The Retirement Newsletter: Making plans

Issue Number: 191 (44) — why is planning important in retirement

Photo by Author — taking exercise on a winter day

Welcome

Welcome to issue 191 (44) — making plans.

Whenever I think of making plans, I think of the song “Making Plans for Nigel”—strange but true. All I can now hear is the song playing in my head.

Anyway, I think making plans is important for our retirement. We need to plan.

Why Plan?

For me, planning falls into two categories.

1. Financial

2. Health

Financial Planning

Hopefully, you will be good at financial planning by the time you retire. But, just because you are retired, it doesn’t mean you can stop the financial planning. We still need to think about our finances. We have to plan to make the most of our pension and savings. Plus, we must make sure that our financial future is secure and that we don’t run out of money.

The other category of planning is health planning and this covers physical and mental health.

Health Planning

I am not a trained health professional, and I have based the following on my experiences, my reading, and the limited mental health training I have received over the years to support students.

There is no point in having a sound financial plan if you drop dead tomorrow or become unable to enjoy your retirement due to mental health issues. So, what can we do? We plan.

Health planning is important, and I mean both physical and mental health. Physical and mental health are interlinked. Mental health issues can lead to physical health issues and vice versa. And remember to look out for any health niggles and changes in your body. Planning the time for self-checking our bodies and taking any medical action, for example, seeing your doctor when something is not right, is key.

As part of this process, we need to maintain purpose and focus in retirement, just as we did in our working life. Purpose and focus give us a reason to get up in the morning and get on with the day and can help with our mental health.

Mental health planning should also consider future mental health. We must get things done when we can in our retirement and not reach a later stage of life with regrets that we didn’t do all we wanted. Do what we can now before our physical health prevents us.

We need to view our brain as a muscle; if we don’t exercise it, we will lose it. Preventing boredom and not becoming isolated is critical in maintaining good “brain health”. A lack of structure can lead to boredom and social withdrawal. Planning helps us stay engaged and connected with others. It’s good for us. We are social creatures.

Exercise, rest, and self-care can support physical and mental health. Retirement should be about enjoying life. Time management and planning can help us balance leisure with purposeful activities that bring fulfilment.

However, we must be careful not to go too far. It is important to balance relaxation and activities. We must schedule time for exercise, rest, and general self-care to promote overall well-being and help prevent health issues. We need to watch out for the stress of doing too much. We must balance relaxation and productivity.

What I am talking about is maximising enjoyment. Retirement is an opportunity to pursue hobbies, travel, and spend more time with friends and family. We should take the time to build stronger relationships and do things so we don’t have any regrets. The relationships can then help support us mentally through the later years of our lives. Plus, having strong relationships and interactions with other people can help slow mental decline.

The plan

So, what steps can we take to help support our mental and physical health? What is the plan?

For me, the key part of the plan is having a purpose and direction.

We need to maintain a sense of purpose to make our days meaningful and align with our interests and goals. Having purpose and direction can help tackle boredom and its negative impact on our mental and physical health. It can also allow for personal growth through learning new skills, exploring passions, or volunteering.

However, we also need to factor in the small things. We must schedule time for physical activities, healthy meals, and medical checks. This supports our physical and mental health, which helps us find direction and purpose. We must also make time to strengthen our relationships with family and friends.

So, how can we do this? Well, we can:

1. Set clear goals — We must decide what we want to achieve in retirement, such as travelling, learning new skills, or spending more time with friends and family. Having goals gives our time structure and purpose.

2. Create a daily and weekly routine — We should establish a flexible routine that includes regular activities such as exercise, hobbies, and relaxation. A routine provides structure without feeling restrictive.

3. Prioritise activities — Focus on what matters most. Prioritise activities that bring joy, fulfilment, and personal growth. We need to let go of unnecessary tasks.

4. Stay physically active — Maintaining good mental and physical health is very important. Plan time for physical activities that can boost our mental and physical health. These activities could include walking, swimming, or yoga. Regular exercise boosts energy and keeps us healthy, making it easier to enjoy our retirement. And it’s good for the brain.

5. Make time for social connections — Schedule regular meet-ups with friends, family, or community groups. Social interaction is essential for emotional well-being and adds variety to our days.

6. Plan for big activities — Plan for big, fun things. These could be holidays, home projects, or significant events. Plan in advance to avoid last-minute stress and effectively budget your time and finances.

7. Learn to say no — This seems odd, but we need to avoid overcommitting to obligations or activities that don’t align with our goals or interests. We have to strike a balance between doing and not doing so we have time to do what really matters to us.

8. Schedule relaxation and “me time” — This links into number seven as when we over-commit, what often gets dropped is the “me time”. Striking that balance between doing and not doing is important so we get time to rest and look after ourselves.

And, of course, with any plan, one key thing is to keep the plan under review and adjust accordingly. As part of the “me time”, reflect on how you are spending your time and make any necessary adjustments.

By managing our time well, we can make the most of our retirement years and create an enjoyable and meaningful life. Planning is important.

So, what has been your approach? Do you have a plan? Any tips for sticking to it? Please let me know in the comments below.

Nick’s Wanderings — The Grey Wagtail

This week — I go out looking for a tunnel that no longer exists.

Useful links

Some useful UK mental health links:

• Samaritans phone 116 123 — https://www.samaritans.org

• No Panic (anxiety) 0300 772 9844 — http://www.nopanic.org.uk/

• Non-Emergency NHS Helpline: 111 — https://www.nhs.uk

• Mind — Side by Side — https://sidebyside.mind.org.uk

Some Mental Health Apps you might like to try:

• SAM App — Anxiety Management — https://mindgarden-tech.co.uk/

• Smiling Mind — Mindfulness App — https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app

General Health Websites:

• National Health Service UK — https://www.nhs.uk/

• National Institute of Heath, USA — https://www.nih.gov/

Next week

Next week, in issue 192 (45), I return to decluttering, which is important for our physical and mental health.

Thanks

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If you want to thank me for the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?

Until next time,

Nick

PS: If you would like to contribute something to the newsletter — a story, advice, or anything else — please get in touch.