I’ve set my retirement date for the end of july, for those of you already retired,what tips can you give on handling your retirement…?
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You should never fully retire IMO, just keep your hand in.
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Think of a hobby you interested in and prepare. For me I basically renewed my interest in photography, something one can do by oneself. A hobby that can be done any time irrespective of weather, indoors or outside or day or night. If that may interest you then I may be able to help
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lots of days out, just for the fun of it
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I enjoy volunteering, lots of options, hours to suit yourself meeting people and making new friends
Wishing you good luck Primus and a happy retirement
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Everyone is surely different and reacts to the switch from work (and its problems and benefits) to not having work (and its benefits and possible problems).
Mine was an initial sense of loss of purpose and value. I did not realise that there was such a significant feedback of me adding value and worth from my work. There was a bit of “what am I about then?” once worked stopped. There was even a question of “could I have achieved more?”. The positive side is that this does go away. And if you don’t experience it at all, then great.
The other bit, as mentioned by others, is to find positive and rewarding things to fill your days and weeks. Mine were - get fitter, join a gym, cycle, walk the dogs; and get dogs to walk and for company / play; tackle some long needed work on the house and garden including biggish projects like building a brick pizza oven. A friend swears by the goal of having three different types of things to do each day - something productive (e.g. varnish the front door), something healthy (e.g. long dog walk), something creative (e.g. photography, upcycling old furniture, creating a new dish). Says that means every day is satisfying on every level.
Lastly, your social interactions change. Work provides a good number of people to interact with. Retirement risks just you and your other half, or even just you on your own. That can feel like a difficult change. Without being cynical about it, I think a bit of thinking about how to make new friends, how / when you’ll get together with existing friends, who else has so much free time, who has shared interests, etc is worthwhile. A bit of thinking ahead might be useful. Especially if retirement also means downsizing and moving.
Enough from me. Except to say its the best thing I’ve decided to do - even if it came with some money worries at first.
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I retired at 60 and have ‘worked’ ever since, but only doing what interests me and which also allows time to please myself when I feel the need.
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Get a dog ?
I found that having stopped working for a living, I’m now working for the wife. 
Problem is, the hours are longer, on half the money and I don’t get any time off.
I’ve been into photography for years and I’m getting more into it, to the point where I do paid work, but not enough to affect my tax. I do a lot of wildlife and studio work. I want to ramp it up further, but I have other commitments in the way. Once sorted, I plan to make inroads to turning professional (If I can).
I think the biggest secret to retirement is to keep busy, pursue what you enjoy and don’t waste your life in front of the telly. Obviously keeping a check on the pennies.
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To give you advice Primus I could only base it on my personal experiences.
Are you a social person or prefer your own company? are you fit, do you like to exercise or enjoy walking in the country? Do you have hobbies? And have you got enough money to travel and see the world?
I retired at sixty in 2010 and although I loved the job, I had had a heart attack back in 2004 and decided to spend more time with Mrs Fox and our family. You never know when the next one is coming or the result. I was able to continue running and walking in the wild places, the North Yorkshire Moors, Wales and the Lake District. Together with our neighbours and best friends we enjoyed many holidays together, including quite a few cruises together.
Electronics has always been my favourite hobby on the rainy days, and I continued building small projects or helping neighbours with their electrical problems.
Apart from the banter with the lads, I didn’t miss working at all, in fact I don’t really know how I had time to fit a job in.
Now money and health are running low but I still manage a good walk/jog every day and there’s enough in the kitty for a decent holiday although tiredness is a constant companion and I’m doing a lot more reading and sleeping than I used to do. Appetite is still good though…unfortunately…
My advice is to take each day as it comes, throw your watch away, and enjoy being your own boss. Most of all, don’t worry and think of all the good things you can do with the extra time.
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That would be my very first suggestion, after working all your life going “cold turkey” does not work for most.
It worked for me, glad to have my life back.
Here’s some more advice…
Don’t take Statins or any jabs unless you’re visiting Africa or India…and don’t take any notice of a GP…only a specialist…
And finally…Don’t take any notice of me…I’m a nutter…But you already knew that didn’t you Primus…
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You have a great point bro, and absolutely correct, but to many ( such as I) purpose responsibility are / were the essence of life (sounds sick, I know), even today I struggle with it, it was never really about the money (not that I have any). As far as you being a “nutter”, you make conversation more interesting, I enjoy it.
@Primus1, I don’t think you’re lazy or stupid, you won’t be sitting around watching daytime TV, you will find rewarding pastimes to keep you occupied.
Foxy, your time as a self employed courier, by your own admittance you really enjoyed it, being paid by people for travelling the country, you still drive now but you don’t get paid for it, for me, the black and white of work/retirement was never a consideration (it might have been had I had to put up with a bolshy jobsworth dictating to me )
Similar here but just as a hobby. That could be one for the person when he retires.
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Retirement has been in the planning for the last six and a half years, I spent thirty years as a commercial laundry engineer, we were taken over for the second time by a company that had a poor reputation in the industry and I didn’t want to work for them, I found out that I had a good pension, so I used some of it as a buffer and sought other employment, ironically, there was a job going as a maintenance person in a nursing home I’d been visiting for about twenty years, I started just before Covid and lockdown, of course, I was considered a key worker so worked throughout , I’ve seen what your life becomes, it boils down to a few pictures and your possessions in a few black bags, so I’m definitely not going to look for work, we plan to travel around the uk, when we can, the only hobby I have is online gaming but I’m not going to be sitting around playing all day, I did think of taking up the guitar again, indeed I have one of the residents guitar in my basement ( not a good one but hey it’ll do ) and it’s surprising how quickly I’ve picked up the chords again, but I think I’d have to play with others to get any benefit, we don’t want another pet, you get too attached when you have to let them go and they’re too tying, I’m sure I’ll find something to do even if it’s just going for walks, but for me, the time is right for me to retire…
Hi Primus!. Welcome for starting your retirement when get there. A few things that may of of interest. Travelling around UK for is one. Anywhere from Cornwall to Thurso. I liked Loch Lomond and some of the hills in Yorkshire.
Then there’s the dog. After we retired we also travelled extensively including with the dog. He was perfectly happly in the car, with a cottage, or any pub.
And the music. I have/had a violin and an acoustic guitar. That’s enough for now !!