The Top 10 Ways To Take the Fear Out of Retiring

1.“What do you mean, you hate to travel?”Have you and your spouse actually sat down and discussed howeach of you envisions retirement? If your dreams are completelyopposite of your spouse’s, both of you are going to bedisappointed. Honestly talk about them before you get the goldwatch. Be creative and open to compromise, so both of yourdreams can come true.2.“You mean, you’re here ALL the time, now?” Spending all this quality time together may seem like awonderful idea, but remember, you both have daily routines, someof which may have been 30 years in the making. Also, you’re notused to spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in each other’scompany. Experienced retirees say this is such a big adjustment,they’d recommend pre-retirement counseling along the lines ofmarriage counseling! Recognize and respect the needs both of youhave for space, as well as each other’s routines. 3.Money matters, and so does peace of mind.If you haven’t already, consult with a financial advisor todiscuss how to best manage your assets for the long haul, aspeople are living longer and longer. Revisit your health andlife insurance policies. Update or write your will, and considera Living Will or Advanced Health Care Directive to help guideyour loved ones through a difficult time.4.Use it or lose it. It’s not just a cliché. Maintaining some l...

...evel of regularphysical exercise, whether it’s walking, gardening, or golf, canhelp improve balance, and retain flexibility. If you feel likeyou need an ejector seat in your Lazy-Boy, start small, butstart, before you solidify! 5.Where did I put my keys?What’s good for the body is good for the mind. Studies haveshown that working your mind is key to staying mentally sharp.Experts recommend a daily crossword puzzle, or a game ofScrabble® along with your vitamins and apple a day.6.Set limits.“Oh, Mom can do that; she’s retired.” Your time doesn’t becomeless valuable once you retire – although others may seem tothink so. There’s nothing wrong with helping out, so long asyou’re not ignoring yourself. Remember to respect your own timeand plans; and soon others will, too. 7.Clean out your closets.As many retirees and empty-nesters downsize into apartments orsmaller homes, they realize that they just don’t have the roomfor everything anymore. Rather than waiting until the lastminute and feeling overwhelmed with the size of the job, startnow and take small bites. Clean out your closets and puttogether a bag for the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Give that oldtable to a college kid, just starting out. Who knows, you mightfind something worth taking on “Antiques Roadshow!” Plus, yourkids will thank you for it.8. “So, what do you ...

...do?”Ever get the feeling that people stop listening once you tellthem you’re retired? One of the hardest parts of retirement lifeis realizing how your job made you feel appreciated, competentand maybe even powerful. Your talents, skills and gifts didn’tevaporate when you walked out the door on your last day. Thefirst step is recognizing what you got out of the job – it wasmore than just having a place to go every day. Step 2 is findingnew outlets for all you have to offer.9.Try something new.Now’s the perfect time to live out that long hidden dream, learna new skill, take a class or pick up that hobby you droppedbecause you just didn’t have the time. If anything seems theleast bit interesting, learn more about it. Become an expert insomething. Learn to cook Indian food. Try Tai Chi. If you don’tlike it, try something else!10.It’s not just about you.As mentioned above, your talents, skills and gifts don’t have alimited shelf life. Consider using them to give back to theworld. Your most valuable asset is your time – and your church,your local volunteer agencies and a whole host of others arewaiting in line. Check out www.volunteermatch.org or check yourlocal paper for something that intrigues you – even if it’scompletely different than anything else you’ve ever done. It’snever too late to start on your personal legacy.