Your Retirement Problems
Should Tell You What To Do
No one has a worry-free life. No one doesn’t have problems that need to be addressed. Too often, we tend to let our difficulties in life overwhelm us, but the reality is that those problems we are facing could actually help lead us to a better life. Your retirement problems should tell you what to do and, if you take a logical approach to solving those issues, you may come out of your difficulties stronger than ever. In my experience, most of the problems my fellow retirees tell me about come down to money, health or lifestyle with lifestyle being the easiest one to address. So, let’s start with that one.
It is always sad to me when someone says that they’re bored in retirement or that they don’t have the money to do what they want to do. I know I always sound a bit harsh when I suggest to them that they should stop focusing on what they’re not able to do and start looking at all the things that they can do. The world we live in is just too amazing to not be intrigued by something that is staring at us right in the face. Get a new hobby or find a new interest. Join a book club or volunteer at the library or your local church. Put some variety into your life. Even your favorite food becomes boring if you eat it every day. Too many people wait for something to happen. Retirement is a time for YOU to make things happen. Most people work for decades at a job where they’re told what to do and then seem to be at a loss when they finally retire and their calendar is a blank slate. You’ve got to design your lifestyle in retirement. I firmly believe that your retirement problems should tell you what to do and help you to create an action plan to change whatever you want to change. And, if you think that money is the issue, I will first ask you to examine your problem more carefully. If you want to travel, you should look at all of the local places around you that you haven’t seen. We all tend to overlook things in our own backyard. There are more things to do than you realize. If you’re determined to get away, look for travel bargains or even consider organizing a trip for a group. Many times, if get a group of twelve people or so together, the organizer goes for free or at a very reduced rate. You can also get a good feel for those really far places like Africa and Asia through documentaries or even by watching some of the movies filmed on location. I know it’s not the same thing, but I also know it can be very enjoyable if it’s well done. A good movie can transport you to another location and even another time. I love history and certain events hold a fascination for me. The sinking of the Titanic was one of those events and James Cameron did an outstanding job with that movie. Did I feel transported? As a matter of fact, I did and every couple of years I still watch the movie.
Your retirement problems should tell you what to do especially if money is a concern.
I don’t mean to be unsympathetic about having money problems in retirement. I understand how frustrating it can be. The main point is to not let the lack of money keep you from enjoying this wonderful time of your life as much as you can. Your retirement problems should tell you what to do and, if money is an issue, there are things that you can do to help alleviate your financial shortfalls. A retirement budget is critical and should be the first step in your action plan to solve your money problems. Cutting costs and eliminating unnecessary expenditures can help you tremendously. If you haven’t downsized in retirement, it might be an option that you want to explore. Consider selling your life insurance policies if you have them and even look into a reverse mortgage but only with the help of a good financial advisor who is not going to benefit from any of the actions they recommend. The above-mentioned financial moves are major ones and should be done only after very careful consideration. Don’t rule out the possibility of getting a job or starting a little business to help you generate extra money. Many retirees overlook the “treasure” that may be in their own house. Do you know how many seniors sell their collectibles and “one of a kind” treasures on eBay or some other platform on the internet? You might find that your money-making activities help solve your first problem by putting a little bit more excitement in your life. We all like a challenge and, when the challenge is within our control, finding a way through the problem can be one of the most satisfying things we can do. Unfortunately, the third problem a lot of retirees talk about is probably the one we have the least control over: our health.
I know we can do things to lead a heathier life but, sometimes, a diagnosis takes us by surprise. Health problems are one of the realities of life we would all like to forget about. We all know better. Your retirement problems should tell you what to do but when those issues are health related, the options may be more limited. Fixing a money problem is easier than fixing a health problem but there is something that can help every problem you face and that is to maintain as positive an outlook as you can. A friend of ours received a diagnosis that was very serious and indicated that she had about a year to live. That was eight years ago, and she is still doing fairly well. Her positive outlook has helped her tremendously. She didn’t ignore the issue. She made sure she addressed what was important by getting all of her affairs in order and making amends with one of her children. Her whole life took a positive upswing, and she is the first to tell you that some good came out of the situation. She has adopted a healthier diet and is exercising regularly while making sure every day counts in retirement.
Sometimes there are things we cannot change. Our approach to problems can sometimes be more important than the problem itself. The important thing to remember is to maintain a positive outlook and calmly address the problem as best you can. Sometimes big issues are sent our way to keep the smaller ones in perspective. Being bored should never be a problem. Money is an issue you can do something about. Even serious problems such as health issues can be turned around and help us realize that every day is precious and we live in an amazing world. There are always new things to learn and do so it’s time to get busy and Enjoy Retired Life!
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