By Joy Miller

After decades of work, retiring from the workforce may feel liberating. Finally, you can spend more time with your family, participate in activities you enjoy, and start your bucket list.

Retirement is a rollercoaster of emotions and adventures, both fun and nerve-wracking. By knowing the stages, you can recognize when this is coming and take measures ahead of time.

Stage 1: Pre-Retirement…Dreaming and planning

It’s almost retirement time, and you’re feeling excited (and sometimes anxious). As retirement is still a few years away, you are getting impatient about it and making plans for the big day.

Most people shift their attention from building careers to developing their financial plans for retirement. Retirement planning extends beyond financial planning, travel and relaxation. In preparation for retirement, pay attention to your emotional and social needs as well.

Stage 2: Honeymoon…I’m free!

It’s the best part of retirement, but it’s also the most deceptive! This stage usually involves reconnecting with family and friends, spending time on hobbies, traveling or starting a new business. Then there are those who opt for rest and relaxation after working hard for many years.

As retirement approaches, you begin to contemplate how you would like to spend the rest of your life.

Stage 3: Disenchantment…So this is it?

When you realize that retirement is not what you expected, you may encounter this stage. There is a possibility that you will feel disappointed and disillusioned.

Playing your favorite sport may not have lots of appeal when you have access to it all day every day. Hobbies can seem boring. Travel can also become mundane. Boredom can set in when you feel like you have run out of ways to fill your day.

At this point, it’s important to define success for yourself and find your own North Star. Connecting with your authentic self and discovering your retirement purpose requires introspection and clarity.

The right mindset, tools and support system will enable you to succeed in retirement.

Stage 4: Reorientation…A new identity

Reorientation is often considered the most challenging stage of retirement after retirees complete their retirement to-do list, feel loss of purpose and assess their experience.

Having a sense of meaningful purpose later in life can prevent you from falling into a rut and depression. Incorporate new fun activities into your daily routine, pursue a passion or volunteer.

Stage 5: Retirement Routine…Moving on

You may find yourself settling into a new normal after the initial excitement, shock and highs and lows of retirement have worn off.

Finding stability and routine can start up to 15 years after retirement. In this stage, you’ve accepted your retirement identity and created routines that work for you. The result may be more time spent with family and friends who energize you and more meaningful activities and hobbies.

Stability is a phase that never ends. As you age, you may return to one of the other phases and then return to stability.

The process of retiring is a long one- feeling positive does not happen overnight. There is a possibility that you may not experience all these stages, and they may be out of order. However, knowing these stages can make your transition easier.

Joy Miller is a family and community wellness agent at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office.