If You Could Retire Today, Would You?
Image by dietcheese from Pixabay
If I asked you to list 10 things you hate about your job, you’d have no problem listing them, right? It’s so easy to become annoyed with the daily work grind that Retirement seems simple, like the absence of those annoying tasks and the ability to “do whatever I want to do.” I bet if I asked 100 people “if you could afford it, would you retire today?”, how many people would say “yes!”?
Through my coaching, I’ve learned that retirement is much more than just the absence of the daily grind --bosses and expectations, performance reviews and write-ups; it is a whole new phase of life that affords more than a relief from work.
Planning for Retirement Isn’t Just for Finances Anymore . . . typically when people hear the phrase “retirement planning” they think finances -- can I afford to retire. That’s a big question and certainly deserves planning and attention. But think about it for a moment, your whole life is about to change. How your day is structured, the interactions and relationships you have, how you define yourself, how you introduce yourself at parties. It also impacts the other relationships you have in your life. If you’re typically gone quite a bit and your partner or spouse is used to alone time, how does retiring impact your relationship? Although people have some vague notions of “travelling” or “finally cleaning out that basement”, they likely haven’t given a thought to all of those other issues. Retirement is an opportunity to be and do what you really want to -- doesn’t that deserve at least some consideration? Some planning? A conversation?
Like many transitions, retirement can go smoothly or roughly, but they all require change and adjustment. I had a client who, a couple years from retirement, was let go from his high status job. He found it difficult to muster up the energy to go back to work full-time in his previous capacity. Though money was a concern, he was also aware that his staying home was going to change the household dynamic. His wife was used to having the place to herself and going about her day independently. With retirement, they would have to negotiate a new daily rhythm.
His coaching provided space for reflection, energy and momentum, and paths to address what he knew were likely going to be issues for him. Rather than namby-pambying and dragging his feet about either going back to work or retiring, coaching helped him achieve clarity, gather strength, and tackle those tough issues, make important decisions, and go forth with his eyes open. In some ways, it set him free to live the life and live the retirement he had envisioned.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Practice:
Check-in with yourself to see how you answer the following questions.
What do you envision for your retirement?
Other than finances, what obstacles will you face?
How will your retirement impact others?
