Navigating retirement can be a confusing experience. Having fewer obligations, building a new routine, reprioritizing time commitments and managing finances can all prove difficult to balance for retirees. In an Oct. 23 article from The Wall Street Journal, readers shared some of the surprises they faced when entering retirement.
Here are four examples below:
Time and schedule
One Wall Street Journal reader wrote in saying his time is still taken up by all of his side-gigs. Even though he is technically retired, he is not as available as he first imagined. Others mentioned that retirement gave back time that could be reinvested in friendships, spirituality and physical activity. However, all the free time can be disorienting when people are used to routines. The lack of a clear schedule can make it hard to stay motivated and engaged.
Medicare
One retired sociology professor who spent his career dedicated to retirement and aging said that signing up for Medicare Part B was a major hassle. Another challenge was finding physicians to take Medicare, with one retiree saying he moved from California to Kentucky because of financial and medical costs.
Finances
One reader mentioned that after years of not touching his retirement savings, he couldn't bring himself to take money out. A mental barrier formed after years of saving up made it hard to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Another reader said that inflation has affected him while living on a fixed income, making it more difficult to get by.
Self-consciousness
Reconciling a new purpose and place in society can be difficult and strange for retirees. Some feel a sense of obsolescence as old workplaces move on swiftly and trends change. Others may feel self-conscious about their age and become hyper-aware of differential treatment.