Lessons from Retirees and How to Prepare One
As we get older, we tend to know more things. The more we know, the wiser we will be. Well, retirees seem to be wise enough to teach us some lessons to grow better and to prepare better for our retirement itself.
Some of the advice given below is not given intentionally by all retirees. These are just the lesson that we can learn when we had a conversation with many retirees. Are you feel curious about it? So, let’s check these out!
Lesson Number 1
Always help others and don’t expect anything in return. If you want to help, just help with all you can with all your heart.
Lesson Number 2
The worst thing that older people fear is dependence. Some retirees said advise to take care of your own while you still can. Don’t ask for help when you can do your things.
Lesson Number 3
As we humans get older, our brains tend to become weak gradually as well as our bodies. When you get retired, your brand and your body will become weaker faster. Try to not lose focus and get something to work on to maintain your body and brain longer.
Lesson Number 4
What should concern you is your biological age, and the health and vitality of your cells. Advanced age is not a death sentence. It gives you the freedom to act upon all the possibilities open to you.
Those are 4 lessons that I think are priceless. You can only learn those lessons by getting older, which we haven’t been there yet. So, thanks to all those retirees.
How to Prepare the Retirement Plan Mentally
The next discussion will be about preparing the retirement. We can call that a retirement plan. It is not about the money that should be prepared, but we also have to be ready mentally. Nancy Schlossberg, a retired professor of counseling psychology at the University of Maryland recommends prospective retirees prepare mentally in five areas of life, namely.
Build relationships with other people
In the era of information technology as it is today, people will be very easy to connect both personally and as a community. Through this relationship, a joint activity can be created, such as a reunion with your old school friends, social gathering, or traveling together.
Always think positive
Retirement is not the end of everything but the beginning of everything. Many positive sides can be taken when entering retirement, namely more relaxing time so that you can focus more on worship, feel happy with your family and carry out some plans that have not been realized while working.
Focus on life goals
This is related to understanding self-identity. It takes time and a long process to understand the purpose of this life. Not all civil servants when they retire have a goal to just relax, but some aim to benefit the surrounding environment by filling their free time with activities that have a positive impact such as starting a new business, teaching, or being actively involved in activities in the surrounding environment.
Financial Stability, mentally stable financially stable
It is undeniable that one’s financial or financial stability can affect one’s mental stability. To maintain financial stability at the time of retirement, apart from the pension and old-age benefits provided by the government, civil servants can also prepare for their financial condition by calculating their retirement fund needs, then saving or investing to meet those needs.
While there is still time to invest, from now on it is necessary to get used to setting aside salary on a regular basis to prepare for retirement funds. Several investment options such as property, bonds, stocks, or mutual funds can be an option depending on their respective risk profiles.
In addition, it is necessary to deepen financial knowledge from an early age so that after retirement, we are not tempted by fake investment offers that can harm the retirees themselves. Also, so that after retirement, we do not become a burden for their children and grandchildren later.
Understanding self-identity
Leaving the world of work also automatically leaves the identity you have so far, for example, a position in a government agency. You have to start concocting a new identity, such as a retired civil servant.
Although most people refer to themselves as retired civil servants or retirees from a company, over time they also want to start a new life by not connecting their current identity with the career they have lived. By understanding one’s identity, one can also avoid post-power syndrome, which usually infects someone who has lost their position or power.
What should not be forgotten to prepare for retirement is to maintain good health by exercising and doing regular health tests. This life is only temporary; therefore, we must make the most of it.
