The Pitfalls of Retirement and How to Handle Them

Millions of people retire and soon realize that it's more of a burden than a luxury. They may realize that they don't have enough money to live comfortably or they come down with an illness all of a sudden. Others are healthy and financially stable but find themselves bored after hanging up their work boots.

Boredom

Boredom is a major obstacle to happiness and good mental health. It occurs when you run out of options to make the days productive and meaningful. Upon retirement, you may think that there is too much free time. Staying inside and watching television or playing on the internet soon becomes the way of life.

Addiction

Boredom may lead you to participate in certain compulsive behaviors. These are activities that you repeat constantly, sometimes for hours at a time, as a way to eliminate the boredom. Also known as an addiction, it's a common problem that you must recognize, confront and resolve before it worsens. If you're on medications, drug addiction may be a concern. If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, a place like Beach House, an addiction treatment in Florida that residents recommend, can help.

Of course, there are other types of addiction. Food addiction affects people of all ages. For seniors, the consequences are far more severe. Their health is already failing and will only worsen when more sugar and fats enter their bodies.
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There are also video and Internet addictions. These behaviors cause retirees to become more introverted, avoid social interactions and lack building meaningful experiences in the outside world.

Finances

One of the biggest retirement pitfalls is money. There may be too little of it when retirees stop working and bringing in a steady income. Sometimes, there is enough money, but it's being mismanaged or spent incorrectly either by the retiree or someone they know. Coming up with a plan years in advance is the traditional means for retirement but creating lasting income opportunities and not just living off savings is key, especially if you outlive your our plan! 

The solution to this is to take more personal control over their finances. It's common for seniors to have too many people handling their money, such as a lawyer or relative, and misusing it as a result. Deciding what expenses are important like investments in your health or prioritizing home improvements like hot water heater repairs, while removing frivolous expenses like faster internet or an expensive cell phone plan can free up hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Health

​Many people retire because of failing health that only worsens during their retirement. There are some problems that they cannot fix all on their own. They can still work to be as fit and healthy as possible. All retirees, regardless of health status, should take the time to exercise even if it means walking for a few minutes each day or taking up activities that keep them moving.

Travel

Retirement opens up more time to travel, especially indulging in overseas travel now that there are no time constraints. With frequent traveling, though, comes its own host of problems. The biggest problem is overspending on gifts, hotel rooms and other items.
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On the other hand, some seniors complain about not being able to travel extensively. Instead of traveling alone, they should consider traveling with friends or family members who can accompany and assist them during the trip.

Retirement at any age carries a wide range of pitfalls. There are ways to overcome each and every one with just a bit of care and attention to the root of the issue.