1. Make a list of the benefits you have experienced
from work. When you know what work has done for you, then you know what you
need to have in retirement. For example,
work provides you with a sense of belonging, a purpose, an opportunity to use your skills and abilities, and a place to receive recognition and admiration. As
you consider meaningful work in retirement, how will you meet these needs?
2.
Don't think of work as WORK. Our culture has conditioned us to think that
work is something we should want to get out of.
Even though studies indicate we are happier when we are working as
compared to leisure time, most people say they prefer leisure more so than
work. You don't need to apologize for working in retirement; in fact, work may be
the best prescription for a happy retirement.
3. A paycheck doesn't define the value of work.
Volunteer opportunities are just as valuable (or more valuable in some cases)
than paid work. It may be difficult to overcome the belief that your earnings
determine the value of your contribution.
For years the value of our contributions have been recognized through
promotions and raises. In retirement, you will be defining the value of your
work. Most people find greater
satisfaction from volunteering for work that is meaningful than being paid to
do something that lacks purpose.
4.
Revisit some "forks in the road." It is never too late to become the person you
might have been, or at least to feel like
that person. Think back to dreams and
goals you had earlier in life but for some reason life took you down a
different path. Retirement is the
perfect time to re-invent yourself through a second career.
5.
Retirement is the perfect time to pursue your "life’s work." Is there a calling that you feel compelled to
do? The gift of retirement is you don't
have to make a living wage doing what you love.
If your nest egg is secure, then use this time in life to make your
calling your life's work.
6. Start preparing now for what you want to do in
retirement. The first steps to creating
anything new often take longer than expected.
If you want to start a new business, then consider what you can begin
doing right now. If you want to do something completely different from your
career, then enroll in a class or degree program. You can take one class at a time and still
arrive at your goal. There is no rush in
retirement.
7. Make your retirement work challenging. Life without challenges soon becomes
boring. Work in retirement can provide
you with opportunities to engage your skills through challenging projects. The benefit is lasting satisfaction comes
from meeting these challenges. Work can
prevent retirement from becoming too easy.
You need some hard days to make the easy days sweeter.
8.
Create a two-year plan for your retirement
work. You don't have to figure out what
to do with the next 25 years of your life.
Instead, think in two-year intervals. What would you like to do for the
next two years?
9.
Bring purpose to your hobbies. Hobbies without a
purpose can leave you feeling like you're just keeping busy. By adding purpose, you can transform a hobby
into meaningful retirement work.
10. Last, always have something that you call "work" in your life and have a business card to prove it.
Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins All Rights Reserved
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