Retirement’s Biggest Challenge May Not Be Financial

You Need “A Strong Purpose in Life” Says Aging Experts

There’s a new survey of 15,000 retirees, people ages 60 and above. The question? What is your single biggest challenge in retirement? Well, it's kind of interesting. I would have thought that in retirement, your challenges are over, right? Aren't challenges associated with work and career and all that kind of success effort? Well, apparently people in retirement face challenges, too. The most common answers people provided answering that question, what's your single biggest challenge in retirement? "I miss doing the work that I love" or "I don't think retiring is for me", "I want to go back", or "I'm not sure what to do with my time", "I feel lost".

The Journal of Applied Gerontology did a study and determined that what you need is a strong purpose in life. It leads to a slower progression of chronic illness. So I've got a few questions for you. Are you doing in retirement an activity that you love? Are you good at it? Does the world need what you're offering? Can you get paid for it? As you approach retirement, as you are in retirement, these are the four questions you've got to keep in mind. Are you doing an activity that you love? Are you good at it? Does the world need what you offer, and can you get paid even a little for doing it? That will help create the sense of purpose you need to remain vital and healthy and happy in retirement.