Is Retirement the Answer?

In most cases, the later a person waits to retire, the more money he or she will receive in retirement. With that said, some people retire earlier than they really should, just because they’re tired of their jobs or are experiencing “burnout.” If you dread going to work every day or are looking forward to retirement a little too much, know that there are some alternatives to try before you plunge headfirst into retirement, which you may find isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  

Alternative #1: Make Money Elsewhere

If you really hate your job and would like to leave it in the near future, start looking for other ways to make money “on the side.” You may, for example, want to turn your love of arts and crafts into a profit-making hobby. Or perhaps you’ll want to go ahead with an idea you’ve been storing up for a long time. Whatever the case, if you can find a way to make money on the side, and it’s something you enjoy, you could eventually work your way into a new career or at least a better, more enjoyable way to make money until you actually are ready to retire. At the very least, you’ll have a nice diversion from the work you don’t want to be doing!

Alternative #2: Change Locations

Sometimes, just a little change of “scenery” can make all the difference. If you work for a business with multiple locations, consider asking to be moved to a new one. Or, you could even go so far as to find a job within the same field but at a new place. Sometimes, changing things up just a bit can provide the boost you need to power through until retirement.

Alternative #3: Exercise and Eat Right

It might sound crazy, but sometimes, when we’re blaming our jobs and everything else for the way

we feel, there’s actually a much simpler reason behind our blues- that we’re not taking care of ourselves like we should. If you have been feeling “blah” for a while, commit to a healthier diet and a little exercise; you should see a big difference in your life, your health, and your happiness, and it might just make your job more bearable.

Alternative #4: Work Toward a Promotion

Finally, you may want to consider trying for a promotion- getting to that “next step” on the corporate ladder. Sometimes, being unhappy at work is just the result of being bored and feeling like you have nothing to strive for. When you work toward something, you’ll feel more driven and involved. Plus, if you do land a higher-up position, you may just have the power to fix the things that bother you.

Related articles

• Social Media Can Help You Cash-in on Retiring (socialnomics.net)
• Five Things To Do Within Five Years Of Retirement (forbes.com)