Retiring Without Answering This Question Is a Huge Mistake

By Maurie Backman – Mar 5, 2026 at 8:36PM ESTKey PointsA lot of people do calculation ahead of retirement to make sure they can afford it.It's also important to know what you'll do with your time once you don't have a job.Before you retire, you need to make sure you can afford it. That might seem like a no-brainer, but some people rush into retirement without creating a budget or seeing how far their Social Security checks will go. People in that boat often end up squeezed financially. But while it's a bad idea to retire before running the numbers to ensure you'll have enough income, it's an equally bad idea to retire before knowing what you'll do with your time. Image source: Getty Images. That's why it's important to ask yourself this key question before ending your career: How will I keep busy? It's a simple but loaded question. You might think you'll stay busy with various activities -- mowing the lawn, cooking meals, reading the paper, and taking your dog on extended walks. But will you be happy with that? Will those activities be enough to keep you truly engaged? You don't want retirement to be a series of days where you go through the motions without being emotionally and mentally fulfilled. Where's the joy in that? So think about what you want to do with your time and what sort of routine you'll need to feel content. Taking care of your household and errands may not cut it. You might need social connections, physical activity to push yourself, and the mental stimulation of a part-time job or coursework. Think this all through carefully before resigning from your job. Financial experts like to say that you want to retire to something, not just from something. Assess your choices and make sure you're looking at a meaningful next chapter. Otherwise, you may want to postpone retirement until you've come up with a better plan.Read NextMar 5, 2026 •By Maurie BackmanThink Medicare Covers Everything? Here's What It Doesn't Pay For.Mar 5, 2026 •By Kailey Hagen, CFP1 Thing About Retirement Savings I Wish I'd Understood SoonerMar 5, 2026 •By Maurie BackmanHaving an Emergency Fund Beats Raiding Your Retirement Accounts. Here's Why.Mar 5, 2026 •By Kailey Hagen, CFP3 Little-Known Social Security Rules All Married Retirees Should KnowMar 5, 2026 •By Kailey Hagen, CFPIs Taking Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) in March a Smart Move?Mar 5, 2026 •By Christy Bieber2 Big Reasons I Changed My Mind About When to Claim Social SecurityAbout the AuthorMaurie Backman is a contributing Motley Fool retirement and Social Security expert with more than a decade of experience writing about personal finance, investing, and retirement planning. Maurie previously worked in finance analyzing distressed companies. She studied finance at Binghamton University.TMFBookNerd