10 Ways To Transition Yourself Into Retirement

It's the time in your life when you've worked hard and you're finally ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You deserve a break, but how do you transition into retirement? From finding a new purpose to moving into an assisted living community, these are 10 ways to take your life from a full-time job up until now to what promises to be fulfilling retirement.

If you feel unsure about making this crucial decision for yourself, don't worry: Seeking out guidance from experts and other retirees is one of the best ways to make this transition smoothly without sacrificing any happiness.

Find a new purpose.

What was your life purpose before you started work? Did you love what you did, but hated the long hours required to fulfill those desires? What if, during that same time period, you were able to find something completely different for yourself to do? Would you be happy and fulfilled doing that entirely new job? Chances are that you would be as thrilled as your friends and family members, who can attest to how wonderful retirement is when it's lived out according to its true meaning.

This isn't meant as a way of becoming an auto-worker in the service industry or even a bus driver who takes his passengers on scenic tours. Instead, it's about finding something that makes you truly happy and is something you can do for the rest of your life.

For example, suppose for many years you worked hard at a high-stress job in order to earn enough money to retire early so that you could spend more time with your family. However, this also leaves time in which they miss seeing you during the week, especially when they look forward to your visits on the weekends.

Choosing to become a volunteer during retirement shifts your focus toward giving back rather than gaining. You can start out small by sharing some of your wisdom and experience with a local nonprofit or even becoming a substitute teacher for an inner-city school in need of mentors.

If you aren't a teacher, consider becoming a mentor to another person of your choice. Mentoring often benefits both parties, and it's even more fulfilling for the mentee. You'll spend time on your own terms with someone that you care about, which is priceless.

For those who don't have something or anyone to mentor them after retirement, consider volunteering for something that doesn't involve the classroom or classroom-like settings. Though this may mean less income than what you'd make if you went back to a career in education, it's important that these volunteer positions are ones that truly make you happy.

For those who really just want to be a teacher, this is perfectly okay. You'll likely need to go back to school and become certified, which isn't cheap. Plus, there's not always time for this during retirement years. However, it's important that you find some sort of passion in order to live out the rest of your life knowing that you're giving back in some way.

This is also true for other retirees who aren't sure about what exactly it means to transition into retirement. Depending on how much money you have saved up, this may mean going back to school or finding a part-time job so that you can work toward a specific goal ahead of time. You may end up loving this new job, but it's important to try it out in order to decide for yourself if you want to make this a permanent change or just part of your "retirement journey."

TIP: If you don't want to become a teacher after retirement, there are plenty of other jobs that allow for flexibility during the work week. For instance, there are plenty of other jobs that require a more relaxed dress code and/or standard business hours instead of ones where you have to be on-call all the time.

Move into an assisted living community.

Another way that you can transition into retirement is by moving into an assisted living community (ALC). There are several different kinds, depending on your specific needs. For instance, some assisted living communities help to support those who need a little extra help with day-to-day tasks like cooking, cleaning, and paying bills. Other ALCs help those who require more care with their personal care needs.

The latter community is often referred to as a skilled nursing facility or even a nursing home for short. It's important that you understand the differences between these two types of places in order to know which one is best for you or your relative.

For example, there are certain situations when moving into an ALC may be the best solution because it provides more peace of mind while relieving caregiver stress at home. In some caregiving situations, the stress can become so great that it impacts both parties. This can be especially true if the family caregiver begins to resent the person he or she is caring for.

On top of this, there are some assisted living communities where you can move into and receive physical therapy if it's something you need. If your health declines in this way during retirement, don't be afraid to ask for help. Another perk of moving into an ALC is that they allow you to try things out before making a final decision on whether or not you want to live there permanently.

You may start out as a temporary guest and then transition into a resident instead of a full-time resident within a month or two. This is a perfect way to ease into retirement without giving up your independence.

TIP: In order to get into an assisted living community, you need to go through the proper channels and become approved for the location. These have their own criteria that you need to meet in order for approval. You can find a list of all the different criteria on the Association for Continuing Care Facilities' website at http://www.acfacweb.org/about_facilities/criteria_for_application.html, though it's also worth looking around online for more information on each category as well as who's hiring.

Maintain your current job even after retirement is complete.

The last item on this list may seem a bit odd at first, but it makes sense once you read the opening to this section. You'll remain in (or return to) the job you had previously, even after you've retired, if being there is something that truly makes you happy.

Conclusion

Depending on your current situation, you may be able to retire in a variety of ways. The only thing you need to do is focus on the needs of others rather than just your own. This will make it easier to move forward with your plans and take control of when you want to retire.

For more information about retirement, go on over to Hire Retirees to learn more! We are an online resource for hiring baby boomers as employees.

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