NONE OF US HAD THE perfect career, family or life. Why should retirement be any different? You will face problems and issues that limit your ability to enjoy retirement. You will need to shift your thoughts and energies to the people and activities that bring you a sense of satisfaction and hope for the future. Here are five tips to improve your retirement:
Manage Expectations
The media, along with our own fantasies, push us to envision an ideal retirement basking in the sun on a beach, or wandering over pristine golf courses. There’s nothing wrong with this dream, but it can dampen the satisfaction you get from real life. When something doesn’t measure up to your expectations, you might become frustrated. Focus instead on creating your own version of retirement that has meaning for you.
Accept the Things You Cannot Control
Most people end up making compromises and adjustments as they get older. Sometimes your happiness depends on whether you fight or accept the changes as a part of life you cannot control. You can’t change the weather, but you can choose where you live and how much of your retirement savings to risk in the markets. You can’t change your genes, but you can adjust the way you feel about yourself.
Hold No Regrets
By the time you’ve retired you have probably experienced some failure, loss or heartbreak. But the ghosts of the past will haunt you only if you let them. Remember that the best revenge is living well.
Focus on Others
As you age, you might shift your attention from your own needs to the needs of others. Retirement is a stage of life when many people can focus on family and what they can do for the next generation. You may spend more time with relatives or friends.
Appreciate the Small Things
Maybe you don’t have the financial resources or the physical stamina to fly to Peru and hike up to Machu Picchu. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a walk in your community park, visit a museum in a nearby city or plant a garden in the backyard. After you retire, the symbols of success often mean less than small personal pleasures. You no longer worry about what your colleagues and competitors think.
With this last blog post, I will retire end of June – Thanks for your interest in Money Tips financial topics.
