Try this guide to create a satisfying and happy retirement

The whole point of retirement is to improve your life—at least for most people. However, many people assume that if they stop working, their lives will somehow magically improve.

While “not working” gives you time and energy to pursue your goals and interests, you’ll need to work harder to create a life that will help you be fulfilled and happy in your retirement years.

To help you create the life you want in retirement, ask yourself five probing questions: the who-what-when-where-why of retirement. Let’s take a look.

Who do you want to spend time with?

Think about who you want to spend the rest of your life with. Of course, this probably includes family and friends whose company you enjoy and who provide you with emotional and material support. The answer to this question can help you decide where you want to live in retirement, as you can choose to live closer to the people you’d like to spend more time with.

You may also have long-lost relatives and friends that you haven’t seen in a while. If so, make a list and promise to get back in touch with them. Or maybe you’re ready to make new friends. If so, consider pursuing interests and activities where you meet like-minded people.

On the other hand, there may be people in your life that you really don’t like. If possible, see what you can do to spend less time with them.

Many retirees often point to close personal relationships as an important sense of satisfaction and happiness. Make sure you are intentional about who you want to spend time with in retirement so that these relationships add joy to you.

what do you want to do

Make a list of all the activities you would like to do with your freedom in retirement. Maybe you already enjoy certain interests and hobbies that you want to spend more time on. Or you may have fantasized during your working years that someday, when you have more time, you (fill in the blank).

If you don’t have specific ideas about what interests you would like to pursue, then be open to new activities. Chances are, you have nothing to lose except the time you may have in retirement.

Be sure to think not only about travel, but also about what you will do on a daily and weekly basis. This can help determine the financial resources you will need to support the life you want.

When do you want to retire?

If you’re still working, deciding when to retire is one of the most important decisions that will affect your financial security. Some people like their jobs and want to work as long as possible, or they may need to work for financial reasons. Other people can’t wait to retire. And some people want to work, but not full-time, so that they have more time to pursue their hobbies and interests. By balancing your financial and life reasons for retirement, you can more easily determine the right age to retire.

Take the time to analyze when you can afford to retire and balance the common sense formula for retirement security:

• I > E, or income exceeds living expenses.

ForbesThe most important retirement decision for pre-retireesby Steve Vernon

If you’re retired but not actively pursuing any hobbies or interests, ask when you might be able to take up the activities you’ve identified. What’s holding you back?

Where do you want to live?

Recently, retirement researchers have determined that the community and the particular home you live in can have a big impact on your health and happiness in retirement. To increase your happiness in retirement, you’ll want to choose a community where it’s easy to see the people you want to be with and where your favorite activities are close by.

Sizing your home right can also help improve your finances if you can reduce the cost of maintaining and living in your home.

Why do you want to retire?

Perhaps the most important thing to determine is the reasons why you want to retire. Many people want to retire because they don’t want to work anymore or maybe they can’t work anymore. Indeed, it can be one of the good reasons to retire.

However, if you only have negative reasons pushing you to retire, you haven’t designed the life you want, you’ve simply stopped working. In order to make the most of your retirement years, you’ll also want to understand the positive reasons behind your retirement.

ForbesAn important but neglected question: Why do you want to retire?by Steve Vernon

There are two other important considerations that provide the main support for your happiness in retirement. First, you’ll want to make sure you have enough financial income to support the life you want. That’s why it’s important to develop a well-rounded and satisfying retirement plan so you know what kind of retirement income you’ll need. And second, you’ll want to take steps to be as healthy as possible so you can enjoy the retirement life you envision.

Take the time to create the life you want in retirement and then enjoy it! You’ll be glad you did.