Retirement Transition Can Be Tougher Than You Think

While working, retirement may seem like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but beware, there is a leprechaun guarding that pot of gold. Dreams of the panacea of finally getting out of Corporate America can blind you to the realities you will face. Sure not having to answer to a boss or a clock is great, but the sudden lack of routine can be jarring for many. I have spoken to a lot of retirees and their spouses who express boredom or lack of direction. Doing nothing is great, and I encourage it – for a while – as you let your brain transition to your new mode of life.

Without purpose though, day to day life can become a grind and lead to anxiety and even depression. Both are common in retirees, particularly for us type-A ones. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for retirement. I’m not talking about having the next X years of your life laid out in a spreadsheet (though we have a project manager friend who may do that). Just having an idea of what you would like to do now that you are free can be enough to re-energize you in this next phase of life.

As I’ve written before, I took a couple of months to just be. Other than my workouts, riding my bike, and playing disc golf, no schedule or clock watching. Even with those activities, thanks to Covid restricting me to solo excursions for the most part, my energy began to fade. That’s when the idea to create this blog hit me. After 35 years of mostly product and project management it was time to try my hand at writing, something I have always enjoyed. And I needed to learn new skills to setup a website and get myself online – a boost for my brain. Almost two years later I have re-branded myself as a Retirement Lifestyle Writer. Something I never thought of – or knew could exist – until I did it. Opening that door has led to a few writing projects and some potential projects that I hadn’t considered before, and has provided mental stimulation and fresh energy.

Besides potential boredom and aimlessness, there is the financial adjustment. It’s a bit scary to be drawing on your own money now instead of getting a paycheck from your company. That can lead to anxiety and stress and is a big reason for my recommendation in earlier posts to start planning with a financial advisor well before your target retirement date. Sure, emergencies and unexpected events and expenses will occur, but having a solid financial plan in place will help reduce the impact and stress. There’s also the issue of health insurance prior to hitting eligibility age for Medicare. That’s a huge expense, but again, planning ahead can help to ease the burden, and the stress.

Finally, the people aspect. Covid not withstanding, it may be harder to get together with friends now if they are still working. You’ve got every day free while they are at work at least a few days a week so schedules may not synch like they did before so you likely have a gap to fill. This is where activities can help. Getting out to do things provides the opportunity to meet new people and maybe even make new friends. For me, going to our local brewery and sitting at the bar always provides the opportunity to talk to people, sometimes friends we’ve met there, and other times new people. Look for opportunities to meet knew people while doing things you enjoy.

Making the most of retirement is what you worked so long for. Treating it as a transition to the next phase of life and having an idea of what that looks like for you will get you there. Allow yourself time to adjust and detox, then get on with life. What do you like to do? Now go do it!

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 3-21-2022