will achieve your goals if you set your mind to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am on it 😎Thank you for the advice the Kally ✨ Yes, increased weight is due to lack of workout and closed gym 😁 and back to workout these days, getting back to my new role again from Thursday 😊👍 Sure will stick to my goals with my MIND 😎 👍 Have a lovely week 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you need help to stay focus, you can go to https://chape.fitness/. He is a fitness guru and a MiddleMe loyal follower. You can check out his website.
LikeLike
So kind of you 🤗. I’ll check out right away ✨
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems this piece of advice is for me, Thanks Kally for your great work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your comment and welcome to MiddleMe.
LikeLike
Yes Kally the transition is a difficult process initially but once you settle in the groove then it is worth enjoying. Keep enlightening 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your support, Parveen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the mistake a lot of people make is to view “retirement” as an older-aged jump from one lifestyle to another as opposed to a transition to “self occupation”. If you think about what you would want to do if money wasn’t an obstacle, that’s probably a better way to look at things. Retirement isn’t about a particular age; it’s just a matter of the point at which one can match financial need to income while doing something personally rewarding, and that’s something different for everyone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said! Plus I think the instant change of lifestyle is just too much for most of us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Retirement is a two side coin:
1. When you qualify for retirement do to age;
2. When you accumulate enough finance to retire regardless of age!!”
_-Van Prince
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wise words! Thank you Van Prince! Stay safe and take care.
LikeLike
Thank you as well and God is continuing to bless you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent tips Kally . Depending upon the person’s financial status a light job or a fulltime can be picked-up. On weekends it’s good to to do social service and pay back to society even if its a modest.
Thanks and cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dilip! Stay safe and take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You very Helpful tips
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Shishiveni for visiting and commenting! Have a wonderful sweet Sunday.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on worldtraveller70.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I started planning my retirement 26 moths out. I already had a lot of hobbies ad pursuits, reasons to get up every day. I planned a 7 1/2 week trip right after retirement, came back inn the depths of winter and threw myself into home improvement projects for the next 6 months. I soon realized I was treating retirement as a job ad in August, packed up the tools and started enjoying my time, reading more, exercising more, hiking, walking, biking and got more into my photography. It has bee a great 6 years. Cheers. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! I need to follow your footsteps when I retire too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a very helpful post for the young at heart that will be retiring early, exactly, and late. Best to keep this saved. Thanks for this Ms. Kally
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Lori. Hope you are having a nice weekend.
LikeLike
When I retired I became an active volunteer in a couple of organizations in our community. I also started traveling and writing about my travels for my blog and local publications. Keeping busy is the key to happy retirement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely agree with you. Thank you very much, Bev. Hope you are having a nice weekend.
LikeLike
I would make one other suggestion: private disability insurance. I did not expect to be forced into early retirement by health issues. That, however, was the case. The private disability coverage I had purchased in response to an earlier health crisis was an enormous help financially.
In the US, Social Security Disability — paid for by taxes on earnings — is available to all employees. But such disability payments are lower than the earnings on which they are based.
Private disability insurance must be purchased separately, and paid for out of pocket. For that reason though, benefits are not taxable. The additional income private disability insurance provided allowed me to maintain my standard of living when illness struck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful advice, Anna. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Medical bill can take out a huge chunk of our retirement savings, if not everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same to you Ms. Kally.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great insight. Many individuals have a idea of retirement, but find reality to be totally different. I I think you and our readers will enjoy my post “Retirement Guidance”
https://reallifeofanmsw.com/2020/02/15/retirement-guidance/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. Have an awesome week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are some of the great tips! These can help many folks who are nearing retirement. I have heard of some people who become very depressed and start having mental issues after retirement. Yet if someone has planned before, one can overcome these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. Have an amazing day today. Smile and stay sane.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Tips. Thanks for the Advice… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much and have a wonderful weekend. Stay safe and take care.
LikeLike