Published on March 21, 2024 | LPL Financial
You are finally retired after a lifetime of hard work, juggling responsibilities, and managing stress. During the pre-retirement phase, you did some planning, excited with the prospect of checking off that long list of all the things you would do once you retired. Then, it arrives, retirement! You initially enter into what new retirees have described as the honeymoon or liberation phase, the second of the five phases of retirement:
The honeymoon phase is just what it sounds like – a time of excitement, euphoria, and freedom from those familiar day-to-day obligations and worries that for years seemed to age you steadily. The idea planted in our minds while working is when it comes time to retire, we will travel to those destinations we dreamt of and talked about in the breakroom all those years. It is a chance to explore new hobbies, focus on getting healthy, and enjoy the company of friends and family members.
More often than you might realize, new retirees face a dilemma when the honeymoon phase rapidly comes to an end, and their pre-conceived perception of a stress-free world of no more having to work, addressing commitments, and managing stress lends itself to monotony, a thirst for purpose, and boredom.
As you leave the honeymoon phase, you may soon feel disillusioned. You are now entering into what is called “The disenchantment phase.” This is not an uncommon experience for many freshly retired people. You start feeling dispirited with retirement life.
How is that possible after looking forward to retirement for so many years?
Albert Einstein once said, “Everything is relative.” How you see the world depends on the context in which you live, your perspective, upbringing, and your point of view, and people tend to get used to certain lifestyles. Once the initial excitement wears off, disenchantment can become a factor.
Here are six tips to help you reinvest in yourself and refire your retirement:
New retirees will enjoy their newfound retirement doing the things they have always wanted to do, including traveling and sleeping in. After a while, this lifestyle could become redundant. Consider taking on a new hobby outside your comfort zone. Doing this can help you meet new people, visit alluring places, explore stimulating interests, and boost your retirement.
Now that you have a feel for retirement modify your goals to fit your new retirement lifestyle. Goals help to motivate you and prioritize what you do each day. They keep you focused, promote more productive behavior, encourage accountability, and improve decision-making. Therefore, goals are not just a way to have some form of control over your future; they also help to overcome discouragement during the disenchantment phase.
If you are feeling bored as a new retiree, look into volunteering with an organization that is meaningful to you. An old Chinese proverb says, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
During your working life, you had a routine that became a part of your life. When you retire, you find yourself in a less demanding routine that can make your life seem flat. Changing your routine can introduce you to new experiences and adventures, releasing dopamine that brings on feelings of contentedness and gives your life a spark.
When people are working, often their work becomes their identity. When they retire, they might feel disengaged. Consider an identity makeover based on a hobby, such as a new retiree, and look forward to all retirement has to offer.
Once you are in retirement, you may find it different than expected. Your budget needs modification because your expenses are higher than you expected, or you received, for example, an inheritance and now you have more money than you previously anticipated at that stage of your life. It could be very beneficial to consult a financial professional to help you create a new budget and even design a manageable strategy so you can reinvest in yourself, refire your retirement, and move through those moments of boredom.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
A Guide to the 5 Stages of Retirement, SmartAsset
What Are the Five Stages of Retirement?, Caring Places Management
How to Overcome Identity Loss in Retirement, Kiplinger
8 Great Habits to Help You Boost Your Retirement Routine, I Just Retired…Now What?
6 Common Retirement Goals, U.S. News
This article was prepared by LPL Marketing Solutions
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