All right, folks buckle up because today we're diving headfirst into a topic that's
Speaker:on the minds of many soon to be retirees.
Speaker:You know, retirement isn't just about money.
Speaker:Sure.
Speaker:Financial planning is crucial, but there's so much more to it.
Speaker:Have you ever thought about the non financial changes that can hit you like
Speaker:a freight train if you're not prepared?
Speaker:Things like losing your structured routine, changes in your identity
Speaker:and shifts in your social circles.
Speaker:Today, we're going to talk about five important things
Speaker:that disappear when you retire.
Speaker:And more importantly, We're going to discuss how to navigate these changes
Speaker:with confidence and a strong faith.
Speaker:So if you're wondering, am I ready for retirement?
Speaker:Stick around because by the end of this episode, you'll have a clear roadmap to
Speaker:make your retirement truly fulfilling.
Speaker:Hey everyone, welcome to the ask Ralph show.
Speaker:I'm your financial evangelist, Ralph, and thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker:We're here to help you escape that cycle of financial shame with
Speaker:confidence and give you a clear plan for enjoying a successful retirement,
Speaker:whatever that looks like for you.
Speaker:They say retirement, the golden years, right?
Speaker:Well, it's often seen as a time of financial freedom
Speaker:and a time of relaxation.
Speaker:But what about the other aspects of life to change?
Speaker:Today we're talking about the five important things that disappear when you
Speaker:retire and how to manage these changes.
Speaker:Whether it's loss of a structured routine, changes in your identity, or even shifts
Speaker:in your social circle, we're going to explore how to navigate these transitions
Speaker:with grace and a Christian perspective.
Speaker:By the end of the show, you'll have concrete steps to ensure a
Speaker:fulfilling And purposeful retirement.
Speaker:So let's dive in.
Speaker:Now, yesterday we discussed how to budget when paychecks are unpredictable.
Speaker:We explore practical tips and strategies to help you manage
Speaker:your finances, even when your income isn't all that consistent.
Speaker:And if you missed it, be sure to check it out.
Speaker:AskRalph.
Speaker:com.
Speaker:We've got over 700 episodes for you to check out right there at AskRalph.
Speaker:com.
Speaker:So let's get started with today's question.
Speaker:And this one comes from Susan and Susan writes this, she says, Ralph, I'm
Speaker:about to retire after a long career.
Speaker:I've saved diligently and I'm financially prepared, but I'm starting to feel really
Speaker:anxious about those non financial changes.
Speaker:I've had the same routine for decades, waking up at the same time, going to
Speaker:work, having meetings and feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
Speaker:My job has been a big part of my identity.
Speaker:But now I'm afraid that without the structure and purpose, I'll
Speaker:feel lost and unproductive.
Speaker:I don't know how to find meaning and fulfillment in retirement.
Speaker:Can you help me prepare for these changes?
Speaker:Oh, Susan, let me just tell you, I feel you, I'm a couple of years away from
Speaker:retirement, but retirement can be a huge transition and it's completely normal
Speaker:to feel anxious about these changes.
Speaker:I've seen many clients struggle with the loss of structure and the
Speaker:loss of their identity after leaving their jobs, but let me tell you this
Speaker:right now, Susan, there is hope.
Speaker:And today we're going to discuss five key areas that often disappear
Speaker:in retirement and provide you with.
Speaker:Actionable steps to navigate these changes.
Speaker:I've been through this with many clients and I'm confident that with the right
Speaker:approach, you can find purpose and fulfillment in this new phase of life.
Speaker:So let's get started.
Speaker:And don't forget, if you've got a question you'd like me to answer, just
Speaker:like Susan's, you can head over to just.
Speaker:AskRalph.
Speaker:com because here's the truth.
Speaker:I love answering your questions and it's a central part of the show.
Speaker:My goal is to help you find financial peace and grow in your faith.
Speaker:So as we transition into our main content, let's start with an
Speaker:appropriate verse from the Bible.
Speaker:I found this one in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Speaker:It's chapter three, verse one, and it says this to.
Speaker:Everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Speaker:You know, this verse reminds us that life is full of different seasons.
Speaker:I'm learning this in my 52 year here, each with its own purpose.
Speaker:And see retirement is just another one of those seasons.
Speaker:And it's important to recognize that the opportunities that.
Speaker:Retirement brings.
Speaker:Let's use this verse as our starting point and explore how we can find
Speaker:purpose and fulfillment in retirement.
Speaker:And Susan, I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my experience
Speaker:with you and my knowledge with you.
Speaker:The Lord has given me the privilege of helping many people
Speaker:navigate the complexities of retirement, both financially,
Speaker:and I'll talk about a little bit.
Speaker:I, I wear my emotional hat sometimes, and I'm thankful for the wisdom
Speaker:he's provided and the chance to use it to help others find peace.
Speaker:And purpose in their retirement years.
Speaker:So let's get started.
Speaker:Susan, let me start by sharing a story about one of my clients.
Speaker:A few years ago, I worked with, we'll call him John.
Speaker:Now, John was a six, had a successful career in finance and he was
Speaker:looking forward to retirement.
Speaker:He had saved diligently and he was financially prepared.
Speaker:You know, we had, he had planned well financially.
Speaker:And when we met, he was very proud of his retirement nest egg.
Speaker:He started saving early and, and frankly, from a financial
Speaker:standpoint, he was in great shape.
Speaker:However, as his retirement date approached, he started to feel anxious.
Speaker:He was worried about losing the structure and the purpose that his job provided.
Speaker:See, John had always been an early riser with a rigid routine that
Speaker:started with a cup of coffee and then review of the day's financial news.
Speaker:And I know, I don't know about you, Susan, but I can certainly relate to that.
Speaker:His days were filled with meetings and deadlines and a sense of accomplishment.
Speaker:That was the life he knew, it was comfortable for him, and it was a
Speaker:routine he had come to appreciate.
Speaker:But now he feared that without this structure in retirement, he would
Speaker:feel lost, he would feel unproductive.
Speaker:And one day John shared his concern to me, he said this, he
Speaker:said, Ralph, retirement scares me.
Speaker:I just don't know how I'm going to be able to break away from this routine
Speaker:I've come to know for so many years.
Speaker:And I heard what he was saying and it was, it was a deep feeling of anxiety for him.
Speaker:He was a strong guy, but this feeling was deep and it was strong.
Speaker:And I quickly reminded him, I said, listen, retirement is
Speaker:not just about leaving work.
Speaker:It's about transitioning to a brand new phase of life.
Speaker:I've said it on the show many times.
Speaker:Retirement is not an end.
Speaker:It's just a change in season.
Speaker:But at that moment, John needed a friend and not an accountant.
Speaker:And over the years, I've come to realize that I wear many hats.
Speaker:And that day, I was a life coach.
Speaker:We talked about the importance of establishing a new routine.
Speaker:One that aligned with his values.
Speaker:Align with his passions.
Speaker:You see, john had always been active in his church and he decided to
Speaker:dedicate more time to volunteering and mentoring young professionals.
Speaker:And I gotta be honest, it was it was neat seeing that spark in his eye when
Speaker:he when he talked about his mentoring.
Speaker:Over time, John found that this new routine brought a
Speaker:different kind of fulfillment.
Speaker:Honestly, it was a fulfillment that he wasn't really expecting.
Speaker:He really came to enjoy the flexibility and the opportunity to serve others.
Speaker:And his whole identity shifted from being a successful financial
Speaker:professional to being a valued member of the community and the church.
Speaker:John had found his new purpose.
Speaker:And Susan, let me just tell you.
Speaker:You can find that purpose as well.
Speaker:Let me tell you about another client.
Speaker:We'll call her Mary.
Speaker:Mary faced a very similar challenge.
Speaker:Mary had been a nurse for over 30 years and she had built her
Speaker:identity around caring for others.
Speaker:I have many clients that are nurses and they are just caring people.
Speaker:She loved to be of service to those in needs and it truly defined her
Speaker:and she found her purpose in it.
Speaker:So when she retired, she felt a deep sense of loss.
Speaker:She missed that structure of her work days, that sense of purpose
Speaker:that came with her profession.
Speaker:And after she retired and, and we were meeting one day to do her
Speaker:annual taxes, she asked me for help.
Speaker:And listen, I was honored.
Speaker:She asked me and I, again, grabbed my coach hat off the shelf and we got
Speaker:started and Mary and I worked together to create a new routine that, and that new
Speaker:routine included volunteering at a local hospice, taking long walks in the park.
Speaker:And, and she really got a lot of enjoyment out of joining a Bible study group.
Speaker:And these activities not only filled her days, but also
Speaker:provided a new sense of purpose.
Speaker:See Mary found that she could still care for others, just
Speaker:in a completely different way.
Speaker:She didn't have to worry about that nine to five, or I think in
Speaker:her case, she worked shift work.
Speaker:It was just a different way.
Speaker:And in her faith.
Speaker:Her faith became a central part of her new routine and she found joy.
Speaker:She truly found joy.
Speaker:I remember her saying this to me.
Speaker:She said, Ralph, I found joy in serving God and serve in my community.
Speaker:And Susan, these are just two stories of many.
Speaker:I've seen firsthand how this retirement transition has affected people.
Speaker:It's affected them in a positive way.
Speaker:And I've, unfortunately I've seen clients that have been affected in a negative way.
Speaker:So Susan, let's dive deeper into what I'm going to call the five important
Speaker:things that disappear when you retire.
Speaker:And let's talk about how to manage these changes with practical strategies.
Speaker:Let's start with number one, loss of a structured routine.
Speaker:One of the most noticeable changes in retirement is the
Speaker:disappearance of the structured routine that defines your workday.
Speaker:For many people, for decades, you, your life revolved around set
Speaker:wake up times, schedules, and a daily task dictated by your job.
Speaker:And that initial freedom from the structure can be liberating.
Speaker:But many retirees find that the novelty eventually wears off.
Speaker:And here's an interesting I found when I was preparing for the show today.
Speaker:According to the study by the University of Washington, retirees who maintain a
Speaker:structured routine report higher levels of mental health and overall well being.
Speaker:So that was a study, like again, University of Washington, but
Speaker:what they found is retirees who maintain a structured routine.
Speaker:They reported higher levels of mental health and over all well being.
Speaker:So let's talk about some practical strategies to help
Speaker:deal with that situation.
Speaker:One of the things I'm going to recommend highly is to create a
Speaker:daily schedule, just like your work days, how to schedule, create a
Speaker:daily routine for your retirement.
Speaker:This is not the time to just lay in bed and wonder what's going to happen next.
Speaker:I'm going to encourage you to include specific times for waking
Speaker:up, you know, still set that alarm.
Speaker:Maybe you don't even need to set it.
Speaker:I know I'm 52.
Speaker:I'll be 53 in September.
Speaker:I feel like more and more.
Speaker:I don't even need the alarm clock, but I'm going to encourage you, you know,
Speaker:include specific times for waking up.
Speaker:Include specific times for meals, build in that exercise in that relaxation routine.
Speaker:I'm going to encourage you to dedicate time for, for spiritual growth as well.
Speaker:Set aside time each day for prayer.
Speaker:This is a great time to join a Bible study or really focus on
Speaker:a devotional that you enjoy.
Speaker:So really take root in the Bible and start to reflect on it.
Speaker:This can be a quiet time in the morning, or maybe for you, it's in the evening.
Speaker:This is whatever works best for you.
Speaker:Another thing I'm going to encourage you to do is volunteer and serve.
Speaker:The thing that I've seen with most of my clients, when they get involved
Speaker:in volunteering and serving, they really find fulfillment in that.
Speaker:So you can incorporate volunteer activities into your routine.
Speaker:This could be things like helping at a local food bank, mentoring
Speaker:youth, or assisting at your church.
Speaker:See, serving others can provide a profound sense of purpose.
Speaker:Another thing I'm going to encourage you to do is explore hobbies and interests.
Speaker:Use your newfound time to explore hobbies you've always wanted to try.
Speaker:It's going to be something like gardening, or painting, or writing, or maybe
Speaker:podcasting, or even learning a new skill.
Speaker:I'm also going to encourage you to get involved in social engagements,
Speaker:schedule regular social activities.
Speaker:This is not the time to become a hermit.
Speaker:You know, you can do things like meeting with your friends for lunch.
Speaker:Maybe you join a book club or maybe you participate in community events.
Speaker:And let me share this.
Speaker:I remember working with a client, we'll call her Sarah and she was
Speaker:Always joking about how she'd never had time to learn Spanish, but
Speaker:once she retired, well, guess what?
Speaker:She enrolled in a Spanish class and now speaks it fluently.
Speaker:She even started a language exchange group at her church.
Speaker:Talk about turning a hobby into a meaningful activity.
Speaker:Well, let's move on to number two and that's changes in identity.
Speaker:Talked about this in your question, Susan, another significant shift
Speaker:in retirement involves your sense of identity for many of us.
Speaker:Our profession is deeply intertwined with how we perceive ourselves and
Speaker:how others recognize us and when this professional role comes to an end.
Speaker:A lot of retirees experience a loss of identity, and that leads to feelings
Speaker:of decreased usefulness, decreased importance and, and really can
Speaker:really shatter your self confidence.
Speaker:Here's another interesting statistic.
Speaker:Research shows that up to 25 percent of retirees experience a loss of
Speaker:identity, and this can lead to increased feelings of depression
Speaker:and increased feelings of anxiety.
Speaker:So I wanted to share some practical strategies to help you get Pass this.
Speaker:The first thing I'm going to tell you to do is to reflect
Speaker:on your identity in Christ.
Speaker:It's so easy to get caught up in my identity of what I, what my role was.
Speaker:But remember, your primary identity is in Christ.
Speaker:Spend time in prayer and spend time in reflection.
Speaker:Remind yourself of God's love and the purpose he has for your life.
Speaker:This is also a time to explore new roles and embrace new roles such as mentor or
Speaker:volunteer or maybe grandparent or maybe active member in the church community.
Speaker:These roles can provide a new sense of identity and truly give you new purpose.
Speaker:Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do is a redefine yourself through activities,
Speaker:engage in activities that align with your values and align with your passions
Speaker:because now you've got time to do it.
Speaker:This could be teaching a Sunday school class, maybe leading a Bible study, or
Speaker:even becoming a community event organizer.
Speaker:These are great things to do.
Speaker:Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do is seek community involvement.
Speaker:Get in, get involved in your community through that volunteer work, maybe local
Speaker:clubs or, or community organizations.
Speaker:Because this can help you redefine your identity and contribute to your community.
Speaker:Another thing I'm going to highly encourage you to do is this is a
Speaker:great time to pursue personal growth.
Speaker:Use this time to pursue personal growth opportunities such as attending
Speaker:workshops, maybe taking some classes, or maybe learning new skills.
Speaker:Because this can help you discover new aspects of your identity,
Speaker:maybe some you didn't even realize.
Speaker:I've had many clients who've gone back to school in retirement to learn a new skill.
Speaker:Here in Delaware, there's something called, I think it's the Academy of
Speaker:Lifelong Learning, where you can actually attend the University of Delaware for
Speaker:free once you reach a certain age.
Speaker:One of my clients, Linda, was a high powered executive, and when she retired,
Speaker:she felt lost without that title and without those responsibilities.
Speaker:But she found a new purpose by becoming a mentor to young women in the community.
Speaker:She was that person that had forged ahead.
Speaker:And now she was working with young women in her community.
Speaker:And now she leads a mentorship program at her church and feels more
Speaker:fulfilled in ever in this new role.
Speaker:Well, let's move on to number three.
Speaker:And this one is vital and that you're going to see
Speaker:shifts in your social circles.
Speaker:Your social suckers are also going to undergo a transformation in retirement.
Speaker:The workplace often serves as a major hub for your daily social
Speaker:interaction with colleagues.
Speaker:You know, they say that water cooler talk and retirement
Speaker:naturally leads to a significant reduction in these interactions.
Speaker:And this can result in feelings of.
Speaker:Loneliness and isolation.
Speaker:I got to save right now.
Speaker:I'm gonna park here for a second.
Speaker:One of the main things I hear from retirees, especially those who
Speaker:are unmarried or, or maybe their widowers is that when they retire,
Speaker:they had this overwhelming fear of loneliness and, and isolation.
Speaker:And here's an interesting statistic that goes right along with this.
Speaker:According to a study by Michigan medicine, 33% You heard me right.
Speaker:33 percent of older adults report feeling lonely some of the
Speaker:time or often after retirement.
Speaker:And this loneliness is a huge issue for many, but listen, I've got some practical
Speaker:strategies that help you battle that.
Speaker:First thing I'm going to encourage you to do is nurture
Speaker:those existing relationships.
Speaker:Hey, make an effort to stay connected with the people that you used to work
Speaker:with your, your former colleagues, your friends, and even some family members.
Speaker:Maybe this is a time when you can actually connect with family members
Speaker:that you weren't able to connect with before because you were so busy working.
Speaker:Yeah.
Speaker:And I'm going to say something.
Speaker:Schedule those phone calls, schedule those meetups or video chats.
Speaker:Maybe you put them on your calendar.
Speaker:I know one of the things that when my grandfather had worked for what
Speaker:he called Uncle Doopey in Delaware, the DuPont company, he always looked
Speaker:forward to that annual picnic.
Speaker:It was a time to go back and see the people that he had worked
Speaker:with and the people that he interacted with on a daily basis.
Speaker:And I'll tell you what my grandfather found great.
Speaker:Create amount of enjoyment in that.
Speaker:Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do is join community groups.
Speaker:You can join local community groups or, or clubs or organizations
Speaker:that align with your interest.
Speaker:Maybe this is a book club or a gardening group, or maybe even a fitness class.
Speaker:Here's a nothing I'm encouraged to do.
Speaker:This is a Christian show.
Speaker:Get involved in church activities, engage in church activities, even if
Speaker:it's small groups or, or find service opportunities because these can
Speaker:provide a strong sense of belonging and help combat that loneliness.
Speaker:I'm going to tell you right now, there are people that go to my church that once
Speaker:they retire, man, they have no time for anything because they dive in headfirst
Speaker:and get involved in those church things.
Speaker:And listen, this is the truth.
Speaker:Most churches are looking for what I'll call well seasoned volunteers.
Speaker:So volunteer in these faith based organizations, they can align with
Speaker:your values and this can help you build meaningful relationships
Speaker:and support your community.
Speaker:Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do in retirement is to
Speaker:cultivate new relationships.
Speaker:I see this a lot in the commercials that I see for these 55 and older
Speaker:communities where people are saying, you know, we made friends here and
Speaker:we did this, but I think it's vital.
Speaker:Be open to cultivating new friendships.
Speaker:Go out there and attend social events, join classes, maybe
Speaker:participate in community activities that allow you to meet new people.
Speaker:I remember I had a client, we'll call him Tom, who was known as the office jokester.
Speaker:I mean, Tom was always the one that had the joke.
Speaker:And when he retired, he missed that daily laughter.
Speaker:He didn't have those people to run around the building saying,
Speaker:how did you hear this joke?
Speaker:And did you hear this joke?
Speaker:He was just, he was lost without that laughter and camaraderie.
Speaker:So in his case, he actually started a comedy club at his local senior center.
Speaker:Now he's the life of the party again and his social circle is thriving.
Speaker:Let's look at another thing and that's number four on my list
Speaker:and that's loss of purpose.
Speaker:The absence of a regular paycheck can also lead to a feeling of
Speaker:lost purpose because work often provides a sense of accomplishment
Speaker:and a sense of contribution.
Speaker:And this feeling can be particularly pronounced for individuals whose
Speaker:identity was closely tied to their career or, or maybe they held
Speaker:significant responsibilities.
Speaker:Susan, just think of how many of us think of ourselves based on our roles.
Speaker:You know, I'm the accountant, maybe the person's the lawyer or the plumber.
Speaker:That list just goes on and on.
Speaker:And here's a really interesting statistic.
Speaker:A study by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that
Speaker:retirees who engage in purposeful activities report higher satisfaction
Speaker:and lower levels of depression.
Speaker:So let's talk about some practical strategies.
Speaker:One of the things I'm going to highly encourage you to do is
Speaker:seek God's continued calling.
Speaker:This is a time to reach out to God and say, God, what would you have me to do?
Speaker:What is my purpose?
Speaker:Actively seek God's continued calling on your life in this
Speaker:new season that we talked about.
Speaker:Spend time in prayer, spend time in reflection.
Speaker:Ask God to reveal his purpose to you.
Speaker:Maybe he's gotten you to a point where you've got financial wellbeing.
Speaker:You're, you're set for that.
Speaker:Now he's, he's given you an opportunity to use your time to build his kingdom.
Speaker:Which leads me to the second thing, engage in ministry, explore
Speaker:opportunities for ministry within your church or your community.
Speaker:Listen, churches and community are looking for people to lead Bible studies, to
Speaker:mentor youth or assist with church events.
Speaker:You might say, why would they ask me?
Speaker:Because you've got a ton of life skills.
Speaker:You've got a ton of things that you've been through that you
Speaker:can help mentor other people.
Speaker:You're going to have a perspective that someone who's young might not have.
Speaker:Another thing I'm going to encourage you to do here is volunteer your skills.
Speaker:If you've got skills, utilize those skills and wisdom for God's glory.
Speaker:Maybe you're a good carpenter and you can, you can volunteer in areas
Speaker:where you can make a difference.
Speaker:Maybe you're a teacher.
Speaker:Maybe you're a counselor or maybe you're good at providing administrative support.
Speaker:Hey, I just had the church secretary in yesterday.
Speaker:She says, Ralph, this has grown to a full time plus position.
Speaker:She would love to have somebody help her and volunteer in the church.
Speaker:Nothing you can do here is mentor others, share that knowledge
Speaker:and share that experience that you accumulated over your life.
Speaker:Mentor young professionals, provide guidance to those in need, or
Speaker:offer support to your community.
Speaker:Another thing that I'm going to tell you is crucial in this stage is set goals.
Speaker:You can't just stop having goals because, well now I'm
Speaker:retired, I don't need any goals.
Speaker:You need to continue to set short term and long term goals.
Speaker:Intermediate term and longterm goals.
Speaker:Just make sure they align with your values and your passions because now
Speaker:you don't have that must go to work.
Speaker:You don't have that must do this.
Speaker:This is a time when you can choose to do things.
Speaker:This might be things like learning a new skill.
Speaker:Maybe you're going to complete a project.
Speaker:Maybe you want to build that, that raised garden in the backyard, or
Speaker:maybe this is a time to start knocking off things on that bucket list or
Speaker:achieving a personal milestone.
Speaker:I remember one of my clients, we'll call him Bill.
Speaker:He was a successful engineer his whole life.
Speaker:I mean, he could look at stuff and he could engineer it from beginning to end.
Speaker:But when he retired, he had this loss of purpose.
Speaker:I remember him saying to me many times, Rob, he says, I just don't
Speaker:know what I'm going to do now.
Speaker:So what what Bill did was he found new meaning by volunteering his skills to
Speaker:build homes for low income families This is something he loved to do.
Speaker:He was like Ralph.
Speaker:Guess what?
Speaker:I'm not getting paid to do it, but I'd like doing this more than when
Speaker:I was working And so now Bill leads a construction many Administrate his
Speaker:church and he feels more purposeful than ever when somebody needs help,
Speaker:maybe a widower or an older person in the church, he's able to go help them.
Speaker:Maybe they had a fire or maybe they had a disaster at their home.
Speaker:He is leading something and it's giving him a great deal of purpose.
Speaker:And finally, let's look at number five.
Speaker:And that's one that a lot of retirees struggle with, and
Speaker:that's managing unstructured time.
Speaker:This sudden abundance of.
Speaker:Unstructured time and retirement can present both opportunities and challenges.
Speaker:It's kind of like the coin, you know, there's a heads or tails.
Speaker:Now, the freedom is welcome, but if you don't manage it well, it can lead to
Speaker:aimlessness and a lack of fulfillment.
Speaker:I don't know how many times I've seen recent retiree clients
Speaker:say, Ralph, I need some purpose.
Speaker:I need some structure.
Speaker:You know, you did the same thing when you were financially budgeting.
Speaker:Retirees also need to be intentionable about budgeting their time and their
Speaker:energy towards meaningful pursuits.
Speaker:I've had many clients who've been, who shared just how busy
Speaker:they are now in retirement.
Speaker:I don't know how many times they've said to me, they said, I
Speaker:don't know how I ever got all this stuff done when I was working.
Speaker:So listen to this interesting statistic.
Speaker:According to the survey by the National Social Life Health and Aging
Speaker:Project, retirees who manage their time effectively report higher levels of life
Speaker:satisfaction and better mental health.
Speaker:Think about that for a second.
Speaker:The study found that retirees who manage their time effectively, now
Speaker:effectively is going to depend on your circumstances, but those people
Speaker:who said that they managed their time effectively reported higher levels of life
Speaker:satisfaction And better mental health.
Speaker:So you might be saying, Ralph, how do we make that happen?
Speaker:Well, Susan, I've got some ideas for you.
Speaker:One of the things I'm going to say first is set daily and weekly goals.
Speaker:You probably had this when you were working, you may have had a
Speaker:goal every morning that here's the things I'm going to accomplish.
Speaker:I'm going to suggest you do the same thing in retirement and set those daily and
Speaker:weekly goals, because this can provide you structure and it can give you direction.
Speaker:This could be stuff like completing a project, maybe learning
Speaker:a new skill or maybe you're achieving a personal milestone.
Speaker:Maybe you always wanted to run that 5k or you wanted to climb this
Speaker:mountain or anything like that.
Speaker:Just depends on what you want to do.
Speaker:Use that new found time to explore hobbies and interest that could bring you joy.
Speaker:This could be, and I mentioned this a little while ago, this could be
Speaker:things like gardening or painting, writing, or, or learning a new skill,
Speaker:but you've got to start figuring out how to structure that time.
Speaker:One of the things that I'm going to definitely recommend that you
Speaker:do is engage in physical activity.
Speaker:So, I know that a lot of my retirement clients, I had a guy in just past this
Speaker:past Saturday and he was a high school, uh, administrator and now he's retired.
Speaker:And I said to him, I said, Hey, what are you doing with yourself?
Speaker:Now?
Speaker:He says, I go to the gym every day and he says, Ralph, I love it.
Speaker:I go there.
Speaker:I spend about three or four hours a day.
Speaker:I get my body working out.
Speaker:I get in the pool.
Speaker:And he is finding a lot of fulfillment in this.
Speaker:He, he's one of these guys that likes to ride bikes.
Speaker:And he said, man, I don't miss that wind blowing at me outside this time of year.
Speaker:So incorporate physical activity into your routine.
Speaker:This could be things like walk in or jogging.
Speaker:Maybe you're swimming.
Speaker:It depends on where you live.
Speaker:You don't be swimming around here right now, or maybe joining a fitness
Speaker:class or a fitness club that my client did, because here's the truth.
Speaker:Physical activity can provide both mental and physical stimulation,
Speaker:and you need to keep doing that.
Speaker:Nothing I'm going to tell you to do is pursue intellectual stimulation,
Speaker:engage in activities that provide that intellectual stimulation.
Speaker:This could be reading, maybe attend some workshops, taking classes, or
Speaker:participate in educational programs.
Speaker:Up to the day he passed away, my uncle would do the daily New York
Speaker:times crossword and a Sudoku.
Speaker:I don't even like to do Sudoku now.
Speaker:And I certainly wasn't 88 years old, but he said to me many
Speaker:times, he said, Ralph, this.
Speaker:Helps me stay focused.
Speaker:This helps me stay on point, but you got to balance this with rest and
Speaker:activity because you are not 25 again.
Speaker:So find a healthy balance between that rest and relaxation, and then
Speaker:build in that purposeful activity.
Speaker:reflect on the biblical concept of Sabbath rest.
Speaker:You know, that's one of the things that you can study and use this
Speaker:time to rejuvenate in the Lord.
Speaker:But here's the thing.
Speaker:Ensure that this rest is balanced with continued engagement and service.
Speaker:Don't let this become a time where I'm just going to say, you know what?
Speaker:I'm retired.
Speaker:I don't have to accomplish anything today.
Speaker:That is a bad plan.
Speaker:In fact, I had a client.
Speaker:We'll call her Jane.
Speaker:She always dreamed of writing a book.
Speaker:So when she retired, she finally had the time to do it.
Speaker:So what did Jane do?
Speaker:She set aside dedicated writing time each day and she completed
Speaker:her first novel in a year.
Speaker:Now she's working on her second book and she's loving every minute of it.
Speaker:So Susan, these are just five areas where things are going to change
Speaker:and there are going to be more.
Speaker:I couldn't possibly list all those things.
Speaker:I'm not going through retirement myself.
Speaker:I'm just telling you, this is what I've seen as I've worked for the past 30 years
Speaker:with clients, but it's vital that you plan for these and you start building
Speaker:that plan for retirement so you're not just doing it at the last minute.
Speaker:You got to build a plan.
Speaker:It's not just focused on the money side.
Speaker:Yes, that's important, but also the lifestyle you want to live and
Speaker:the purposes you want to pursue.
Speaker:Now, if you found today's discussion helpful, I want to encourage you
Speaker:to subscribe to our newsletter.
Speaker:You can do that by going to ask Ralph podcast.
Speaker:com slash newsletter, because listen.
Speaker:Our newsletter is packed with valuable insights, it's packed
Speaker:with tips and resources to help you navigate your financial
Speaker:journey with confidence and faith.
Speaker:So let's get to our reflection questions for today.
Speaker:Start with number one.
Speaker:What aspects of your current routine bring you the most fulfillment and how can you
Speaker:incorporate them into your retirement?
Speaker:So you might be 20 years away from retirement.
Speaker:Maybe you're 10 years away from retirement.
Speaker:Start to think about what are those things in your daily routine that
Speaker:bring you the most fulfillment and start envisioning what you're going
Speaker:to do about those in retirement.
Speaker:This is a time to start thinking about those plans.
Speaker:Maybe start taking on a hobby now so that you're up and running by
Speaker:the time you get to retirement.
Speaker:So start thinking about how can you incorporate them
Speaker:into your Retirement routine.
Speaker:Second question.
Speaker:How does your identity in Christ influence your perspective on retirement
Speaker:and what new roles or activities might you explore to redefine yourself?
Speaker:Maybe you're thinking, you know, Ralph, I never thought about
Speaker:reading or leading a Bible study.
Speaker:Maybe I never thought about mentoring or volunteering.
Speaker:This is a great time to start thinking about what those roles look like for you.
Speaker:What are your passions?
Speaker:What are the things that you want to do?
Speaker:What are those?
Speaker:To check off those, those personal fulfillment goals and number three,
Speaker:what steps can you take to nurture and cultivate meaningful relationships
Speaker:in your retirement, both within and outside your faith community?
Speaker:Here's a key takeaway.
Speaker:Now is the time to start investing in those relationships.
Speaker:I don't care if you're 20 years old, 30 years old, or 40 years old.
Speaker:Most of the time, the retirees at I get to know in my practice will tell me
Speaker:about people they've known for 30 years.
Speaker:Well, guess what?
Speaker:If you want to have a successful relationship, you got to start
Speaker:cultivating those relationships.
Speaker:Now start to take a genuine interest in other people, and that will reward you
Speaker:and pay dividends well into the future.
Speaker:So let's get to our key takeaways.
Speaker:Establish a new routine that aligns with your faith and values, including
Speaker:dedicated time for prayer, Bible study.
Speaker:and spiritual growth.
Speaker:Remember, your primary identity is in Christ and retirement
Speaker:offers an opportunity to redefine yourself through non work related
Speaker:activities and relationships.
Speaker:It's a change, but it's a new season for you.
Speaker:Nurture and cultivate meaningful relationships in your retirement, both
Speaker:within and outside your faith community.
Speaker:This is a time to actively seek God's continued calling on your life.
Speaker:What is he calling you to do in retirement?
Speaker:Explore opportunities for ministry, for volunteering, for mentoring,
Speaker:or just utilizing your skills and wisdom for God's glory.
Speaker:And finally, my other key takeaway from today.
Speaker:Be intentional about budgeting your time and energy towards meaningful
Speaker:pursuits, setting goals, exploring hobbies, and engaging in activities that
Speaker:provide mental and physical stimulation.
Speaker:Well, tomorrow we'll be discussing a crucial topic that
Speaker:hits close to home for many.
Speaker:Can't pay the IRS?
Speaker:How can you avoid major penalties with these four strategies?
Speaker:That's right.
Speaker:Tomorrow I'm going to talk about four strategies.
Speaker:If you ever found yourself in a tight spot with the IRS, You don't want to miss this.
Speaker:We're going to dive into some practical steps you can take to navigate
Speaker:this challenging situation with grace and smart financial planning.
Speaker:So be sure to check me out again tomorrow for another
Speaker:insightful and engaging episode.
Speaker:Well, so thank you so much for your time today.
Speaker:I thank you for supporting the show and remember this.
Speaker:My passion is to help you achieve financial success.
Speaker:I want to see you live out your dreams and I want to see you grow in your faith.
Speaker:And I know together we can master your finances from a Christian perspective.
Speaker:So as I always end this show, stay financially savvy out there, keep your
Speaker:spirits high and God bless you abundantly.