It is never too early to start planning for healthy and active retirement years. It requires planning for financial security and quality of life, as well as for personal health and well-being.
Remember that planning for retirement will be an ongoing process and that plans will evolve and change over time.
Your Ideal Retirement
What do you want your ideal retirement to look like? Take a few minutes to just sit quietly with eyes closed and fantasize about your life a year or two into retirement. When you are ready, answer the following questions, writing your answers in a journal, notebook, or computer:
- Where are you living?
- Who are you with?
- What are you doing?
- What is a typical day like?
Pre-retirement Checklist
Below is a list of things you need to be thinking about as you prepare for retirement. Completing this checklist should increase your confidence as it relates to your retirement. Write the list of items that apply to you in your notebook and then for each one write down what you have done and what you still need to do. Feel free to add any additional items you think are relevant.
Financial
- Have a financial consultant.
- Have completed budget planning.
Home
- Plan in place to maintain current home.
- Plan to move to a different living situation.
Partner
- Have discussed retirement plans.
- Agreement on all aspects of the retirement plan.
Family
- Are aware and supportive of the plan.
Friends
- Have discussed retirement plans.
- Know their availability after your retirement.
Health
- Have had a complete physical.
- Have started on a fitness program.
- Have established plans in anticipation of any health problems.
Use of Time
- Have thought through what personal needs/wants are.
- Have plans in place for self.
- Have plans in place with partner.
- Have plans in place with friends.
Activities
- Have investigated different options for remaining active.
The Unexpected
- Have made plans to prepare for the unexpected.
Other Items
- List any other items that come to mind for you.
References:
- Schlossberg, N. (2004). Retire Smart, Retire Happy: Finding Your True Path in Life. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
- Qualls, S. & Abeles, N. (Eds.). (2002). Psychology and the aging revolution: How we adapt to longer life. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
- Vaillant, G. (2002). Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
