You've been working towards this moment for decades.

But have you really prepared for it?

Once the countdown is over and you've left your retirement party, the reality of retirement is going to set in. And many new retirees are surprised by the waves of emotions they feel, especially in those first few days without work. The initial euphoria and sense of freedom can give way pretty quickly to feelings of loss, aimlessness, anxiety, and even depression.

Getting ready for this emotional side of retirement is every bit as important as preparing financially. Many of the most successful retirees focus their emotional prep on these three areas:

When we think about retirement, we often focus on financial readiness. But an equally important aspect is how you’ll spend your time. Without the structure of a job, it’s essential to have a plan for how you’ll spend your time. One way to prepare is to test-drive your retirement lifestyle before making the big leap. Here’s how to maximize your Return on Life (ROL) and start discovering your ideal retirement routine...

The best habits often have applications in many different aspects of life.

We certainly feel that's true about our Life-Centered Financial Planning Process!

The transition to retirement is going to bring many changes, including how you feel about the relationship between your life and your money. But you can lean on the same principles that helped you secure your retirement to help you make that transition and enjoy your retirement more.

Let's review three cornerstones of Life-Centered Financial Planning and think about how we can reapply these concepts to living your best life in retirement.

When you're a new retiree, staring at that blank page where your work schedule used to be, time might seem so abundant that you forget just how valuable it really is. But if you treat retirement like an endless weekend, you might be surprised to look up in a month, a year, or a couple years, and realize you don't feel as fulfilled as you thought you'd be. All those hours puttering around the house might suddenly feel like a precious resource you've wasted.

Being a good steward of your time is a skill that will only become more important as you progress in retirement. Here are some ideas to help you manage your days with a sense of purpose and contentment that will improve your Return on Life.