Tips for Transitioning to Regular Life After Military Retirement

As a military veteran, you did your time and you were proud to do it. You rose through the ranks, and you taught everyone around you the value and honor of serving our great country. You probably mentored a number of individuals along the way. Now that you are facing retirement, you are probably wondering, what now? How do I transition? The good thing is there have been many who have gone before you who were able to navigate their military retirement well. Consider some of these tips:

Seek Counseling, if Necessary

There are a lot of veterans who struggle with depression and other issues after their retirement. Because some have difficulty transitioning to civilian life, there are plenty of counseling options available. Of course, there are many other reasons why a veteran might benefit from counseling. Simply put, the lasting scars of war for many veterans often remain for years, and they often don’t even fully manifest themselves until after you have retired and have more time to think about it. The beauty of counseling is that veterans have many options to choose from, including group therapy, if that is your preference.

Go Back to School

According to research, education has a positive impact on mental health by developing individuals socially, emotionally, and intellectually. Since mental health is a big issue for many veterans, this can be a hugely beneficial course of action to help them overcome it. Enrolling in education courses is also great for those veterans who are looking for something that can replace the purpose they used to have when they were in the military. Of course, more education is also a great way to find way for veterans to find a vocation that capitalizes on their prior experience in the service.

Stay Active

It is definitely important for retired veterans to stay active. By engaging in their share of physical activity, retired veterans might feel more flexible, have improved strength and balance, lowered blood pressure and less risks of injuring yourself in a fall. Of course, one added benefit of staying active would be that you simply feel better about yourself as well. Staying active can also be social if you choose to join a gym or veterans’ fitness club.

It might seem like a daunting task for you to adjust to a civilian career, but many individuals have gone before you and done it just fine. You are a member of America’s finest. You can do this!