The purpose of retirement is to improve your life—at least, that’s the case for most people. However, many people assume that if they stop working, their lives will somehow magically be better.

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

To help you design 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 emotional and logistical support. The answer to this question can help you decide where you want to live in retirement because you can choose to live geographically closer to the people you want to spend more time with.

You may also have long-lost family and friends that you haven’t seen in a while. If you do, make a list and promise to reconnect with them. Or maybe you’re open to making new friends. If so, consider pursuing interests and activities where you will meet like-minded people.

On the other hand, there might 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 cite close personal relationships as an important sense of fulfillment and happiness. Be sure to consciously choose who you want to spend time with in retirement so that these relationships add to your joy.

What do you want to do?

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

If you don’t have specific ideas about what interests you would like to pursue, then be open to trying new activities. You most likely have nothing to lose except time, which you may have plenty of in retirement.

Make sure you think beyond the trip and consider what you will be doing on a daily and weekly basis. This can help define 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 work and want to continue as long as possible, or they may have 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 lifestyle reasons for retirement, you will be able to more easily determine what should be the right age to retire.

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

• me > E or income greater than living expenses.

ForbesThe most important retirement decision for early retireesOf Steve Vernon

If you’re already retired but not actively pursuing any hobbies or interests, ask when you might be able to pursue 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 specific home you live in can greatly influence your health and happiness in retirement. To enhance your retirement happiness, you’ll want to select a community where it’s easy to see the people you want to be with and where your favorite activities are nearby.

Fixing up your home can also help improve your finances if you can reduce your home maintenance and living costs.

Why do you want to retire?

Perhaps the most important thing to establish is your reasons for wanting to retire. Many people want to retire because they don’t want to work anymore or maybe they can’t work anymore. Indeed, this can be a strong reason to retire.

However, if you only have negative reasons pushing you toward retirement, you haven’t designed the life you want—you’ve simply stopped working. To make the most of your retirement years, you’ll also want to understand the positive reasons that draw you to retirement.

ForbesAn essential but overlooked question: Why do you want to retire?Of Steve Vernon

There are two other important considerations that provide fundamental support for your retirement happiness. 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 plan for a fulfilling and satisfying retirement so you know how much 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’ve designed.

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