Balance in retirement is more important than the style of retirement you choose. It can be the key to your happiness.
Best-Kept Secret
Even though our generation is thriving as we age, there’s a reality that begins to set in over time. That reality is we really don’t have to or don’t want to work as hard as we used to. Take a deep breath and realize that it’s okay at this time in your life to push the pause button and slow the pace for a while. Just be careful you don’t push the stop button by mistake. Pausing or slowing down is a reality that few of us might be willing to admit to. I’ll be the first to confess that I don’t have the same drive that I used to have, but I do still have similar interests. Maybe this is because I’ve always lived my life in overdrive. I’ll bet you can relate to at least a portion of this mindset.
As I help my clients, many of whom are still working, I am thoughtful about “walking my talk” as I support them in creating a healthy work/life balance. As a generation, we have worked long and hard in our lives and need to allow ourselves more time for family, friends, reading a book, napping, taking that dream trip, starting a new hobby or sport, working part-time, launching a business, or volunteering. We can all strive to find a healthier pace for ourselves.
Finding Your Own Balance In Retirement
Previously, I contrasted my father’s retirement with today’s retirement in “Retirement then and now—what has changed?” I’ve come to understand there are no absolutes. We’re all so different! Some of us are introverts and some of us are extroverts. Some of us want to be out and about and others are homebodies. Some of us have many more interests than others. Retirement is not a one-size-fits-all process. You have to design your retirement life just like a fine tailor or dressmaker would customize a suit or gown for you. The selection of the material as well as the style of the cut and specific measurements are personal to you and will only look good on YOU and fit YOU well.
While no one can tell you what your retirement should look like, there are some general principles that you need to keep in mind as you create balance in retirement and your dream retirement lifestyle:
• Staying engaged socially and intellectually is very important to a retiree’s sense of well-being. We all need other people in our lives in order to thrive.
• Being physically active is clearly important to slowing the aging process and minimizing the impact that disease will have on our bodies.
• Learning new skills and challenging yourself or adding to what you already know will keep you cognitively sharp. Using your skills in the engagement process will be valuable to others as well, especially because it comes with your well-developed wisdom.
• The best leisure activities will reflect your values
• A final thought. My dad died in 2014, two days shy of his 96th birthday, after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. My greatest regret for him was that he didn’t use his extensive education, skills, and talents after he retired. I wonder if he had been more socially and intellectually engaged whether he would have maintained his memory for a longer period of time. Unfortunately, we will never know. We do feel blessed that he lived a great life and we had him for so long.
What will you change to create more balance in your retirement lifestyle?