Alex O'Brien
Retirement Life

5 ways to ensure a successful retirement

Making the transition to retirement is one of the biggest lifestyle upheavals you’re likely to face. It’s exciting, scary and everything in between. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to make sure your retirement is smooth sailing the whole way.

1. Adjust your attitude

Don’t think of retirement as an ending, think of it as a new beginning – the start of a whole new life. Think about all the time you’ll have to pursue your interests, spend time with loved ones and take some much-needed me time.

2. Find your passion

Consider yourself lucky – unlike all those working folk, now that you’re retired, you have the opportunity to pursue your hobbies and even find new ones. If you find yourself stuck trying to think of something new with which to occupy yourself, read our article on how to find the perfect hobby.

3. Reinvent yourself

Education, part-time work and volunteering are all great ways to keep your mind sharp. There are some fantastic free learning resources out there if you’d like to pick up a new skill, and we can’t recommend volunteering highly enough. If part-time work sounds like something you’d be interested in, make sure you read this.

4. Connect with others

The retirement process is a lot easier to get through with good friends and family by your side. Getting to know other retirees and members of your local community is not only a good way to ease the transition, but there are few better ways of meeting new people and making friends for life.

5. Plan ahead

It’s the one thing no one wants to think about, but the fact is, the more prepared you are for your death, the less burden will be placed on your family. Preparing a will, appointing a power of attorney and even organising your funeral or taking out funeral insurance are unpleasant but essential steps you should take.

What tips do you have for other people making the transition to retirement? We’d love to hear them! Let us know in the comments below.

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Tags:
life, retirement, happiness, Attitude, successful