Have you ever talked to someone who was thinking of retiring. Some people act like retirement is like accepting a death sentence. For some people, the work ethic is so strong that the idea of not working is frightening and causes a lot of stress. A big part of planning for retirement involves getting emotionally ready for the change in lifestyle. Hopefully, there won’t be a shock when you become a person of leisure and don’t have to go to work.
If we don’t want a lot of shock when we leave the high pressure world of work for the low pressure world of retirement we need to make a plan and the work the plan. Being prepared will eliminate a lot of the shock of retirement.
You should start well before the retirement party. The worst thing you can do is wake up on the first day of your retired life with nothing to do. It’s natural for a feeling of emptiness and loneliness to set in because you miss going to work if you have made no plans for filling the hours and days that lay ahead when you become a retired person.
Another way to cope with the shock of retirement is to ease into it slowly. Continue to work in your profession, but at a reduced pace. It may be possible to work part-time or do some consulting that may make your transition out of the work force and into retirement a success.
Retirement is a time when you can travel and spend more time with family and friends or doing whatever you want. A lot of us want to be able to spend more time with family. You can enjoy getting to know your grandchildren better and maybe being a kid with them for an afternoon as well.
Another way to cope with retirement shock is to volunteer your time or service. Volunteerism is on the rise again and can be a great way to fill some of the time you now have on your hands. By helping other people or working on causes you like, you can make a real difference in the lives of others. You can meet many wonderful people and make new friends while volunteering. This should help keep you young and overcome stress that can be a big problem when you enter your retirement years unprepared.
Another thing that can help reduce retirement shock is a hobby that occupies your mind and keeps your hands busy. Everyone has something that they enjoy doing. Woodworking, building models, gardening, crocheting, and knitting are examples of hobbies that work and can lead to extra money that may be needed as retirement income.
If you’re interested in finding out more ways to relieve stress, check out the e-book called “Conquering Stress – Get Your Life Back”. It’s a cheap way to get insight into what causes stress and how to cope with it. It worked for me.
What ever you do, get excited about this new phase of life and the things that lie ahead of you in retirement. The journey makes the trip worthwhile.
