Have your work years been filled with retirement dreams? Fantasizing about not having to work another day in your life? Being able to travel more, spend time with those you love, contribute your time and energy to causes that matter most to you instead of your boss or the business? Or perhaps you want to learn a foreign language, write a book, or start your own business.
The opportunities are as limitless as your retirement dreams. I hope you use these months of COVID-19 quarantine to explore the kinds of activities and interests that will create meaning in your retirement. You can do research even if you can’t physically travel or gather in large groups. For other choices, you can begin to slowly incorporate your desired activities into your day, week, or month. It’s the perfect time to initiate family discussions about your retirement dreams and your transition to retirement.
If you have already retired, are you following your retirement dreams? Are you fulfilling your talents, interests, and passions? Are you following a retirement planning strategy?
As things open back up in our communities and states, continue to explore your retirement options, keeping in mind your current family and work situation and your dreams, which are uniquely yours. To do this:
• Reflect on your retirement dreams for at least 30 uninterrupted minutes. What have you always wanted to do and never done?
• Read an article I published on LinkedIn in 2016 that can still help you today: “A Time Of Uncertainty—A Challenge To Retirement Planning”
• Establish a sounding board of people you trust and find positive and supportive, then share your ideas and plans with them.
• Include others (your spouse or significant other if you are married, your family and friends if you are single) in exploring retirement options.
• Research your ideas: moving, recareering, trips, volunteering, etc. Is it what you expected? Is it a good fit for you? What can you do to make this a reality?
Your retirement dreams and the time you invest in them are precious commodities. Don’t take either for granted. Invest in yourself and your future wisely.