Secret #20 A Lifestyle Plan

The happiest retirees have a plan for how they will spend their time and carry it through. 

healthy-lifestyle-plan

“I would say the one underlying theme with happy retirees, aside from the financial, is they are engaged, they have hobbies and things they want to do. Now, this extra time is letting them do it,” says Bill Van Sant, senior vice president and managing director at Univest Wealth Management in Souderton, Pennsylvania. 

“If I see retirees keeping busying, supporting causes or grandkids, I find overwhelmingly that those folks are more happy versus those who may be well off, but don’t have a hobby or have physical limitations. Those retirees are not that happy. They are getting bored and are not getting enjoyment.” No Lifestyle Plan

There are some people who don’t enjoy being retired. 

“Some folks don’t retire. They go back to work,” Van Sant says. “I find folks today delay retirement, not because they need money. They don’t have the desire to do anything but work. They will never be happy retired.”

What is retirement Lifestyle Plan?

Retirement Lifestyle Planning is really the concept that retirement is about more than money. Life Retirement Planning encompasses all the areas of retirement and life. Some of the most recognized facets of retirement are:

Health and Fitness – One of the key factors in your retirement success is your health and wellness. After all, you can have all of the love and money in the world, but without your health to enjoy it, your “best laid plans” will be compromised. Exercise and nutrition are keys.

Financial Comfort – It is true that you can’t retire without money, but let’s face it – you can’t live without money either. Many experts who say that you can retire on 60-80% of your last year’s employment income are assuming that you have paid off your house, you have no debts, or that you never want to do anything! 

There is no real rule of thumb on how much money will give you comforts. The only way to figure that out is to realistically assess your retirement price tag by figuring out what kind of life you want to lead in retirement and then assess the costs associated with that life.

In the end it is just as much about your attitude as the money. We don’t have very much but seem to do a lot more than some of our friends who have a small fortune. 

Social Relationships – Family and friends are part of your everyday life. We need relationships, particularly when we leave the workplace and our work-related relationships begin to disappear. Often, our relationships have been developed in the workplace. When that ends, new relationships should be created that will replace what has been lost.

Home and Location – We all need a place to live. Your home is a focal point in retirement.  Your home and location refers not only to your house but also the community. It refers to where you spend your time and that might be a recreational property for example.

Hobbies and Interests – Really, hobbies and interests are about fulfilment. Doing things that you enjoy and bring you personal satisfaction. Too often people work for income and not because it provides personal fulfilment. Retirement is the opportunity to spend your time doing things you enjoy.

Mental and Emotional Health– Just like physical health is important, mental health is really important.

Intellectual Spirit – This refers to your ability to grow and stimulate your mind. Keeping your mind sharp is as important as keeping your body healthy and your spirit sharp.

Spirituality – This is often confused with religion. It really refers to your sense of who you are and why you are here. Your view of the world flows directly from the values that you hold and the primary purpose of your life. What is it that gets you up in the morning and makes you want to face the day?  Your spiritual health is very important to your life success and happiness

Whether you are retired or approaching retirement, retirement is an opportunity to re-evaluate life and that is why it is such a key time of your life. Money is a concern but only part of the bigger picture.

I have been a church goer for many years and have developed a whole range of skills. Ours is a Pentecostal church so there is sound, video, home groups, photos and a lot of community and charity work. I have volunteered in all these different areas over the years and love what it provides.

It’s not about religion but about relationship. Develop your Lifestyle Plan today

 

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