Are You Ready To Retire? Take A Trial Run To Find Out

Before you take the plunge into retirement, test the waters (Photo by Al Bello)
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It’s difficult to go back to work once you’ve retired.
Retirement is one of those things in life that you want to get right the first time – and not rush into. There is pressure to retire early in some places, such as New York, where early retirement is encouraged. However, you should take the opportunity to put your retirement plans to the test. You shouldn’t jump into retirement without first dipping your toe into the water to see how you like it. After all, you may discover that you dislike swimming and would like to spend your time in the fresh mountain air instead.
By doing a retirement trial run in the years running up to your planned retirement, you can set yourself up for success and pleasure before you retire. Choose the aspects of your life that are most important to you and begin crossing them off your list first. It’s better to figure out now if you’re ready for retirement than to plunge in with both feet and discover that the lifestyle you’ve chosen isn’t what you actually want.
Begin your trial run by assessing your retirement objectives – and start there by establishing what actually makes you happy. You’ll be striving toward a life that is rewarding for you if you base your goals on what offers you delight. Spend your time now figuring out what you enjoy doing so that when you retire and have more time on your hands, you can do what makes you happy. Make the most of your retirement years by spending your pre-retirement years figuring out what brings you joy and fulfillment. You may discover that spending time with your family is what you want to do with your retirement years, and this can change the course of your entire retirement plan. Alternatively, travel may bring you delight, and your retirement plans may change as a result of include more travel in your post-retirement life. If doing volunteer or charitable work is crucial to your happiness, you’ll need to include it in your retirement game plan. Spending your leisure time understanding what interests and activities you enjoy now will allow you to not only enjoy them now, but also base your retirement goals on the lifestyle that will offer you the most enjoyment in the future.
Consider your existing interests in hobbies. Perhaps golf, gardening, or running are on your to-do list. Experiment with alternative interests you might enjoy after retirement. Maybe you’ve always wanted to drive across the country in an RV or sail along the coast in a yacht. Now is a great time to put these activities to the test (literally) and see if you love them and can afford them in retirement. Try it out with a long vacation from work to see how you spend your free time. When you’re not working, what do you do? What do you do to pass the time? What activities do you think you’ll be able to continue after you retire? Make a list of the interests you enjoy and will likely continue after you retire.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU

Before you buy something big in retirement, like a boat, try it out first. (Photo courtesy of Hulton/Slim Aarons… [+] Archive)
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According to the AARP, more than 20% of persons over 65 are employed or seeking for work as of February 2019. You might not be able to totally retire when you retire. Perhaps you should leave your full-time work and take up a part-time role in your company where you can mentor others. Alternatively, you may prefer to devote your time to a volunteer or charitable role rather than your current job. Some people may choose to pursue a second career or even return to school to master a new skill. Take measures right now to figure out which path is best for you. If you’re thinking about changing careers, start with a part-time course while you’re still working. Do you prefer volunteer work? Spend time outside of work working with causes you care about, and inquire about how they employ retirees. To see where you might fit into a retirement work arrangement, try with multiple job routes, a mentorship, courses, and volunteer work now. If you’d prefer spend your retirement not working at all, don’t feel obligated to do so; that’s also a fantastic alternative.
Do you enjoy living in your current location? Or do you live where you do because of your place of employment? You can modify your location to match your mood once your lifestyle is no longer determined by your employment situation. Where you reside has an impact on how you live and, ultimately, how happy you are. One of the most important aspects of retirement planning is the location of your retirement. Perhaps you’ve always imagined where you’d like to retire. Now is the moment to put it to the test to ensure that you will enjoy it for a long time and in all seasons of the year. Rent a property in your potential retirement area to get a feel for how it feels to live there. Even if you intend to travel frequently after retiring, you’ll need to make arrangements for a nice home base. Don’t forget to take into account the other goals that bring you joy. Moving to another nation, no matter how wonderful the beach is, may not be the greatest approach to achieve happiness in retirement if family or volunteer work are important to you.

Are you thinking of retiring to the beach? Before you commit, give it a shot. (Photo courtesy of Mark Kolbe)
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You probably have a retirement budget if you’re nearing retirement. Have you tried out that number yet, even though you’ve seen it on paper? Take a month or two to live on the retirement budget you’ve calculated to ensure it works. This way, while you’re still working and earning money, you can be sure that the expenses and amounts you believe you’ll utilize each month are correct. You’ll have time to fix what isn’t working if you discover that your budget isn’t quite appropriate. It’s better to find out now that something in the budget isn’t quite right than to find out after you’ve retired and have to rely solely on your retirement income to make ends meet./nRead More