Any retirement plan that only accounts for finances is sorely lacking from that perspective (though finances are critical). Retirement isn't just about sitting back and relaxing, it's also about finding new and meaningful ways to spend our time.
Having a sense of purpose is perhaps the most important element. Purpose fires up our day and can preserve our brains. And if we don't have a reason to keep living—some purpose beyond our own indulgence—it may be hard to do things that sustain us, like making new friends.
Friendship, and social connection generally, are critical but often overlooked factors in long-term health. For many of us, our coworkers become a second family we chat with about our problems, interests, and experiences. Losing these interactions suddenly can come with profound consequences.
Loneliness is serious. The surgeon general calls loneliness an epidemic and San Mateo County has declared it a health emergency. Loneliness is linked to heart attack, hospitalization, dementia, Parkinson's, and trouble sleeping, which can contribute to a long list of potential health issues.
There are plenty of ways to maintain social ties, or build new ones, but you have to find the will to do so. The longer you wait, the harder it will likely become. That's because loneliness is linked to depression, reduced physical activity, and even a loss of executive control, which refers to the complex mental processes and abilities that let us carry out planned activities and goal-directed behaviors, like saving for retirement or getting in better physical health.
Fortunately, many of the things you need to do to maintain your health after retirement can combine mental, physical, and social activity—and provide that sense of purpose. This can give you an active and engaging life after your working years.
You can dedicate more time to loved ones and discover new roles within your family. Being an active and involved grandparent, for example, can bring tremendous benefits to the child, the parent, and the grandparent. There are also service clubs and non-profits working to improve our communities, as well as interest groups and spiritual communities. Joining a local birding club, for example, can get you outside, exercising, socializing, and helping in a wide effort to monitor bird populations.
The key point is to recognize that retirement isn't about not working, as much as it is about finding new and meaningful ways to spend your time. And it's quite likely that more of that time will now be spent with your spouse. That can be awkward for some but also gives us a precious chance to become a better husband or wife.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon