Retirement can be a strange time for many people. Although many of us might be looking forward to having more time on our hands and fewer professional responsibilities to distract us from doing all the things we actually want to do, these same pros might in turn become a cause for concern.
For many people, transitioning into retirement can actually be stressful, as the idea of suddenly having all of this time available after years of working a regular job can be daunting, to say the least. However, with the right approach, you can ensure that your transition into retirement is as seamless as possible, and that you are ready for this important moment in your life when it eventually arrives.
And contrary to popular belief, there’s a lot more involved with organising your transition into retirement than finding all the best retirement villages in Sydney, although finding the perfect setting for your golden years is particularly important. In order to feel adequately prepared, however, you need to consider what you’ll need to feel mentally, emotionally and financially ready for this new phase of your life.
Let’s take a look at some useful tips that will help you transition into your years in retirement with minimal fuss.
Focus On Building Relationships
If you are used to balancing your work relationships and your personal relationships, you will likely already have a great social life. For many people, however, their social life revolves around the office or around their workplace, and it’s clear to see why. Outside of your family life at home, work is where most people spend the majority of the rest of their time.
While your favourite coworkers are an important part of your life, it’s important to remember that once you retire, you likely won’t be able to see these familiar faces as much as you used to.
That’s exactly why it’s well worth investing time into your own personal relationships as you prepare for your transition into retirement. After all, cultivating a strong social circle for yourself to help you fill up your first few weeks or months in retirement.
In the beginning, it might take a little work as you will need to arrange to meet people for coffee, to go for a walk or to hang out. But rest assured with a little effort, you can maintain a busy and fulfilling social life as a senior.
Sort Out Your Finances Well Ahead of Time
Hands down, one of the most confusing aspects of transitioning into your retirement is simply understanding what your weekly budget is likely to look like, and figuring out whether or not you can continue to maintain the same spending habits you developed over the course of your professional life. The fact of the matter is that you can’t be 100% certain what your budget as a retiree is going to look like until your transition is complete. That is of course, unless you meet with a financial advisor or other financial specialist.
We recommend that seniors seek professional assistance with outlining their budget in the weeks leading up to their final day at work. That way, you can have a clearer understanding of your finances well ahead of time, taking a lot of the preliminary confusion out of your first few weeks in retirement.
If you’d rather not speak with a financial services professional and would instead like to have a go at building your own budget, then there are still an abundance of resources you can use to help you achieve this goal, including Moneysmart’s retirement planner calculator, as well as free financial counselling resources provided by Services Australia in partnership with the National Debt Helpline.
Speak With A Therapist
Even if you’re not feeling overly anxious about your transition into retirement, it can still be highly beneficial for new retirees to get themselves a mental health plan from their GP and schedule some sessions with a therapist. Therapy can help you make absolutely certain that you’re talking through all of your concerns, your excitements, and all the other emotions you may feel in the lead-up to this big life change.
The ideas you explore in therapy can also act as touchpoints for you throughout your first few weeks. For instance, if you’ve spoken to your therapist about feeling excited to use your time in particular ways, then you’re more likely to take note of when you practice those discussed activities and generally also how you use your time.
Discover New Ways To Spend Your Time
One of the best things about retirement is finally having time to do all of those things that you never had time for when you were working. Finding new ways to spend your time can often be overwhelming in the beginning as there are so many options available to you.
While some people decide to pick up a new sport or hobby or perhaps improve on their existing skill, others humble themselves by taking up brand new pastimes that they can pursue and dedicate themselves to going forward. Perhaps you always wanted to learn to play the saxophone or learn to paint. Or maybe you want to finally sort out the flower beds in the front garden or work on your golf game!
Whatever the case may be, having a plan as to how you are going to spend your time in retirement is key. With a solid plan in place and lots of goals, you can ensure that you stay motivated and excited about the road ahead and all of the possibilities that are in front of you.
Make The Transition To Retirement As Smooth As Possible
Although the prospect of retiring can be daunting in an immediate sense, having a plan in place about how you are going to spend your time and making efforts to invest in both yourself and your friends and loved ones, will all help to make this transition as seamless as possible. With the right approach to your retirement, you can ensure that you make the most of your golden years and enjoy every moment of retired life.
