As you plan for retirement, it’s important to focus on having enough assets to live the life you want. Money and assets are just tools we use to express personal values and highlight what we view as important.
In the years leading up to retirement (or at any stage of life), be sure to focus on the things that will bring you joy, meaning, and fulfillment throughout the next chapter of life.
Health
You may have scrimped, saved, and invested your entire adult life to prepare for retirement, but what does it matter if you’re not healthy enough to enjoy your golden years? As you plan for your financial future, don’t forget to take care of your physical health.
Not only can a healthy lifestyle lead to a more fulfilling retirement but it can also help lower your retirement healthcare expenses and free up more money for enjoyable experiences. As an added potential benefit, your fitness journey may even lead to new hobbies as you transition into your retirement years.
Friends
It can be difficult to transition from the workforce, where you’re constantly surrounded by people, to a relatively solitary life. Social isolation can lead to multiple emotional and health-related issues, including depression, anxiety, and dementia. Even if you have a spouse to keep you company, you may benefit from spending time with friends outside your home.
In the years leading up to retirement, it’s important to start developing friendships with others. Consider seeking companionship through common interests. Perhaps you enjoy golfing, volunteering, or painting. Make an effort to connect with other people you encounter in these settings, and work to build some friendships prior to retiring.
Hobbies
Speaking of interests, retirees often find fulfillment by participating in hobbies. Have you always wanted to take up golf? Write a book? Try your hand at pickleball? Learn to throw a ceramic pot? Retirement is the time to do it! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try something new. As you begin to explore new hobbies, try lots of new things and experiences — but don’t be afraid to quit quickly and try something new!
Purpose
Few retirees are done pursuing their goals after they leave the workforce. In fact, those who are most satisfied in retirement continue to have a clear sense of purpose in their lives — a mission that guides their actions. While it’s important to relax and have fun in retirement, it’s also important to find a sense of purpose and continue finding meaning in your daily life.
You may find purpose by continuing to work in retirement. Or perhaps you’re driven to volunteer with an organization that’s near and dear to your heart. Maybe your purpose comes from spending time with loved ones, caring for relatives, or teaching your grandchildren special skills.
It can be helpful to write down your purpose and view each action through the lens of “does this help me move toward my purpose or away from it?” You might be surprised how many decisions you make out of inertia or neglect and not in pursuit of your purpose!
Gratitude
Practicing gratitude can have a big impact on both your physical and emotional health. The benefits of gratitude include:
• Lower stress
• Improved sleep
• Lower blood pressure
• A stronger immune system
• An improved ability to identify and regulate emotions
• Higher emotional intelligence
• More positive feelings
• Better connections with others
To find more fulfillment in retirement, make an effort to regularly reflect on the people and things you’re grateful for. Be grateful for small things, such as the sun shining on your face, as well as big things, like the birth of a new grandchild. Taking time to recognize and appreciate the things that bring you joy can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life at any stage in your journey.
Gene Gard, CFA, CFP, CFT-I, is a Partner and Private Wealth Manager with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest Registered Investment Advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.
