Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Ways to Mentally and Emotionally Prepare for Early Retirement

Sam Bowen

Retirement is a big milestone. It's the culmination of your lifetime career and the start of a new chapter. Some lucky individuals even get the chance to retire early; although many workers plan to wait it out as long as possible, a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute reveals that 36% of retirees retired early, in contrast to the 9% who planned to retire before age 60.

But what many people fail to realize is that retirement is not automatically heaven on earth — it’s what you make of it. It can be mentally and emotionally challenging to face such a sudden disruption in your daily routine. Fortunately, all of your extra free time can be put to good use, whether that's spending more time with your family, writing the book you've always dreamed of, or volunteering at your local animal shelter.

In order to make the most of your early retirement, here are some ways to better prepare your body and mind for the next phase of your life.

Prioritize Your Physical Health

When it comes to mental and emotional health, physical health is often left by the wayside. As your body ages, however, you're liable to contract senior health issues, ranging from lupus to balance issues to feelings of depression and isolation.

It's important to take these health concerns seriously, even if they may seem trivial at first. What's more, is that the link between physical activity and mental well-being is undeniable. Studies have shown time and time again that physically active individuals show decreased rates of anxiety, negative moods, and depression. Active individuals also demonstrate healthier sleep patterns, improved cardiovascular fitness, and heightened self-esteem when compared to their sedentary counterparts.

So you have the flexibility when the weather is bad, you need to know how to create an effective workout space at home. When you put your physical health in the hands of an external institution, like a gym or personal trainer, you may fall into the trap of relying on these facilities to stay fit. Having a personalized home workout space, maybe making use of workout classes on YouTube or even working with an online trainer can help promote your physical independence and mental health as you adjust to early retirement.

Adopting a Furry Companion

Retirement also presents the opportunity to pursue activities you might not otherwise have had time for. If you are accustomed to spending nine hours a day at work, it may never have occurred to you to look into adopting a household pet, like a cat, dog, or even a gerbil.

Now that you have the time and flexibility to take on greater responsibility within your household, getting a pet could be a great way of staving off loneliness for retirees who live alone. For instance, dogs and humans help each other's mental health. If you're experiencing high levels of anxiety or panic attacks, petting a dog may help lower your heart rate, making dogs excellent companions for anxiety and PTSD management.

Dogs also encourage their owners to get out of the house and get active. Most dog owners make it a habit to take daily walks, which in turn improves their cardiovascular health. Lower amounts of stress and improved heart health can keep your body and mind healthy for years to come. It's even been shown that heart attack survivors who own a dog live longer than those who don’t. If adoption isn’t feasible, consider fostering an animal or volunteering at your local shelter.

Tackling Important Projects

When you were in the trenches of the workforce, chances are you didn't have much time to pursue home improvement tasks or other personal projects. Retirement gives you the time to do so, but only if you cultivate the self-discipline and motivation to make it happen.

The sky's the limit when it comes to lifestyle improvement. Have you always wanted to learn Spanish? Perhaps you have pages of notes for a mystery novel you want to write but have never had the time to sit down and type it out. Or maybe you want to design the perfect home in early retirement, from which you can enjoy the most serene years of your life.

No matter what your goals are, early retirement provides you with a newfound opportunity to create a lifestyle and living space tailored to your needs. Since you'll probably be spending a lot more time at home, your living space must be a comfortable one. Designing a floor plan for easier mobility, hiring custom home builders, and selecting stylish interior design elements can make all the difference in building the home of your dreams.

When you retire early, your daily lifestyle can change at the drop of a hat. The beauty of this freedom is that it gives you the ability to work on yourself and your personal projects. However, retirement doesn't come without its challenges, like loneliness, anxiety, and the emotional rollercoaster of starting a new chapter in your life. Fortunately, it's possible to mentally and emotionally prepare for early retirement with a little careful planning and strategizing. Retirement is just the start of your next great adventure. 

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Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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