News
Savvy
Senior
Planning for Retirement - Psychologically
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior
My
60-year-old husband is nearing retirement and I'm
very concerned about
it. Financially we've planned and saved well and are
in good shape, but it's
the day-to-day reality of what he'll do with his time
and how it will affect
our marriage that worries me. Can you give us some
tips how we can make this transition work? I love
my husband but I don't want him around the house all
day depending on me to keep him entertained.
Retirement
Fearing Frankie,
Dear
Frankie,
A
successful retirement plan is about much more than
just investing and saving. The psychological transition
from working to not working can be harder than many
anticipate and can create some real stresses in a
marriage, so you're wise to be planning ahead.
Multiple
Transitions
The transition from work to retirement can be very
difficult for some people because retirement is more
than just not working. Think about what work does
for you. For most people it structures your time,
can be a source of intellectual stimulation, provides
social contacts, gives you a purpose, and builds your
self-esteem. In our society, you are what you do.
Stop doing it and you can lose your identity. So leaving
a job can cause multiple transitions that you have
to adjust to.
Psychological Planning
Not considering the psychological component to retirement
can be a big mistake. For some people, a steady diet
of leisure activities can fill their days, but for
many others, the initial excitement of having all
that free time can quickly turn into boredom and even
depression. So, what do you want to do for the next
20 years? Here are some tips to consider before you
reach retirement that will help make the transition
a little smoother:
--Preplan: Develop a list of things you enjoy doing.
Focus on things that give you mental and personal
satisfaction, and how can you attain those things
in retirement.
--Seek advice: Talk to your friends, colleagues or
others who are already retired. They have first-hand
experience with the day-to-day reality of retirement
and can give you their input on what to expect and
how to plan.
--Spouse alert: Have lots of discussions with your
spouse about what you're both expecting in retirement.
For example, how do you want to fill your days? How
much time do you expect to spend together? Do you
both want to travel? Where do you want to live? A
common mistake many couples make in retirement is
spending too much time together. So, before you retire
develop
some of your own hobbies and activities, and give
your spouse a break.
--Counseling: Get help or support from a career counselor
or therapist who specializes in work transitions.
This is especially important if you're the professional
workaholic type who has spent the last 40 years building
your career. You may need some help developing other
interests and hobbies outside of work.
--Structure: Whatever you choose to do in retirement,
create some type of a daily schedule of how you will
spend your time and build in some routines that will
keep you socially or professionally connected.
Savvy
Resources
Retire to Enjoy: A Web site that specializes in retirement
and offers dozens of books and resources on the psychology
of retirement. www.retire2enjoy.com.
Too Young to Retire: A book and Web site that provides
practical information and ideas for the 50-plus crowd
nearing retirement age. "Too Young to Retire"
(Plume Books, $13.00) is available online and in bookstores
nationwide. Also visit www.2young2retire.com.
Send
your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443,
Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim
Miller is a regular contributor to
the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior"
book.
