Retirement takes planning — often, years ahead. Here are 10 questions you should ask yourself before you make a decision to retire:
1. What are you going to do that is as relevant to you as practicing dentistry?
What are you going to do with a month of Saturdays? The truth is you can only golf, boat, fish, hunt, play tennis, shop, eat out, or travel so much. To keep your retirement interesting, it’s important to keep finding things to be passionate about.
2. Where will you live?
People tend to move more in retirement. Typically, when health issues become chronic, the need to be closer to family may become a necessity. The decision on where to live must support your goals and should leave some room for flexibility as your life changes.
3. What’s on your bucket list?
The “bucket list” has become a popular term to describe the things you want to do before you “kick the bucket.” Most of us have a few things on our list. Make a list of things you want to do before you die — and make plans to do them.
4. What should not be on your bucket list?
As you work on your bucket list, some of the things you’ll discover are the things you never want to do. So what should not be on your bucket list? Anything that might cause you stress or create scheduling conflicts.
5. What are you going to do to stay healthy?
Perhaps the most important item on this list for you to think about is your health. If you want good health, you have to be intentional about it. Modern medicine has many ways to extend the length of our life, but the quality of our life is our responsibility. Stay busy. Go out and do things. Exercise. Eat healthfully. Listen to your physician. If necessary, hire a personal nutritionist to help you with your diet and food choices.
6. What hobbies and interests do you have now or are developing for retirement?
One of the keys to having an interesting life after work is to have other interests. Become inquisitive and ask people about their hobbies. Be willing to learn to do something new. As you consider your hobbies, think of the ones you can do alone (“me time”) and the hobbies you can do with your spouse (“we time”).
7. What are your unrealized life goals?
Have you ever said to yourself that you are going to do a particular thing … “someday”? Well, retirement provides you an unlimited supply of somedays. As you ponder your retirement, it’s a good idea to put together your dream list.
8. How will you downsize and de-clutter your life?
As you contemplate retirement, it’s a good time to start working on a plan to de-clutter your life. Your kids don’t want your “stuff.”
9. How will you make the world a better place?
As a dentist, you spent your life making the world a better place by treating patients, easing their pain, and helping them enjoy a healthy mouth. To continue that success in retirement, you will need to find new ways to make the world better because you were here.
These efforts don’t have to be grand. In some cases, helping out a friend or family member can do it. One of the best things you can do to make your retirement interesting and rewarding is volunteering. Our world has no shortage of problems, so pick one and find a way to be part of the solution.
10. What is your plan for making new friends?
As you look ahead to retirement, one of the best things you can do is have a plan to meet and develop new friends. You may find that maybe you or your old friends have moved, found new interests, grown apart – or even worse, passed on. Here are some good ways to make new friends:
- Ask your existing friends to introduce you to others.
- Invite potential friends do something with you.
- Make it a habit of getting people’s contact information. In Florida, it is common for people to have cards with their names, phone, and e-mail information.
- Accept invitations whenever possible.
- Give as much as you get from a new relationship.
- Join clubs, or form one.
- Find a church of your choosing and become active in it.
- Take classes.
Without a doubt, non-financial planning is as important to a successful retirement as the financial aspects. Take some time to consider these questions and make your plan. You’ll find many of these suggestions are applicable not just at retirement, but throughout life.
