(Paul Simon Had the Right Idea!)Are you struggling with the very idea of retiring? I often have people asking me questions like, ‘Should I?’ ‘When is the right time?’ and ‘How do I handle it?’ My best answer agrees with the transition advice given long ago by folksinger Paul Simon: “JUST MAKE A PLAN, STAN!”Ok, so maybe your name is not Stan, and maybe you don’t even love your job - just the paycheck. The advice regarding facing a transition is still strong. Retirement means the end of something – the end of having structure to your day, the end of the identity on your business card, and the end of that reason for getting up in the morning. The answer to “How do I handle it?” is simple. As with all transitions, making a written PLAN will help you ask yourself, “Who am I now?” and “What do I really want?” (Of course, you can still do this if you have already retired and are questioning what to do.) It’s common sense – think about how very different you are now from that person who was just getting started in the working world. And, by the way, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE COY, ROY.Oh, that’s right, your name is not Roy. But…, being coy – shy or timid – will not help you figure out your next move. You need to be honest with yourself, and PLANNING is what will help you focus and stay on the track of not what you are leaving from, but what you are going to. When you become your own GPS, you will feel much more confident, knowing when and where to spend your time. You’ll do things like committing to your fitness routine and researching some of those ideas and activities that have caught your attention. So, DON’T SLIP OUT THE BACK, JACK(Geesh, too many guy names! I’ll have to do something about that.) With your PLAN in place, you’ll be up front with everyone, having answers for the ‘What are you going to do when you retire” question that co-workers always ask. In addition, knowing how you envision your retirement years will help avoid uncomfortable discussions later. Your partner and/or adult kids will hear and respect your thoughts and needs. (Like No, I’m not taking over all the babysitting responsibilities or Ok, I’ll try pickleball but just remember my guitar lessons are Tuesday at 11:00!) Now, make sure you DON’T SIT STILL, JILL!(You’re welcome, Ladies!) If you need a little help for how to get to know yourself better and what makes you feel satisfied and happy, check out https://www.startofhappiness.com/wheel-of-life-a-self-assessment-tool/ . It’s a great tool for your goal setting and self-awareness. Like leaving a lover, leaving full-time work requires planning. There may be more than 50 ways to do it, and with a little effort you will find yours. Then, at your retirement party you can JUST EAT YOUR CAKE, JAKE & JILLAnd really feel free! Good luck... whatever your name is! Loretta loretta@coachingwithloretta.com P.S. By the way, remember that the written plan for retirement can easily be changed if you have some new ideas. Your GPS will just recalculate! ~Also seen in the monthly Let's Talk Retirement! column in the Jewish Observer~
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It was an announcement that the casting website was still open for the new show, THE GOLDEN BACHELOR! (Author’s note: Sorry, but by the time you read this all slots will have been filled.) I’m guessing you are familiar with the success of the two previous shows, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Well, this version’s contestants are all over 60, and the handsome bachelor making his choice stands by the tagline “It’s never too late to fall in love…, again!” Instead of hearing older people referred to as a has been, a curmudgeon, cranky, elderly, and an old geezer, what a pleasure it is to hear this new description as “a lifetime of experience, including love, loss and laughter, and still hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities!” Maybe you don’t want to publicly be the next GOLDEN BACHELOR or BACHELORETTE, but I’m sure you want the life ahead to be full of connection, meaningful relationships, and the possibility of falling in love … again! You want that spark that can re-ignite those endless possibilities!(By the way, this applies to current relationships as well as those that may occur in the future. Have you been married 30+ years and are feeling your partnership needs a boost? Maybe you are single and have realized that for years you put work first and took those around you for granted. You want to change. You want that spark that can re-ignite those endless possibilities!) Did I just hear you say, “But how do I do that?” Well, you don’t have to wear red stilettos and a low-cut dress, nor do you require sporting a gold tailored suit and pink shirt by Armani (although sometimes a wardrobe makeover could be a great idea). What you really need is a good look at who you are now.What do you have to offer? Gerry (that’s the guy in the ad) hosts barbecues, plays pickleball, dotes on his grandkids and likes exploring new places with friends. You don’t have to do all that, but how about asking yourself if you are interesting, kind, and fun to be with? Whether you think you already are or if you need a refresher course in being interesting, kind, and fun to be with, here’s what I suggest – especially during retirement: Step One*: Focus on being a positive and optimistic person.If you consider yourself negative, stop it. Yes, you can retrain your brain, so make it a priority in your life because: 1. Research has shown that 50% of your personality is predetermined, 10% is random, and 40% is your intentional activity. That means you are in control! 2. You can direct this intentional activity to surrounding yourself with positive people. Recognize the people in your life that bring you down and become unavailable to them. If some are family, make a point of consciously avoiding large amounts of time together. 3. I’m giving you five things to do daily for 30 days that will help you train yourself to Make Happy a Habit!
Start practicing your Make Happy a Habit assignment now and enjoy noticing the effect you will have on others. Stick with it because it takes 30 days to make a habit. Yes, it works. If you need some help discovering the road to your own happiness, contact me and we can talk. Loretta loretta@coachingwithloretta.com *By the way, Steps Two, Three, and Four are "Repeat Step One." ~Also seen in the monthly Let's Talk Retirement! column in the Jewish Observer~
Here’s the quote most often heard from people discussing plans for retirement: "One of the main things I plan to do when I retire is TRAVEL." If you have followed me long enough or simply know me well, you are familiar with the four areas of non-financial retirement I discuss, preach, talk about, and emphasize that are necessary to prepare for retirement: mental, physical, social, and spiritual. Today I’m writing this column while traveling abroad, and I dedicate it to all of you who are saying, "One of the main things I plan to do |
AuthorLoretta Saff, M.A., CPC, CPRC Categories
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