What If You Started Practicing Retirement Before You Retire?

“I'll do that when I retire.” How many times have you said that?

• I'll exercise more when I retire.

• I'll see my friends more.

• I'll read.

• I'll travel.

• I'll volunteer.

• I'll finally take that class.

• I'll slow down.

We tend to imagine retirement as the point when we'll suddenly have time for all the things that don't fit into our lives now. And then retirement arrives. 

Having time and knowing how you want to use it aren't necessarily the same thing. That's why I like the idea of practicing retirement before you retire. Not by quitting your job early. And not by creating a detailed schedule for a life you haven't started living yet.

By experimenting. 

• If you imagine yourself taking long walks in retirement, take one on a weekday when you have time off.

• If you'd like friendships to be a bigger part of your life, don't wait. Call someone now.

• If you've always thought you'd volunteer, explore an organization that interests you.

• If you picture yourself learning something new, sign up for the class.

• If you think you'll love having an empty calendar, give yourself an unstructured afternoon.

What did you notice? 

• Did you enjoy it?

• Did it energize you?

• Did you find yourself restless?

• Did you want more connection?

• More solitude?

• More challenge?

• More structure?

This isn't about adding more to an already full life. It's about gathering information.Think of these experiences as small experiments.You're learning about yourself. 

And you may discover something unexpected.

• Maybe you don't actually want every day to feel like Saturday.

• Maybe the hobby you thought would occupy hours only interests you occasionally.

• Maybe you need more social connection than you realized.

• Maybe you love having nowhere you need to be.

• Maybe you're craving learning, creativity or challenge.

• Or maybe you realize how ready you really are for a different rhythm.

There's no right answer. That's the point.Rather than trying to imagine the perfect retirement, you're discovering what works for you. Retirement doesn't need to be completely mapped out before you leave your career. And you don't have to wait until your last day of work to start learning about what you want next.

So here's a question to consider: What's one small piece of the retirement you're imagining that you could try now?

Try it. Pay attention. Then get curious about what you learn.