You're finally there: retirement. You worked hard to gain your freedom and youre enjoying it. Life is good. But you gradually notice a nagging feeling that something is missing. Then it dawns on you. You miss work.

You're not alone. A study published by Cambridge University Press revealed that about 25% of retirees return to the workforce, with half of them doing so within five years. And according to The RAND Corporation, more than half of workers 50 or older reported they would come out of retirement for a good opportunity. What's drawing people back isnt necessarily money, but non-financial rewards. Theres a gravitational pull toward meaningful work thats strong in the second half of life.

Work offers important benefits beyond pay, such as purpose, meaning and identity. Theyre easily taken for granted. Strip them away and theyre sorely missed. Once that happens, you may feel attracted to the work environment again. However, you dont want to return to a job that overwhelms your time.

How To 'Unretire' With Balance

It's surprisingly easy to decide to unretire. However, the transition takes careful planning. Work is constantly changing, and during retirement, you have likely changed as well. Your priorities are different. So, here are four steps to ensure your unretirement protects your balance:

1. Be clear about why you're going back.

Amy is an attorney who retired at 62. Retirement left her recharged but bored and antsy. After a year, she missed the impact of her pro-bono work. Amy realized she didnt really need retirement -- what she needed was a sabbatical. She decided to go back, not to the prestigious law firm in the city but to a local nonprofit organization with a mission she deeply cares about. It allows her to do good while preserving some of the flexibility she loved in retirement. Fewer hours and more impact.

Once you hop back on the merry-go-round of work, things will start spinning faster and faster. Before you return, clarify the real reasons you've decided to jump back into the game. Keep your "why"front-and-center.

2. Design your ideal workweek 2.0.

Forget your old work life, and visualize what a great week will look like now. How much time will you invest in work? Set your boundaries. While you cant control all variables, having a clear picture of what you're shooting for provides helpful guideposts.

3. Lock down the habits that keep you at your best.

What activities did you enjoy most in retirement? Unretiring doesnt mean you have to let go of all of them. What adjustments can you make to keep them in your life? List the non-negotiables and the modifications you need to make. Draft a weekly schedule, and prioritize your commitments to self-care.

One of my coaching clients, Sean, 63, returned after three years in retirement to become a consultant at a startup. He was intrigued about joining a company disrupting the industry he spent his career in. He was drawn to mentoring the younger team he would be working with. He negotiated a four-day workweek, but it meant a return to commuting.

Sean did not want to give up the workout routine he had built. By getting an agreement to start his workday later than he used to, he was able to preserve the workouts hed come to love. Then, he discovered how to optimize the commute better than he did before retiring. Instead of cranking through emails, he realized what he needed now was downtime. Hes using the time to think, not do. As he told me, he had to accept that he was no longer a superhero and that recharging was more important to him at this stage in life.

4. Seek advice.

Develop a succinct learning agenda on what you need to know in your return. Identify who in your network can help and who you can go to in your workplace. Look for opportunities for mutual mentoring. You may need help from others, but your knowledge can be very helpful to them. For example, the savviest technology person can be a great resource, but he or she could also benefit from your experience.

Going back to work is often unchartered territory, especially for those whose careers are less likely to be interrupted for childrearing. Many women, for instance, have experience returning to work after a career break. Seek out people who have navigated that transition and ask for their advice. While your circumstances may be different, you'll learn valuable tips you can use.

Retiring from retirement is a big decision. Advance planning can help you build work-life balance and create the best of both worlds in your second act.

The rest is here:
How To Retire From Retirement And Keep Your Balance - Forbes