PRIME TIME
It’s never too early to start planning for retirement. If you can meet your essential needs today, start saving and take care of your future needs as well and you will be a step ahead for your future.
12 Tips for a Happy Retirement WRITTEN BY JILL BIGGINS GERBRACHT
S
uccess in retirement can be defined as waking up in the morning and going to sleep at night and doing exactly what you want in between. The key to achieving an active, satisfying and happy retirement involves more than just having adequate savings. It also entails interesting leisure activities, creative pursuits, and mental and physical well-being. Retiring from the workforce can be a chance to reconnect with your greatest passions and most important goals—it all depends on what you choose to do in your retirement. You can try new experiences, develop new skills and devote more time to the people and hobbies you love. It’s all up to you. We’ve got some great tips to help you make the most of your newfound freedom: 1. Write down exactly what you want your life to look like during retirement. Develop a plan to make it happen. Retirement planning often has more to do with “what you’ll be doing” than “how much you’ll have to do it with.” Writing down your goals will help you focus on what you want to achieve.
10 ADVANTAGE / Torrance Memorial, a Cedars-Sinai Affiliate
2. Get your finances in order. Organize your money so you know what you will have to live on. Gradually reducing spending leading up to retirement will make it easier to adjust. 3. Wind down gently. By easing into retirement, you will be able to adjust to this new way of life with a smoother transition. 4. Prepare for ups and downs. Remember, in life anything can happen, and the same holds true for retirement. If health or changes in your relationships arise, learn to accept them and develop a backup plan of action. 5. Keep physically active. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week (see pages 12–13 for Torrance Memorial classes). 6. Develop a routine. A routine provides a sense of normalcy. Going to bed and getting up at the same time—combined with regular activities like exercise, volunteer work and hobbies—will give you a sense of purpose.
