What Your answers to the questions on the Retirement Perceptions Quiz Mean
Please take the time to read what each of the questions mean to you...don't cheat yourself by looking ahead to what the next question means, it might impact your answer and thus you aren't getting a true reading on your perceptions of retirement. After each explanation, click on the back button to go back to the previous page for your next question.
Question #1 Overview: Stress
This is a powerful question because it shatters the perception that life in retirement is totally carefree and easy. It quickly and concisely pinpoints a major area of stress you may be carrying into retirement. Many soon-to-be retirees assume that problems or issues will just go away once they retire, but that’s never the case.
In fact, things can actually get worse because you will have more time to dwell on your problem, and fewer distractions to take your attention away from it. Whether your answer pertains to a relationship, time commitment, or something financial, start resolving this issue now instead of dragging it with you into retirement. By resolving negative issues, you create space for more positive thoughts and feelings throughout retirement.
This is a powerful question because it shatters the perception that life in retirement is totally carefree and easy. It quickly and concisely pinpoints a major area of stress you may be carrying into retirement. Many soon-to-be retirees assume that problems or issues will just go away once they retire, but that’s never the case.
In fact, things can actually get worse because you will have more time to dwell on your problem, and fewer distractions to take your attention away from it. Whether your answer pertains to a relationship, time commitment, or something financial, start resolving this issue now instead of dragging it with you into retirement. By resolving negative issues, you create space for more positive thoughts and feelings throughout retirement.
Question #2 Overview: Time & Identity
This question is designed to challenge the perception that every form of volunteering is fulfilling and effective in applying a person’s work knowledge and skills. Many people plan to use some form of volunteering to help replace their work identity and fill their time. However, many retirees go into it with only general assumptions or vague thoughts about how their work skills will transfer and how rewarding, or in some cases, unfulfilling it may actually be.
For example, a woman retired from social work because she was burnt out from all the heartache and stress it caused her. After six months of retirement, she was bored and decided to put her people skills back to work by volunteering in - of all places - social work. Guess what? Within three months she was burnt out again … and this time she wasn’t even getting paid for her added aggravation.
Then there was the retiring school administrator who planned to volunteer with Habitat For Humanity. Her intention was clear from the beginning. In her role at work, she felt as if nothing ever got finished. Whether it was curriculums or school policies, there was always something to update, review, or improve. Therefore, in retirement, she sought an opportunity to be a part of something that had definitive start and end dates, and a finished product to see and touch.
The difference between these two examples is that the administrator took the vagueness out of volunteering by having a specific purpose: Filling a void she experienced in her career, rather than simply acting out of boredom or trying to match old skills to new needs.
This question is designed to challenge the perception that every form of volunteering is fulfilling and effective in applying a person’s work knowledge and skills. Many people plan to use some form of volunteering to help replace their work identity and fill their time. However, many retirees go into it with only general assumptions or vague thoughts about how their work skills will transfer and how rewarding, or in some cases, unfulfilling it may actually be.
For example, a woman retired from social work because she was burnt out from all the heartache and stress it caused her. After six months of retirement, she was bored and decided to put her people skills back to work by volunteering in - of all places - social work. Guess what? Within three months she was burnt out again … and this time she wasn’t even getting paid for her added aggravation.
Then there was the retiring school administrator who planned to volunteer with Habitat For Humanity. Her intention was clear from the beginning. In her role at work, she felt as if nothing ever got finished. Whether it was curriculums or school policies, there was always something to update, review, or improve. Therefore, in retirement, she sought an opportunity to be a part of something that had definitive start and end dates, and a finished product to see and touch.
The difference between these two examples is that the administrator took the vagueness out of volunteering by having a specific purpose: Filling a void she experienced in her career, rather than simply acting out of boredom or trying to match old skills to new needs.
Question #3 Overview: Physical Health
This question confronts the idea that extra time and a more flexible schedule will provide motivation to exercise and eat healthier. Countless people say that’s exactly what they are going to do when they retire but, it’s not as easy as most people imagine simply because first we make our habits and then our habits make us.
Fact is, retirement does not come with extra motivation, which is why it’s important to start taking care of your body right now and to acknowledge the short-comings you may have in this area of life. After all, more unstructured time at home can lead to more time in front of the fridge instead of on the treadmill. It’s also just as important for you to maintain strong mental health in retirement.
That means making time for yourself as well as regular plans to have fun. Whether it’s going to a comedy club, connecting with old friends, or volunteering at the local pre-school, making sure you find ways to stay amused is an important ingredient to a successful retirement.
This question confronts the idea that extra time and a more flexible schedule will provide motivation to exercise and eat healthier. Countless people say that’s exactly what they are going to do when they retire but, it’s not as easy as most people imagine simply because first we make our habits and then our habits make us.
Fact is, retirement does not come with extra motivation, which is why it’s important to start taking care of your body right now and to acknowledge the short-comings you may have in this area of life. After all, more unstructured time at home can lead to more time in front of the fridge instead of on the treadmill. It’s also just as important for you to maintain strong mental health in retirement.
That means making time for yourself as well as regular plans to have fun. Whether it’s going to a comedy club, connecting with old friends, or volunteering at the local pre-school, making sure you find ways to stay amused is an important ingredient to a successful retirement.
Question #4 Overview: Social Style
Many people don’t take the time to stop and consider their social situation during retirement. They don’t realize that they’ll be around fewer people than when they were working. For some, that difference is easily overcome; but it may be more difficult for others. Furthermore, God didn’t create us to do life alone, otherwise He wouldn’t have made Eve.
Therefore, as you approach retirement, make sure you are investing in others and cultivating relationships outside of the workplace. Being part of a group, regularly visiting with friends, and building new relationships are proven methods of increasing longevity and play an important role in fending off conditions such as depression.
Many people don’t take the time to stop and consider their social situation during retirement. They don’t realize that they’ll be around fewer people than when they were working. For some, that difference is easily overcome; but it may be more difficult for others. Furthermore, God didn’t create us to do life alone, otherwise He wouldn’t have made Eve.
Therefore, as you approach retirement, make sure you are investing in others and cultivating relationships outside of the workplace. Being part of a group, regularly visiting with friends, and building new relationships are proven methods of increasing longevity and play an important role in fending off conditions such as depression.
Question #5 Overview: Money
There won’t be much about financial matters right now, that being said, the reality is, people are more responsible for their retirement savings than ever before and shouldn’t assume every investment or advisor is right for them. It’s essential that you can articulate the basics of money management and know at least some of the key questions to ask financial professionals in order to protect yourself against fraud, bad advice, or an investment scam.
You don’t need to become a financial guru, but I’ll share the most important piece of financial advice that you will get out of this exercise. No One Cares More About Your Money Than You! Embrace that and your relationship with your money and financial advisor will change for the better.
There won’t be much about financial matters right now, that being said, the reality is, people are more responsible for their retirement savings than ever before and shouldn’t assume every investment or advisor is right for them. It’s essential that you can articulate the basics of money management and know at least some of the key questions to ask financial professionals in order to protect yourself against fraud, bad advice, or an investment scam.
You don’t need to become a financial guru, but I’ll share the most important piece of financial advice that you will get out of this exercise. No One Cares More About Your Money Than You! Embrace that and your relationship with your money and financial advisor will change for the better.
Question #6 Overview: Retirement Concerns
So much of retirement talk today is fear based. People are constantly bombarded with the idea that they are going to run out of money, be left alone, or suffer a debilitating medical condition. All of which are very real, but worrying about them will get you nowhere.
There’s no doubt that you will face challenges throughout retirement, which is why you need to be proactive right now. Don’t put your marriage, your friends, faith, personal well-being, or the need to secure the proper insurance on the backburner until you retire. Delay winds up getting in the way of living retirement to the fullest.
Ask yourself, “What’s one simple thing I can do to start addressing this fear today?” Overall, your quiz answers represent the first step in helping you examine retirement in a more personal and less material way. One that is very different from the typical dollars-and-cents approach practiced by many.
The goal of this exercise is to expand your thoughts and ideas about what retirement may actually look and feel like. To pinpoint areas of potential stress as well as highlight possible opportunities to maximize during your transition. While this quiz is simple in nature, it’s a prelude to a deeper, darker side of retirement that can affect those who don’t have a plan to manage the mental, social, physical, and spiritual parts of it. Potential repercussion that can become major problems, temptations, or sources of conflict if they aren’t addressed and planned for.
So much of retirement talk today is fear based. People are constantly bombarded with the idea that they are going to run out of money, be left alone, or suffer a debilitating medical condition. All of which are very real, but worrying about them will get you nowhere.
There’s no doubt that you will face challenges throughout retirement, which is why you need to be proactive right now. Don’t put your marriage, your friends, faith, personal well-being, or the need to secure the proper insurance on the backburner until you retire. Delay winds up getting in the way of living retirement to the fullest.
Ask yourself, “What’s one simple thing I can do to start addressing this fear today?” Overall, your quiz answers represent the first step in helping you examine retirement in a more personal and less material way. One that is very different from the typical dollars-and-cents approach practiced by many.
The goal of this exercise is to expand your thoughts and ideas about what retirement may actually look and feel like. To pinpoint areas of potential stress as well as highlight possible opportunities to maximize during your transition. While this quiz is simple in nature, it’s a prelude to a deeper, darker side of retirement that can affect those who don’t have a plan to manage the mental, social, physical, and spiritual parts of it. Potential repercussion that can become major problems, temptations, or sources of conflict if they aren’t addressed and planned for.