Retirement can be an exciting new chapter for many people. You have more time to yourself to do things you want to do. However, sometimes people can face struggles when they’re retired. Here are 18 daily struggles you’ll face only in retirement.
Adjusting to a New Routine
Verywell Mind reports, “If you thrive with a schedule, you might establish a retirement routine that helps you plan your days. Experiment with various activities and time slots to see how it makes you feel.” Having a routine is important so you have structure to your day and things to look forward to.
Managing Financial Uncertainty
When you’re retired, it can be difficult financially as you’re no longer receiving a working income. This can be a struggle, and it’s important to keep track of your finances and budget where possible. Putting money aside for emergencies can be important, so if any emergencies do occur, you’re financially prepared.
Coping with Social Isolation
When you retire, you may feel more socially isolated as you no longer have the daily interactions you used to have when you were at work. It’s important for your mental well-being to meet up with friends or get involved in your community to prevent you from becoming lonely.
Finding New Purpose
Throughout your life, you’ll likely have had a purpose linked to your job. When you no longer work, it can be difficult because you feel like you lack direction in life. It’s important for you to fill your spare time by exploring hobbies and interests, as these can be crucial in giving you a purpose in retirement.
Dealing with Health Issues
The older you get, the more likely you’ll have health issues crop up. This is something you have to accept in retirement and deal with. It’s important that you keep on top of your physical health by having a good diet and exercising. It’s also vital that you make sure your medical insurance is up to date and correct.
Overcoming Boredom
According to Age Co., “Studies suggest that humans are not programmed to be inactive for long periods. It leaves us restless and wanting for more, even if sometimes we haven’t the foggiest what we could do with all our spare time.” Setting personal goals can be a challenge to work towards, which can sideline any boredom from creeping in.
Maintaining Physical Fitness
Throughout retirement, as you age, it can become difficult to maintain physical fitness. Your body can’t do the things you used to be able to do and you have to adapt to this. Exploring less strenuous activities, such as walking, yoga, or swimming, can be a great way to maintain physical fitness.
Navigating Widowhood
Unfortunately, in life, some of us are going to experience losing our partners. This can be extremely difficult to deal with. It’s important to have valuable friends and family members as a support network you can rely on to ease the process. Grief can be overwhelming, and seeking professional help is important if it’s required.
Feeling Out of Touch with Technology
Once retired, you may find yourself using technology a lot less than you did when you were working. This can cause you to become out of touch with technology as it continues to grow. Taking classes to help keep updated with the advancements can be a great way to stay on track.
Handling Home Maintenance
As we age, it can become more difficult to do things we were once very capable of doing. Handling home maintenance can be one of the things people in retirement struggle with. Opting to downsize can help with the amount of maintenance required, and using family members to help out can be a great resource.
Dealing with Sleep Issues
When you’re retired, it can be common to suffer from sleep issues. In fact, after a national study, it was reported that 42% of older people suffered from insomnia, says HuffPost. Going to sleep at the same time every night, waking up at the same time every morning, and avoiding unnecessary naps during the day can help your sleeping pattern be consistent.
Experiencing a Decrease in Energy
Throughout retirement, you may experience a decrease in your energy. This can become frustrating for some, but it’s important that you adjust to it where you can. Maintaining a healthy diet will help boost energy, but when it’s low, it’s important to schedule rest and recovery.
Adapting to a Partner’s Retirement
For many, the likelihood is that you won’t retire at the same time as your partner. This can be a struggle to overcome if you’ve been retired for some time and now your partner is retiring. It’s important to discuss individual needs and expectations and to have a routine that benefits you both.
Keeping Mentally Active
When you’re retired, it’s likely that you won’t be using your brain as much as when you were working. It’s really important that you try and keep mentally active wherever possible. This can be achieved by doing daily word searches, sudoku challenges, or watching game shows, as these will all mentally stimulate your brain.
Generational Relationships
After finishing work, you may feel a gap appear in generational relationships as you don’t get as many opportunities to engage with younger people. You can improve this by educating yourself on young trends to remain relevant or keeping up to date with technology changes.
Adjusting to a Smaller Social Circle
Once you’re retired, you may notice that your social circle has become smaller. This is natural, as you’re less likely to interact with people as much as you did when you were working. It’s really important that you maintain your friendships and make time to spend time together.
Losing Professional Identity
Kiplinger reports, “Identity loss poses a significant challenge for retirees due to the strong connection we often have between our sense of self and our professions.” This can be overwhelming for some, especially those who are career-driven and enjoy working. You could consider taking up mentoring or consulting work, which will still provide you with a professional identity and purpose.
Accepting Help
Accepting help can be difficult for any individual. People often have the perception that seeking help will take away their independence. This isn’t the case and it’ll often provide them with more independence to do the things they can while having the right support and help for the things they’re no longer able to do.
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