Wake-up call before retirement

Use this time to make plans for your future

The coronavirus pandemic has given us all time to think while providing a forced slowdown and a “pre-retirement” wake-up call.

As you do your part by social distancing, those of you who are child-free, or no longer have young children in need of constant care, you’ve now had a glimpse of what it would be like to be home all the time. In other words, retired!

So what do you think? This is the time to start thinking seriously about how you want to spend your time in retirement.

How do you envision your retired life and what do you want to do? Do you have an adviser who is helping you get to where you want to go? There are many personal choices and opportunities out there, so you need to plan your future in a way that allows you to become engaged and purposeful.

When this is all over — and that day will come — are you just going to go back to the way it was before, or is it time for a change? Remember that happiness is not attained just when you retire. You need to be happy along the way to retirement, and this is achieved only when you’re doing things that matter most.

Continue to dream and to seek inspiration. Everyone knows where they have come from, but many aren’t so sure where they want to go.

Why not take this free time to make a plan, keep a journal, write down your goals and consider going in a different direction? You’ll be surprised at how making just a few small changes can make you happier and more successful in every facet of life, whether you’re already retired or just on your way.

Christine Ibbotson is author of Don’t Panic: How to Manage Your Finances and Financial Anxieties During and After the Coronavirus and How To Retire Debt Free & Wealthy.