What you do now might affect your happiness in retirement

What you do now might affect your happiness in retirement We've all dreamed about retirement, right? How we will spend our days when we are finally off the clock — permanently. While having enough money to enjoy it is generally the first thing people plan for, experts say retirement can be a shock to the system if you've not considered how you'll spend your time. Loneliness, a loss of identity and family expectations are just a few things that can be challenging to navigate. Here's what to consider, and when. Consider transitioning to retirement slowly Retirement is one of the most significant transitions working Australians go through, according to Nick Tebbey, the national executive officer at Relationships Australia. "I think a lot of people really approach that with a great sense of excitement," he says. "But also, [there's] trepidation and perhaps a little bit of stress about what life is going to look like on the other side." Mr Tebbey recommends people start this planning at least five years before retiring to allow themselves time to adjust. "[If you can] over a few years, start reducing your hours from full-time to part-time, or part-time to a casual arrangement," he says. "This allows you to test out and adapt to fewer hours at work and more time at home." Lachlan Searle, the chief executive for national suicide prevention charity for RUOK?, says mapping out your retirement is as important as the financial planning. "I think like any transition in life, whether it's in early adulthood, it's whether it's getting married or having children or buying a new house, these things need to be planned for," he says. "The tricky thing is that you go from being busy to not being busy." Discuss your plans and expectations with loved ones Relationships Australia says retirement may change the dynamic and expectations within close relationships. "Have the necessary conversations with your loved ones about what retirement is going to look like," Mr Tebbey says. "[This] helps family and friends adjust their expectations and gives them insight into what might be appropriate to ask of you." He says to consider talking through the following: - How you'll spend time together and individually (if partnered) - Expectations around housework and maintenance - Consider attending couples' counselling to fine-tune the relationship - Communicate availabilities for helping children or grandchildren "Get a clear understanding of what each other's needs are and expectations are," Mr Tebbey says. "If grandad is off to golf on a Monday afternoon, he's not picking [grandchildren] from school. "It's having those conversations before they get to the point where there's a tension or a conflict." Goals can be healthy Our experts say doing as little as possible is "perfectly acceptable and common in the early stages" of retirement, but often enjoyment of that wanes. "Over time, [you'll want] something to focus on and we can still have goals after we retire," Mr Tebbey says. He says there might be a life skill you want to master, a topic you want to study or a group activity or volunteer work you'd like to get involved with. "So actually, thinking about what those might be and setting some goals that you can track and focus on, gives us a sense of purpose," he says. "Give yourself permission really to think of all the things that bring you joy and excitement." Mr Searle says ideally, people will start those goals or hobbies before they stop working. "We spend a lot of time on the road, and we come across a lot of retirees who are doing their big lap around the country in their caravans," he says. "A lot of them started doing it in their 40s and 50s with the kids. "It's a good example of how you can try things out that you're going to spend more and more time on as you retire." Planning new routines to combat loneliness It is common for retirement to lead to greater social isolation and feelings of loneliness, according to Mr Tebbey. "Because for so much of our lives, our work community is such a big part of our social community," he says. "It's quite natural to feel lonely from time to time, it's more what you do about it and how you can prevent it from becoming a chronic or lasting feeling." He recommends people plan for regular activities that provide social interaction, such as weekly lunch dates or calling friends and family consistently. Mr Searle says if you've planned for how you'll spend your time, or started new hobbies or interests, you will begin forming new and important friendships. "To find those other interests outside of work is really important, whether that's pre-retirement or after retirement, because it gives you the ability to connect with the community," he says. "Social connectedness can be a key factor in wellbeing, especially during this period."