Lately, I've been thinking a lot about retirement, like most people who have been working for a while. Though I still have some bit of time before I need to retire, it's good to start thinking about it early. Financial advisors say it's best to start planning for retirement when you start working. Although money is a big part of retirement, I won't focus on that in this article.
Here are some things I've been thinking about that I think are worth sharing to also challenge your thinking.
1. How will I stay active after I retire?
It's important to have some stress in life to keep you motivated. Retiring to spend your days relaxing isn't realistic. After a few months, you’ll start feeling tired and lonely, and your mental and physical health might start taking a beating. It's important to find activities beyond work now that will keep you busy and healthy by giving you some challenges. It's best to figure this out while you still have energy and time to try different things.
2. How can I keep a community around me after I retire?
Human beings are communal beings; despite the different temperaments that we all have, we all seek to have a community around us, whether actively or not. If you're thinking about retiring to a quiet place in your village, it's important to think about the people that will surround you. My grandma is a great example. She's 98 and still active with friends and actively stays involved in her community by visiting the sick in hospitals and at home through the local church. Also, remember, you're influenced by the people you spend the most time with. Who shall these people be?
3. Many of us dream of traveling when we retire, but we don't always plan for it.
Sometimes, health issues can get in the way. How can I take care of my health now so that I may enjoy traveling later? Most times, we focus on the financial aspect but forget that we need to be healthy to do travel. We’re all familiar with age-related challenges that come due to age and inactivity. How are you working towards ensuring the same doesn’t catch up with you, especially the challenges that are within your control?
4. Leaving a legacy is important to most of us.
I may not leave behind a lot of money, but I want to pass down values and wisdom to future generations. What shall I leave behind that will outlive me?
5. What will give me my life purpose after I retire?
Right now, I look forward to weekends, to holidays, and to meeting work goals. But that will change after retirement. What can I do to stay motivated and excited about life? I’ll need to have a different purpose that I can pursue. A purpose that’s in my control and not fully reliant on others. What’s the one thing that I can keep doing even after retirement to impact the society around me?
6. How can I stay close to my children after I retire?
I want to be more than just someone they have to visit. I want to be someone they want to spend time with. What can I do to be a positive presence in their lives? Of what value do I want to be when they get caught up in the grind of life? How can I help them out?
7. What new goals and dreams can I have after I retire?
Most of my life has been about work goals, children, and their growth and achievements. After retirement, I'll need new things to look forward to. My kids will be grown, and hopefully happy in their careers and families. What then?
These are just some of the questions I've been thinking about. I don't have the answers, at least not fully, but I'm trying to figure them out. I don’t want to get caught up by surprise by what we already know is coming, God willing. What about you? What questions are you asking yourself about retirement?
