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.
And while I couldn't tell you how much money he has in his 401(k), from what I can gather, it's not so much that he's trekking to the French Riviera three times a year, but it's enough that he's not stressing over egg prices, in today's financial world.
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. Image source: Getty Images.
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.