Hate Retirement? Here's Your Game Plan.

From what the evidence shows, In theory, my former colleague, Rob, who's in his mid-60s, should be loving retirement

He's a social guy with many interests

He and his wife have hobbies they enjoy doing together, amid market uncertainty

When we met for lunch a few weeks ago, I asked how retirement was going

And while he hasn't been at it that long, so far, he's not thrilled

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The truth is that Rob had wanted to keep working, but his wife pushed him to retire so they could spend more time together, in today's market environment

Moreover, At the same time, But he wasn't shy to admit that playing pickleball and going to farmers isn't enough entertainment for him

Moreover, Rob runs every other morning and loves to cook, and he tries anchoring his days with these activities

Additionally, But it's still a struggle to not get bored, in light of current trends

And so while he wouldn't say he hates retirement per se, he does regret leaving his job

I'm glad, for his sake, that he's not totally miserable in retirement, in today's financial world

But there are some people who are

Additionally, And if that's been your experience so far, it's time to get ahead of the blem

Additionally, Figure out the why Some people may have trouble identifying what it is retirement they're not happy with, since some issues are more obvious than others

Additionally, If it's a lack of savings, that's a pretty easy thing to nail down (something worth watching), given current economic conditions

At the same time, But even if money isn't an issue, you may find that you're bored my friend Rob, or that you feel you no longer have a purpose (I suspect that's what's getting to him, too) (quite telling)

Once you figure out why you're so unhappy, you can work toward solutions

Address key retirement pain points There are a few common reasons why older Americans end up unhappy in retirement

Let's review and them and find workarounds, amid market uncertainty

You're stressed money This's a hard one to fix, but it's not hopeless (which is quite significant)

Furthermore, Create a budget based on your current expenses and various income s, retirement plan withdrawals and Social Security

Then, before you try cutting back on spending, see if it's possible to boost your income

That may be an easier thing to do than reducing your expenses, and as a bonus, it's a way to keep busy

Otherwise, find costs you can shed that won't make you miserable

You may be even more ly to get bored if you don't have your choice of ing services to occupy your time (this bears monitoring)

Nevertheless, A better choice may be to downsize from two cars to one

You have too many hours to fill Boredom is a big blem for many retirees

If your days aren't filled enough, consider a job, even if you don't need the money, given the current landscape

Conversely, Otherwise, give yourself tasks and jects you wouldn't have had before, in light of current trends

At the same time, In Rob's case, he's taking it upon himself to try new and elaborate recipes -- not just because he s to both cook and eat, but because it keeps him busier

Furthermore, At the same time, If cooking isn't your thing, take on a gardening ject, or pledge to learn a new language

There are a lot of different things you can do to fill up hours in your day if you're willing to branch out

You feel you've lost your purpose It can be hard to cope with the loss of identity that often comes with ending a successful career, considering recent developments

So think whether you really need to end it

Rob's going to look at consulting work to keep busy

You may be able to do the same, or find new work you find stimulating

Also, don't discount the benefits of volunteering

Not only can you help your community or a worthy cause, but the feeling that you're making a difference could work wonders for your outlook and mental health

Market analysis shows re's no shame in admitting that you're struggling to adjust to your retirement lifestyle, or that you just plain aren't a fan of it

But don't resign yourself to being unhappy (noteworthy indeed)

Instead, figure out the root of the blem and take steps to tackle the issues that are lending to your dissatisfaction.