Covid-19 has recalibrated retirement planning for older workers. Age, health, and workplace conditions have pushed many seniors to put their well-being ahead of other considerations and retire early. But the pandemic has also added to the normal stress that comes with leaving the workforce. Social distancing and other public health recommendations are making it harder for retirees to stay active and create new schedules that will make retirement fulfilling.
Here are three ways you can navigate the retirement transition safely during Covid-19 while still connecting with people, enriching yourself, and having fun.
- Be together separately.
Although we’re still learning new things about Covid-19 every day, some consensus has emerged on how to interact safely with people you’re not living with: stay outside; main a minimum six-foot distance; wear a face mask; wash your hands thoroughly and often.
So, while meeting other couples at restaurants probably isn’t a great idea right now, it’s possible to have backyard get togethers. For an extra layer of safety, have everyone bring their own food, drinks, and chairs.
Outdoor sports are another option, especially activities like bike rides and hikes where everyone keeps moving and can maintain their distance. And though most public health experts advise against sports that require sharing equipment, games like golf, softball, and tennis can be played safely if everyone brings their own gear.
The pandemic is affecting communities across the country in very different ways. But wherever you live, exposure to Covid-19 is a high risk for seniors, especially if you have any preexisting medical conditions. Please review guidelines from your local health officials and talk to your doctor if you’re considering activities with people outside your household.
- Make new online connections.
The new tech skills you learned while coping with lockdown open a world of virtual options in retirement.
By now you’ve probably mastered video chat, but many of the same apps you’ve been using also allow you to watch movies and play games with friends and family.
If you picked up a new interest from all the free quarantine classes on social media, you could pursue that subject with more formal online learning. Dedicated online education platforms are plentiful; your local university or community college might have new online programs as well. Plus, colleges and universities often offer discounted enrollment to seniors.
The pandemic forced organizations of all shapes and sizes to restructure and move at least some of their operations online. If you’re comfortable with your computer, you might actually have more part-time job or volunteer opportunities available to you right now. And as more people do more business online, you might spot an ideal niche to plant your own flag and start your own dream company, all from the comfort of home.
- Review your retirement plan.
The plan we’ve worked on together is built so that we can make adjustments as your needs and goals evolve. Early retirement is a significant change. We’ll need to review your retirement budget and projected annual withdrawal rate. We’ll need to coordinate with a health care professional to make sure you and your spouse get the coverage you need, whether that means moving to Medicare or purchasing a plan from your state’s marketplace. We’ll need to discuss if early retirement is going to change your living arrangements. We’ll need to review your estate planning documents and go over any potential changes with your attorneys and tax professionals.
In short, we’ll need to talk. But the work you’ve put into following your plan and growing your nest egg means that you have options. We’re excited to help you chart the best path forward and start the next chapter of your life.
