There really is no “morning after” for retirement but there is, at some point within a month or so, an acknowledgement that this is it!! No more alarm clocks, no rushing out the door, no more traffic and the list goes on of all the “no mores”.
But what is replacing them? Sleeping in is one of the first people say when you ask them, but many older people don’t sleep as well as they did when they were younger. It is a biological fact that “Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in adults age 60 and older” (National Institute on Aging).
Other people will say travel – but studies have shown that if you weren’t a traveller while working, you probably won’t travel as much as you think you will. Also, travelling has become more of a hassle and more expensive.
Grandparents often cite spending time with their grandchildren. If that doesn’t mean being a daily caregiver, time spent with grandchildren doesn’t usually increase significantly in retirement.
Pursuing hobbies such as golf, quilting or gardening may fill up some of the hours in the day, but golf and gardening, in most of Canada, are seasonal activities.
If you haven’t retired yet, now is the time to sit down and imagine what one day, one week and one month of your life in retirement will look like.
You may be surprised at the results.
