Advice From Retirees

If you are doing something you love, also have plans of what to do with your time. One can only do so much fishing, traveling, eating out, etc. The feeling of accomplishment may be missing. Plan, plan, plan!

Plan carefully to have “something to do” each day so that one doesn’t have time on their hands and wonder what to do with it. Staying active is the best way to stay “young”.

Plan how you are going to fashion your new life.  What interests will you pursue?  How will you restructure your social life, your leisure time?  Don’t rush into anything.  Think it through.  Expect to find your focus changing as you mature.  Project what you want to see or be in 5 years, in 10 years, in 20 years. No school opening in September takes getting used to!

Become psychologically prepared. Know yourself and what you need to have and do in order to live a satisfying life on your terms. Take workshops, do extensive reading and have peer discussions on topics like coping with change, redefining yourself in terms of skills and how they can be “recycled” in retirement.

I think it is important to start looking at retirement before the time comes and a person is ready. That gives a person time to prepare for retirement in many different ways. I started looking at retirement six years before I retired. I was able to prepare myself and think about what I wanted to do after retirement. It gave me time to look around. I am a happily retired teacher.

Be sure you are certain about what you want and/or expect from retirement. I know some colleagues who didn't know what to do with themselves because they had cultivated no other interests during the years they were employed. They were left somewhat floundering. Also, do not wrap your personal identity so closely into your role of teacher so that you forget how to be wife/husband or parent. The sky's the limit!