Many people have a romantic idea of what retirement will be like. Free from the shackles of work, they can do whatever they want . This sense of liberation and independence can be a powerful motivator, but simply escaping the workplace won’t bring happiness. Some people thrive on the spontaneity of knowing they can do whatever they like, but many people find this quite discomforting.
When there’s nothing specific you have to do, it’s easy to end up not doing anything. And doing nothing could be fatal! A US study found people without a strong life purpose were more than twice as likely to die between the years of 2006 and 2010 – when the study was undertaken – compared with people who did have one.
Most people won’t enjoy doing nothing as much as they might like to think. Ever experienced the feeling toward the end of a holiday spent lying on a beach when you begin to feel a little restless? That same feeling can occur in retirement if you let the days pass without purpose.
Consider how you can make retirement more rewarding. Remind yourself of all the things you planned to do in retirement. Make a list and review progress from time to time.
- Take up new activities. Perhaps work in the community, charity work, a new hobby.
- Get fit. The benefits of exercise are well known. Now there’s no excuse for not finding the time to keep fit.
- Keep mentally active. Your brain needs exercise too. Read avidly, take up crosswords, puzzles or Sudoko, learn a new language or enrol on a computer course.
- Build a structure to the day. This doesn’t mean doing the same thing each day, but just having a sense of purpose – a list of things to be achieved from one day to the next.
Most of us are very fortunate. Not only can we look forward to many years spent retired, but also enjoy a great deal of our retirement years in good health.
It’s important to make the most of this opportunity.