When you are busy juggling work and family it can be tempting to daydream of the far-off day when you can finally retire. The daily commute to work, the endless obligations and expectations to meet deadlines chip away at your life quality. Weekends seem too short, and holidays just give you the chance to unwind and enjoy yourself and it is time to pack up and go back home again.

Finally, the time comes when the words ‘transition to retirement’ come over the horizon. It can be a time of excitement as you begin to plan the long-awaited extended travel and think about all the things you will finally have the time to do. There is anticipation that life will become one long holiday and you will be able to please yourself how you spend your days. No boss, no annoying colleagues, no customers, no misbehaving students. I am sure you get the drift.

“Retirement, a time to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, where you want to do it, and, how you want to do it.”

Catherine Pulsifer.

As retirement looms you may feel some trepidation of the unknown. As with many transitions in life there is a change in your connectivity. The workplace has become remarkably familiar territory. It has given structure to your day and a ready source of community. As you walk out the door with your parting gifts and a retirement smile, in most cases, it is rarely to return. This can lead to a loss of direction and loneliness if you are not preparing yourself prior to your ‘retirement departure’. Once the initial sparkle of new retirement wears off and everyday life takes its place there can be a feeling of despondency and aimlessness. Days can feel endless as you look for meaningful ways to fill them.

As someone who has gone through the door of retirement and watched the process with a cohort of similar ‘comrades’ I am here to guide your initial thoughts and steps. Buckle up and see if we can prepare you to launch confidently into this new phase of your life. Ready,… it is time to bloom.

Step 1: – Get Comfortable with a different daily flow

Work life was a life filled with schedules. Start times, finish times, meetings, and other commitments. You were constantly aware of clock time and the pace of life was busy and demanding.  Once you retire, there will be less obligation to wake with the alarm clock each day. To an extent you can throw away schedules and do those things that are most important to you. It will take time to adjust but you will find the state of ‘flow’ more often when you can be immersed in projects and interests without the need to look at the clock. As you get used to this alternate universe of ‘time’ you will probably want to dot it with a loose schedule to frame your day.

Step 2: – Keep physically active

With available time on your hands, there is time to take walks, play sports or join gyms. Our quality of life improves if we are able to stay active as we age. Doing physical activities with others in a great way to form new connections with fellow retirees. Keep moving and do activities that you most enjoy.

Step 3: – Keep mentally active

As much as we need to maintain our physical well-being, our mental health is also a priority. Now is a good opportunity to read widely, listen to interesting podcasts and join discussion groups and forums. It is also a good time to get out of the comfort zone by learning a new skill. Build confidence by stepping into a creative or technological skill that has previously been unfamiliar.

Step 4: – Follow your passions

This will emerge as you move into retirement. Often these strong interests are buried way back in our youth. It may take time for them to surface again. Identify these activities and take small steps to increase your knowledge. Be open to opportunities that present themselves. You never know where it will lead. For me, it has been honing my love of writing to develop a website blog focused on women and their life journey. For my husband, it has been using all the skills of his work life and his passion for motor sport to currently be part of a motor racing team. The fulfillment and enjoyment we both have is evident. It has also given us interesting current experiences to share with each other.

Step 5. Share your skills and talents

Perhaps you are a creative – a budding artist, re-decorator, gardener or cook. You may be good with technology or mechanics. Now is a wonderful opportunity to do more of what you are good at and possibly teach others. Community organisations may be looking for your talents to teach young people or those who are vulnerable. Community projects may be looking for your skills. A wonderful part of retirement is the ability to incubate and plan projects with others. Once you have retired, you become a wonderful resource to your communities. This can be in sharing a physical skill, a breadth of knowledge about a topic or as an advocate for community issues.

Step 6. Create memories

Whether it is with family or friends, this is a wonderful stage of life to create meaningful lasting memories. Plan trips and outings together. Explore, dine, play games, laugh, and cry together. Spend quality time in conversation with each other. Take photos and write words to capture special moments. Those memories are precious and live on when we are no longer here. As we build these connections we are also experiencing the best antidote to loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

Step 7. Live with gratitude

Begin and end each day reflecting on the moments and give thanks for the experience. Not everyone gets to reach their retirement years. Appreciate the fact that you are one of the lucky ones.

The reality of retirement is that it is a process. Some days will produce highlights while others will be more tedious and stretch our coping ability. It is not unlike any other stage of life- filled with highs and lows, happiness, and sadness.

 With some focus and direction, it is possible to transition well into retirement and to continue to find both personal fulfillment and valuable contribution to our communities. I would love you to share any other insights and tips on navigating retirement by commenting below.