How do I begin to summarize a career spanning almost 37 years?  It’s been one of joy, opportunity, learning, service, engagement, fabulous people and community partnerships.  I will truly miss so many things about it while looking forward to many new opportunities.

I started preparing for retirement almost two years ago.  Gathering information to make informed decisions is a great part of it, but as I mentioned in my last column, once you make the decision, it’s a journey of milestones that pass very quickly:

Summarizing the work of several authors and aspects that I previously shared, those milestones include:

Pre-retirement planning – when you gather information and think about what you might like to do when you’re not working.  Using some of your vacation time to explore some of these options is a fun way to see if this particular place or activity might be something you want to spend more time doing.  You might consider taking some quizzes to decide if this is the right move or the right time.  I am not delving into the financial part of retiring, but I recognize that this is a major part of the decision based on your goals and planning.

Retirement comes when we separate from the workforce. It brings to life all the things that can be done with little guilt: no schedule, coffee on the porch, lunch with friends, or curling up with a good book.  Sometimes, adjusting to daily life without so much structure is a challenge, so making a tentative guide of what you might like to accomplish for the week might be helpful. I have a list of people to contact who might like to go to breakfast, take a walk or hike, attend concerts, etc. 

Honeymoon - this might include some of the above, but it’s a time of pure enjoyment of having your own time without restriction.  It can be a time of exploring new hobbies, travel, or projects that you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t have the time to do while you were working.  Book clubs, learning new skills like painting or music can be on the list as well. 

Authors break down the next few milestones into two to four sections, but for simplicity, I’m going to lump them together.

What happens after the honeymoon is over?

When the honeymoon is over, what really can bring you joy? For most of us, living without some structure or giving back might get old, the initial excitement fades, and there comes a sense of “what’s next?”   Every community offers many different opportunities to give of our time and resources, the challenge is just finding what is a good fit for both parties.  Several refer to this as disenchantment or a time of needing to reorient life. In other words, it’s about finding your purpose in life and the opportunities that fill your cup and bring you joy.

There’s a fair amount of research available concerning maintaining good health and having social connections, so this may be an opportunity to explore social circles and contributions as well.  Several speak of this stage as being the most challenging and can be somewhat frustrating until the space between being over committed and enjoying time can be found.

The final stage can be referred to as stability, when there’s a routine that meets your needs and allows personal growth and stimulation.  This time may allow a filter of new and old friends and activities.  It may have variables like health, finances and mobility.  Ultimately the last stage of retirement is when all of the things we’ve talked about aren’t possible and we become home bound or need assistance with daily living tasks.

Tips for retirement preparation

So, what can you do now to prepare for retirement?  First talk with your financial adviser or your employer’s human resources department and see how you might begin planning for the future.  Then talk with others who have retired and see what tips they can provide. Ask about things they did well and the things they wish they had done differently.  Begin a notebook or journal of “someday” plans, where do you want to travel?  Who do you want to visit?  Who are the friends who will join you to do specific activities or explore new hobbies? 

I’m sure you can keep the lists going as your time for retirement draws near, but until then, keep reading and learning so that your journey is rewarding in every way.  As I end this, please know that I have enjoyed working with you and have been blessed by so many opportunities in this great community.  I wish you all the best!

Melinda Hill is an OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or hill.14@osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.