HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY RETIREMENT

Retirement is not only about leaving the world of work behind, but also about giving personal meaning to this new period.

A happy retirement is not a life without plans; it’s a life plan that responds to the retiree’s values and aspirations. The better we know just what kind of retirement we want, the more likely it will be a reality. That’s why, before starting any project, it’s convenient to specify the goals that motivate us, what we really want to achieve, the means we’re going to use, how we’ll judge the results, etc…

A planned approach, with well-defined objectives, facilitates the emotional response to having left a job behind and, to a certain extent, supports retirement in the long term.

Conversely, lack of preparation may fuel the fears inherent in such an important transition and lead to a negative initial attitude.

All the transformations that characterize a transition are accompanied by new experiences. As in a journey of discovery, many retirees recall having experienced various pleasurable emotions: freeing themselves from schedules and responsibilities is one of the most common, as well as a changed pace of life, “slowing down” and becoming masters of their own time. For many, feeling free to decide is something practically novel that brings about a joyful experience of well-being.

This freedom of decision gives us new resources and abilities to plan, but always after a mature reflection on our objectives, our goals, the means, and how we will evaluate the results. A whole life project.