When it comes to retirement, people have two diametrically opposed views on what it will be like.
The optimistic group looks forward to it, seeing it as a time to quit the rat race and finally spend their time doing fun things rather than chasing money.
The pessimistic group dreads thinking about it, seeing it as a time when they will be forced to live on limited funds and have fewer options in life.
But both are wrong for one single reason: these are both creating a picture of retirement based on piecing together a few fragmentary ideas.
Retirement, like life itself, is dualistic, and there are both positive and negative aspects to it. With that in mind, the best way to manage the unknown is to work on taking care of your legacy, taking care of your health, and taking care of your finances.
Let’s take a look at all three issues:
1. Taking care of your legacy
At some point, you will have to think about what life will be for your family after you pass away. You will need to research what is necessary for your estate to be handled in a timely and proper way. An article in PolicyZip on death certificates clarifies many of the issues that your children will need to know about for your assets to be legally transferred to them.
2. Taking care of your health.
Good health is valuable at any stage in your life, but it becomes even more important during your retirement years. For one thing, the process of aging makes it harder to maintain many of the dietary and physical demands that used to be a part of your life. For another, you may not be able to afford the health care you need unless you plan ahead to secure the best health care insurance.
With that said, it’s important to maintain wellness for as long as possible. This means that you must make some extra effort to stay mentally competent, psychologically stable, and physically strong.
- Mental competence: Alzheimer’s and dementia are not inevitable consequences of aging. You can prevent both by staying mental active through intellectual pursuits and by researching nootropic supplementation.
- Psychological stability: It’s easy to feel discouraged by reflections of regret about what you should have done in the past. This makes you much more likely to succumb to mood disorders like anxiety or depression. In addition, many people you have known and loved may have passed away and you feel more vulnerable and isolated and alone. To ensure emotional health, you should get professional counseling to heal past traumas and grief, as well as join support groups to help you manage better.
- Physical strength: Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to maintain your health. A good diet should include a surplus of fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, as well as nuts and seeds and other unprocessed foods. Meanwhile, the best exercise plans are a mix of routines that improve cardiovascular health, stretching, and strength building.
3. Taking care of your cash flow
When it comes to money management, the more skillful you get at it, the better.
Besides taking care of income sources like receiving money from your retirement account, social security, annuities, or other sources, you also have to manage to avoid overspending. With so many opportunities to secure credit, it’s easy to live beyond your means and struggle with negative cash flow.
In summary, retirement calls for you to become aware of many of the issues that affect a retiree, including planning your legacy, focusing on wellness, and managing your money properly.