Carol Yepes / Getty Images The retirement dream doesn’t always match reality. Some retirees experience a loss of identity or structure. Key Takeaways Overspending, rising healthcare costs, and a lack of structure may signal that you retired too early. Exiting the workforce early can also permanently reduce Social Security benefits, further depleting your potential nest egg. If you fear you retired too early, you have options: Downsizing, finding new income streams, or rejoining the workforce can help ...