“Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to.” — Harry Emerson Fosdick
You work your whole life in the seemingly endless grind of the rat race for the golden years of retirement. You finally make it and, based upon studies, your reward is to get bored and depressed. Obviously, that sucks. Turns out, most people are doing retirement all wrong.
You’ve been peddled the dream to work hard so you can retire and do nothing. This is a recipe for disaster because people would rather shock themselves than do nothing. Retirement is something you want to get right due to people living longer than ever before1. Yet one third of people say they struggle transitioning from work life to a life of leisure2. This makes sense as it’s a big change. Negative impacts include drastic reductions in physical activity and socializing once entering retirement3. Endlessly consuming the news and doing nothing isn’t how humans thrive. A sense of purpose is associated with better overall health, healthier habits, less loneliness, and a lower risk of depression4. Planning for retirement requires not only financial planning, but planning of purpose.
Spend the working period of your life building both wealth and purpose. When planning retirement, examine what matters to you and look into ways to give back. Spend your time volunteering for causes that have meaning to you. Retirement is also a fantastic time to dive into your hobbies. Obviously, this requires you having hobbies to begin with. Travel the world or sell your creations online. Host your friends and family. The goal is to keep yourself engaged, social, and active. Thrive in your golden years instead of simply waiting for your turn to die.
Action: What’s your plan to truly thrive during your retirement years? What will give you your sense of purpose?
Further Reading:
- Americans Are Living Longer Than Ever
- America is doing retirement all wrong
- Aging in the 21st Century
- Sense of Purpose in Life and Subsequent Physical, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Health: An Outcome-Wide Approach
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