1. Make your mind up if you want to continue working after you retire but in a different way. If so what are you considering? You might want to continue doing the same sort of work perhaps working less hours, or doing something different such as education or journalism, television advisor or working on a cruise ship. What extra training and/or qualifications would you need? You could consider volunteering for example going abroad to offer help in disaster areas.
2. Decide whether you need to earn more than your pension for the lifestyle you want after retirement. If you’ve invested wisely you will have enough savings and income to follow your dreams and do whatever it is that you’ve ‘always wanted to do’ or regretted giving up when you had other pressures in life. You may want to downsize or change your lifestyle.
3. Many people find their creativity has been suppressed for years so whatever you decide, plan to do something creative too. You might want to try painting, sculpture, wild-life photography, golf, joining a choir, learning to play an instrument or something exotic such as belly-dancing or drumming. Perhaps you will take the opportunity to write the book you have inside you, landscape your garden or travel the world. There’s a world of opportunities out there for you.
4. Keep yourself fit and well by putting into practice all those things you know about but not done regularly before. Look after your body and mind by eating well and healthily, Stretch your body and mind by taking regular exercise and keeping your brain active with curiosity, reading and learning. How about an Open University course or joining your local adult education centre? Have you wanted to see other parts of the world? Retiring gives you the chance to take off alone, with friends or partner, with a group or as part of a charity challenge.
5. Don’t fritter away the days by doing nothing. Although you will have said goodbye to the stress of work, and retirement is a time for taking things easy, but to get new projects completed you must set goals, manage your time well and take action. Stop talking about what you really want to do, make your mind up about what is really important for you now and then take the action needed to get it done. Retirement is not the end of the road: it’s an opportunity for a new beginning!
