- How do I feel about the idea of retirement? – If the idea of getting retired makes you feel dreadful, or extremely nervous, you should ask yourself why. What is it that scares you? Is it that you might be lonely, bored, or restless? If this is the case, then you might need some more planning and preparation before you take that step. On the other hand, if it feels like an instant turn off, then maybe you should wait some more before you retire.
- Does my current lifestyle make me happy? – As a general rule, before you make any important changes in your life, you should always ask yourself if you’re satisfied with how things are going in your life right now. You might be feeling like retirement is the natural decision to make when you reach the State pension age. But you might also feel the opposite, and this is normal. Everyone is different, and you shouldn’t be obliged to do something that doesn’t fit you. If you love your job, it’s unnatural to retire right now. Also, you might be feeling like you should concentrate on other things in your life, like your family or a hobby. If so, you might want to consider a partial retirement.
Research shows people don’t know what to do with their time after they retire? Wow, that’s not been my experience or that of anyone I know. In fact we wonder how we ever found time to work at a 40 hour a week job. Anyone who retires and doesn’t have enough pastimes to keep them happily occupied has been living for their job and needs to find new interests.