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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About the Authors
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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