Retirement Reimagined - Beyond the Financials
For those who are getting ready to retire, if you could remove the financial aspect entirely, are you more looking forward to what you’ll be doing every day in retirement, or are you just desperate to stop doing what you’re doing now?
Most of us spend decades preparing for the financial side of retirement, maybe thinking that packing our retirement accounts will give us free time that all that free time means more happiness. But people who retire, even with a comfortable nest egg, actually increase their probability of depression by 40%.
Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Retirement is Challenging
I’ve been retired for nearly two years now, so – not long. And I’m active in the outdoors with hiking and backpacking. There are many reasons for why I’m as active as I am. One of those reasons is that it was part of how I reimagined retirement. It’s part of my process for unlocking the best years of my life.
For many people retirement is challenging.
Two thirds of those who retire become bored within the first year; about a third after only three months. And among those who return to work after they retire, over 40% say they did so because they were bored. They had too much unstructured time, loss of a daily routine, a sudden void of social contact, or in this new life they felt demotivated.
Many people, without their job, lose their purpose and within the first six years of retirement, their quality of life diminishes by 10% and it also increases mortality risks by 10%. Our jobs often provide an automatic social identity, a sense of utility, and it’s where many people find their personal self-worth. In retirement, all that needs to be replaced.
And for many of us, verbal memory decline accelerates 33% faster in post-retirement. And inactivity in retirement increases the overall risk of dementia by as much as 63%.
We’re very much in a “use it or lose it” space in retirement. Physical activity is absolutely required, because it increases cerebral blood flow and the production of key proteins that nurtures neuron health in the brain. Inactivity does the opposite, accelerating cognitive atrophy. So, all that activity isn’t about building a great physique, it’s about not loosing your mind.
Notice the common message with all of these challenges: staying active and staying motivated in retirement is super important for our overall well being.
But, how do we stay active without a job that keeps us moving all day? What strategies will help us stay physically and mentally active?
Strategy Elements
I love promoting active outdoor lifestyles, for every reason I’ve stated on this website and on my YouTube channel. But, it doesn’t have to be what I do. Choose your own activities. There’s so much we could do; it’s almost limitless. A few ideas:
Pursue hobbies. I recently started woodworking again. It was a hobby I had years ago that I didn’t have much time to do before I retired. I also do gardening and we raise a small flock of chickens. But, I know people whose entire life was centered on their career; it was their life; they never had and still do not have hobbies. For those people I would suggest exploring a little; join retirement groups; do some traveling; or just get online and search for hobby ideas. I guarantee there are at least a few hobbies you would love doing. Do this for you. You’ve taken care of others your whole life. Now, it’s time to take care of you.
Volunteering. Many volunteer organizations are full of retirees. And many organizations are looking for volunteers and would be glad to have you help out. Explore your passions, somewhere in there is a non-profit organization that aligns with your passions and they likely need you. Animal shelters, helping the homeless, faith organizations, veteran’s groups, youth programs, etc.
Continuous learning. For as old and wise as you are, there is still much to learn about the world around you. What are you interested in? Dive deep in it. Join the library or go online to find your favorite topic and loose yourself in it. I’ve known people who went back to finish their degree after they retired.
Maintaining social connections. I’m a home body. Admittedly I don’t have a large group of friends or social connections. BUT recently, while exploring some of my passions, I connected with a group of like-minded people. We get together every couple weeks and I’m using this to expand my social network and stay connected with other people. It’s been good.
It’s Your Turn
I’m pretty sure that I’m not like most people. In my retirement preparation, I purposely planned beyond the financial part of it. My hiking and backpacking, my non-profit involvement, and my hobbies were all part of the plan. And I can tell you I was excited and ready for that retirement day to come. And today, almost two years later, I’m not any less excited than I was the first day. My former working life was a stepping stone. It was a resource and a tool I used to put me where I am today – living a happy, meaningful, and active life. I know many of you love your career, and that’s not bad – but if it’s your life, you should consider that some day it won’t be and you’ll need to fill that void.
Retirement should be a new beginning, not an end. And it should be planned to help you avoid the pitfalls. It should not be spent on a recliner, alone in your house. It should be active physically and mentally, doing things most meaningful to you.
This is what I mean when I say: Go Live Like You Want It
