Putting Retirement Fear in its Place

Retirement is a time of great change – you are adopting a new lifestyle, becoming more self-reliant, making decisions on health and well-being, and taking on new and different responsibilities.

With such changes comes a chance for fear to grow. Fears such as:

“Will I lose my physical or mental health as I age?”

“Will I have sufficient monies to permit me to accomplish my retirement plans?”

“Will disputes or mood swings affect my relationship with my partner?”

Fears cause feelings of unease and if not addressed, can act as obstacles between you and a happy retirement. 

Fear is a natural human emotion. But sometimes it can be a major roadblock.  Here are six simple actions you can take to put fear in perspective while moving on with enjoying retirement.

1. Stay positive.  Keep reminding yourself how fortunate you are to have good health, a loving family and friends.

• Acknowledge strengths and ability to adapt to change. Think about the changes you have already managed successfully including surviving adolescence, getting an education, buying a home, raising a family and pursuing a career.

• Take responsibility for your mistakes. Don’t make excuses. Remind yourself that if you did not make mistakes, you would never have learned how to improve.

• Importance of sharing fears. By talking to others about what bothers you, you receive different perspectives and input that may help better understand your fear.

• Collaborate on important issues. If you have fears about health, money, or a primary relationship, talk with the key professional or person in your life and share your concern. Once you know whether fear has validity, you can start working to fix it – or forget it.

• Focus on your retirement life plan. Keep asking yourself, “How do I move forward to accomplish what I believe is important?” Get professional help if your fears begin to prevent you from making progress.

Remember, retirement is a time of change that will continue.  It’s also one of the most exciting times for shifting focus, exploring new avenues, and mastering new knowledge and skills. Don’t let yourself grow numb to possibilities but rather take responsibility for yourself and your situation by addressing your fears.