Make the transition into retirement smoother by taking advantage of career gaps. Use of the time between jobs allows you more free time and practice for what it will be like when you actually retire full-time. There are benefits to mini – retirement planning and ensuring that you don’t miss out on any fun in between.
what is mini-retirement?
You may not be familiar with this term, but it is like retiring part-time. Mini-retirement describes the periods in between working like extended vacations and the gaps in employment. The time between jobs can be treated like a mini-retirement and gives you practice for when you stop working completely. You can do this for many years leading up to the time you actually do retire.
what happens when people retire
When someone retires, they stop working all at once. No more going into the office every day, no more hanging out with coworkers during lunch, and no more daily commute. While some of these are beneficial (not waiting in traffic) some people feel that their job defines who they are or is a part of their identity. When you meet someone new, the first question they often ask is what you do for a living.
avoid the pitfalls
status and identity
What do you say? “I used to be a teacher, office worker, CPA, or engineer.” We often have a hard time separating ourselves from our profession. Not having a job to go to everyday can begin to feel pretty lonely. You miss out on the daily interaction with people. At first, you may feel like you’re on vacation, but after the while, you may have some mixed emotions about your current employment status of “officially retired.” That is one reason why practicing retirement is so beneficial. Taking a mini-retirement or career gap allows you to become accustomed to having free time and will help you see that your identity is not tied to your job.
uselessness
Most people view working as a way of feeling needed or useful. Many people find that they feel like they are not being productive when they are away from work too long. They feel someone is depending on them to do a job. Extended vacations can make a person feel it is similar to retirement. Rather than enjoying this time off, they feel guilty or like they are no longer needed. Taking a practice run at retirement can benefit you by showing you are the person who should appreciate and enjoy your time and efforts. All those years of making someone else happy should end with the idea that you are now able to make yourself happy. Plan in advance so you can make a smooth transition.
isolation
Another pitfall to avoid in retirement is the feeling of isolation. Now that you have the freedom you always wanted you may feel ready to get out and travel, join clubs, spend time with family and friends. But soon you come to the realization that all of your co-workers, friends and maybe your family are still working. They are busy during the day. Planning a time to spend together has to wait until after work. Spending a lot of time alone and having nothing to do during the day can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
When you retire full-time you will have more free time and no one to spend it with if you don’t plan in advance. Start making new friends who are, or will be retired. Join groups, clubs, the health club or church. Just make sure you are getting out of the house and spending time with others. Make plans to spend time with the family during the day. Do they have classes or sports activities you can attend? Maybe go to their work or school and have lunch with them. Make it a regular habit if you can.
how to use career gap in retirement planning
You can begin planning for your retirement a few years before you actually stop working. This way you can ease into it, preparing yourself for what you will do when you no longer have to work. You may not be prepared for how you will feel when you retire and having some time to “practice” retiring, you can find things to occupy your time and make new friends to stave off the loneliness and uselessness that people often experience.
vacation planning
Planning how to use your vacation time is a good way to start practice retiring. If you save up your vacation time, rather than use a day or two during the year, you will have 10 days off work to enjoy. Rather than feeling like you’re not being productive if you’re not at work, schedule things to occupy your time while on your vacation. Don’t just sit around the hotel room, go sightseeing, go to a restaurant, take a tour or visit a museum. It doesn’t matter what you do, but stay busy and enjoy the freedom you have to travel and enjoy your new life!
make new friends
Another suggestion is to find new friends who are also getting ready to retire. Join a few clubs or groups that have people in your age group with the same interests. This helps you avoid the time when you retire and all your friends are at work. If you meet other people who will be retiring about the same time, you will have a whole group of people you can communicate with and plan activities.
find new hobbies
You will have more free time and having hobbies to keep your interest is important. Think about what things you like now, and what you can do as hobbies after you retire. If you like electronics, then find things to do related to electronics, gaming, programming, and etc. Join a forum, group, or take a class in something that interests you. You could learn a new language for a trip abroad after you retire. There are so many things you can do that pursuing your hobbies is vital to enjoying your retirement.
summary
Besides the financial aspect of retirement, planning ahead for the emotional and psychological changes can make the transition much easier for you and your family. By practicing retirement during your vacations and in between periods of employment, and during extended time away from work like a mini-retirement or a career gap, you can train yourself how to live a new way outside of work. So when the time comes, you can retire happily and avoid a lot of the pitfalls that some retirees experience because you are ready.