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Spiritual Preparation – As in all life decisions, spiritual preparation is important in preparing for retirement. Now that you're approaching this stage, what is God's plan for your life? What does God want to accomplish in your life at this stage? Is now the right time to retire, or should you continue working for a few more years? These are questions that should be approached with thought and prayer.

Emotional Preparation – Retirement is a huge emotional adjustment for many people, especially ministers. Perhaps this is because most ministers have a great need to be needed, which is often met through their ministry. Long before you intend to retire, begin to talk with others who've retired successfully to seek their advice. Read books, seek counseling, and prepare for the eventual reality of answering the question, "What do you do?" with the answer "I'm retired." Decide how this answer will affect your self-esteem and emotional security.

Occupational Preparation – Do you intend to have a second career in retirement? What might it be? Begin to prepare yourself for this transition. Will you continue to be a minister of music in a parttime situation? Will you do interims? Studies show that most ministers continue to work in some ministry capacity after retirement.

Physical Preparation – Many people come to retirement only to find out that they've not been conscious of their health through the years and are not prepared physically. Stay physically fit, establish good health habits, and maintain them.

Social Preparation – Spend more time with your spouse. Begin to develop or re-develop friendships outside ministry circles. Your friends will become increasingly important to you. Prepare for this.

Relocation – Many people choose to relocate at retirement, although most experts suggest that you not make relocation decisions for at least 3 months after retirement. Most experts also recommend that you continue to live close to your friends because moving requires establishing new relationships. Before making an actual move, consider living in the new location temporarily for several months. This initial period can help you decide if you will be happy with a permanent move.

Many people mistakenly believe that they can somehow return to the good old days of their youth upon retirement. This is rarely possible, for we have changed through the years, as have places and friends. Relocating to live near family (especially children) can also be disappointing, for your children may re-locate eventually. Furthermore, your children may not have as much time to spend with you as you anticipated. Many people make the mistake of believing that moving to live near family will be akin to a long-term vacation. They are disappointed to learn that within a short time the relationships are often taken for granted and they don't actually see their family members frequently.

Conclusion

Retirement is a time filled with both many potential risks and joys. Making adequate financial preparations can make many of the other adjustments easier.

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