Retirement = not working.

 

Clearly that statement is not wrong. But it also is not complete.

 

Retirement should be more than doing nothing. After working so long, there you should be able to look forward to more than just “free time.”

 

Below are 5 reasons to consider retirement, besides simply not working anymore.

 

Achieving Your Goals

One of the first ones that many people should think about is achieving your goals.

 

Goals are things that maybe you wanted to do but haven’t had the time, resources, or possibly even desired when you were in your working years.

 

For those of you who are younger, you may not necessarily have any goals yet. And that is not a problem.

 

I know when I was in college or even freshly married, I had not really thought through anything long term for my life. I did not know what I wanted to do in 30 years, and frankly, I did not care. Now a few years removed and in my 30’s, I have a bit of a different view on my later years.

 

I see how my grandparents are living in retirement. I also now see how my parents and in-laws are preparing for retirement.

 

The point that has been the most impactful for me though, is seeing how many things I would like to do that I cannot for several reasons.

 

One such thing includes traveling the country in an RV.

 

My wife and I LOVE traveling and visiting new places. There are so many interesting, historical, and beautiful places to see. The problem is, I do not have the time to see them all.

 

Because we both work and have responsibilities, I cannot just take time and randomly drive the country to experience all of these incredible places. But someday I would love to.

 

I now have a new goal that I did not know I would 10 years ago.

 

As you get older and more experienced, maybe you will start to gain passions you didn’t know you had. Perhaps there are places you would like to visit or things you would like to do that you just can’t right now.

 

Maybe one of your passions is helping people and you’d love to spend more time volunteering with an organization or charity that is doing something meaningful and important.

 

Take the time and really think about what is important to you and make those unattainable scenarios into attainable goals.

 

Have fun with it too! Dream big! What fun is a goal if it is not extravagant!

 

Spend More Time with Family

Another reason to consider retirement is the opportunity to spend time with family or friends.

 

Once again this is typically something younger people are not thinking about but let me paint a scenario for you to think through.

 

Imagine you have been married for 30 years are you have two kids and four grandchildren. You have lived in the same place doing the same job for the last 30 years and have built a great life. But your kids have moved away.

 

They got jobs in various places, and you have not had the pleasure of seeing your grandkids grow up as much as you would have liked to.

 

Now that you are retired, you are not tethered to a location anymore because of work. Now, in your newly found free time, you can move and be closer to family.

 

The same situation can apply to friends who relocated.

 

Perhaps you never had children and you want to retire closer to a friend group that moved.

 

A quality retirement plan allows you to achieve these things and more!

 

To do Things Before Your Health Declines

I was recently talking to friends who came over about my health in my early 20’s compared to my health in my early 30’s. I am certain not old yet, but I can already feel Father Time working against my body.

 

I remember for years being able to do all kinds of physical activities without pain. Now it hurts to sit too long.

 

Realistically, no matter how healthy you are now, your health will decline, and normal activities will get harder.

 

Being practical about your goals and what you need financially and timewise to achieve them is a crucial step to take, but many people overlook their health in this respect.

 

If your passion is hiking, what are the chances of you being able to hike a mountain in your mid 60’s?

 

You may have all the time and financial resources, but your health may not allow you to do what you want.

 

Gain More Time for Yourself

Retirement is a wonderful time for you to make YOU a priority.

 

Chances are, for the entirety of your working career, your focus has been (or will be) on your career or your family and, while certainly not wrong, your goals and desires have fallen to the wayside.

 

Now, in all your free time, you can start making what you want to do a priority.

 

This certainly aligns with the goals section above but goes beyond it.

 

Goals would be those moments or events that you just have not been able to manage due to lack of recourses or time constraints.

 

These would typically be larger in nature like travel.

 

Putting yourself first does not have to be large.

 

Things in this category could be as simple as you want to read more, learn a new language, work on your flexibility, exercise more, learn to cook, etc.

 

Retirement is an opportunity for you to better yourself. Do the things you want to do.

 

To Start a New Business

This last point is a bonus that has been getting more popular in recent years.

 

In the world of gig economy where people are starting more side hustles and doing more things on their own, starting your own business is something you should consider.

 

Think about your career.

 

Are you in finance? Financial consulting could be a future path for you.

Work in marketing? Starting a YouTube channel or podcast sharing your years of experience with others may be a fulfilling bonus career into your retirement.

 

What skills and experience have you gained in your working career that could be beneficial not only to you but to others? What opportunities are there out there?