In the years leading up to your golden years, you’ll receive plenty of financial advice on preparing for retirement. You want to ensure you have enough money to last the duration of your retirement and maybe still have something left in your estate. This is incredibly important, but there’s more to retirement than simply saving your money and waiting. Author and speaker Dr. Riley Moynes has contemplated the psychological challenges that retirees face and determined that there are four distinct phases of retirement. Understanding these phases and preparing for their challenges will help you maximize your retirement. Vacation This phase is exactly what it sounds like. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation 24/7. You wake up when you want, sleep when you want, and do whatever your heart desires throughout each day. We’re free from responsibilities and can enjoy each moment as it comes, but many people grow bored of this stage after the first year of retirement. We begin to miss our routine and question if there’s anything more to retirement. Loss This second stage begins when we start to feel like we’ve lost who we are. We lose our routine, our identity, many of the relationships we’ve built, a sense of purpose, and for some, a feeling of power. This is also the stage where retirees can face divorce, depression, and physical and mental decline. It can be traumatic when you don’t see these losses coming, but this phase doesn’t last forever. Trial and Error This phase is all about trying to make your life more meaningful. Often, the best path forward is to invest more time into your favorite activities. Be warned that many of these activities will have lost their luster, causing you to experience some trial and error. Don’t give up! Something will click to give you purpose, propelling you into phase four. UNDERSTAND THE 4 PHASES OF RETIREMENT Maximize Your Golden Years
Traveling alone can be a memorable and adventurous experience — it’s a great way to step outside your comfort zone and continue learning about yourself. While solo travel is chock-full of exciting perks, staying alone in a hotel can be dangerous if you aren’t careful to take certain safety precautions. The next time you take a trip by yourself, keep these tips in mind! Check in the smart way. When you check in to your hotel, always ask for two room keys — this way, hotel staff and anyone else in earshot will automatically assume someone else is traveling with you. If they ask how many guests will be staying with you, don’t admit you are alone. If you have the option, request a room that isn’t on the ground floor, as research shows they are the easiest to break into! Inspect your room. As soon as you enter the room, make a quick sweep to ensure no one is present in closets, in the shower, or under the bed and that nothing appears to be amiss. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry! Keep your eyes peeled. Any time you leave your room, even if it’s just to scope out the vending machines, be alert for anyone watching or following you, and always keep your room number discreet. If you ever feel like someone is following you, get off on a different floor and avoid going to your room. Use the deadbolt. If the door in your room comes equipped with a deadbolt, use it! This extra safety measure keeps even those with a key from entering your room without your knowing! Share the hotel information. Let your family and friends know where you are staying! Provide them with the hotel name, address, and phone number in case an emergency arises! Traveling solo is a thrilling experience, but it comes with some extra steps to stay safe! Trust your instincts and use these tips to ensure your trip goes down in the memory books as safe and exciting! KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WHILE TRAVELING ALONE
Reinvention Not everyone will make it to this stage. To get here, you must ask yourself, “What’s my mission in retirement?” Maybe you want to serve others by volunteering with a charity, or perhaps you simply want to improve your golf game. Finding that purpose and reinventing yourself around it will bring you more happiness during your golden years.
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