How to Develop a Realizable Vision for Retirement

When most people think of retirement, they imagine abandoning a job they’re tired of, getting out of the rat race and leaving the pressures of employment behind. Often retirement is viewed as a reward for time in the workforce and successful financial planning.

But retirement is so much more than giving up a job and relaxing. Retirees are entering one of the most exciting and challenging stages of their life.

Although the opportunities are endless, a successful retirement doesn’t come without its hurdles. There are many things to consider in order to get it right, such as living on a reduced income, creating a health and wellness strategy, and evaluating relationships. Also important is the allocation of personal time, determining living arrangements, and recognizing change in social roles.

During the first days, weeks or maybe even months of retirement, people often experience a blissful honeymoon feeling. No boss, no job, no worries! Just time to sit around and do whatever crosses your mind. But as the honeymoon period winds down, a number of retirees report a feeling of disenchantment. Retirement no longer feels like an extended holiday. Time begins to weigh heavily on their shoulders. There can be a feeling that causes retirees to ask the question, “Is this all there is?”

The life we lead is a result of the choices we make. That means in pre-retirement and retirement years, it’s important to make choices that build a fulfilling and energized retirement. Successful retirees recognize the power of creating a realistic retirement vision and an action plan to achieve it. Armed with this mental model, they can make sound choices to get desired results.

Where You Come In

With the help from a professional, you can work in a systematic way towards formulating a clear and focused retirement vision. Remember, it is equally important to consider how you will spend your time as how you will spend your money.

A good way to begin is by taking time to visualize what the word “retirement” means to you. What is it that attracts, scares or excites you about this time of life?

Next, write out a description of your imagined retirement life. Consider the following questions as if you were in retirement:

What makes me happy?
How much money do I have?
What possessions do I own?
How am I spending my time?
Who is in my retirement picture?
How is my health? How do I feel?
How are my relationships with my spouse or partner, children, other family members and friends?

Imagine yourself in your first six months of retirement. Then, at one or two years out. You can then ask yourself to visualize the end of your retirement, when you are 90, 95, or 100+. What are you most proud of? What have you done that has brought happiness to you and to others? What legacy will you leave behind?

It’s important to communicate personal desires and goals to your financial professional. That way, her or she will be better equipped to help you develop a plan that strikes as close as possible to what will truly make you happiest.

Most people know someone who has made a successful retirement. What is it about those people that you admire? Is it family relationships, energy and enthusiasm, or perhaps an overall sense of well-being?

Think then of those challenged by retirement. In your opinion, what are those individuals doing or not doing that makes them less successful? Is it the exorbitant amount of time they spend watching television, their lack of adventure, or possibly a sense of helplessness toward this ever-changing world?

Once you’ve recorded a retirement vision, share it with a partner or spouse, close friends – and of course your financial professional. This process of sharing will provide different perspectives and help shape your final vision.

Optimism is key throughout the retirement visioning process. It’s important to focus on the rewards of a balanced retirement; meditate on the feeling of being complete, enriched and financially secure. Retirement visions should be reviewed and rewritten as often as necessary, until the vision feels right and is in line with your wants, needs and beliefs.

As you enter the second-longest phase in your life, take an informed, active role in getting it right. With appropriate guidance and thoughtful planning, you will be able to enjoy life after work, even relish it.

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Richard Atkinson is president of RA Retirement Advisors, a firm specializing in retirement planning, and author of the book Don’t Just Retire – Live It, Love It!