The Freedom To Find Balance In Retirement
We always start the month of July off with Independence Day. July 4 is the day that commemorates the declaration of independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. Our new nation evolved because of our forefathers’ belief in freedom. They believed we had the right and responsibility to pursue the freedom to create our own nation based on our values and beliefs.
Clearly stated: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…” These words are a familiar part of our nation’s declaration of independence from Great Britain.
Freedom To Plan Your Retirement
Freedom is an important theme in this month’s newsletter. Retirement from your career is a life-altering event, symbolizing your freedom to create the life you have been laboring for during your many work years. You have the right and freedom to pursue a full life with the intent to ensure your own happiness. The success you experience in this transition will solely depend on the planning you do and the choices you make.
Planning is bringing the future into the present
so you can do something about it now.”
—Alan Lakein
What kinds of plans are you making now, before you retire? As the pandemic continues to engulf our nation and the world, many who are still working understand that their work could end at any time. Others are using this event to seriously consider life without work. They are thinking, “maybe it’s time to make that change.”
One of the freedoms you have is to begin the planning stages of your next chapter now. It’s never too early to do this. There are several models to begin the process. One is the Work Provides model I created and trademarked several years ago. The concept behind my model is simple. You cannot have a successful retirement if you don’t discover how to replace the numerous non-financial aspects of your work life. We are all creatures of habit and you can’t have a routine for 30, 40, or even 50 years and simply stop. You must replace these benefits of work with new routines, people, and activities.
I talked about the Work Provides model in the April 2020 newsletter, now in my archives. You can read and reflect on “Is This Going To Be Your Retirement?” or go more in-depth in this LinkedIn article “Successful Retirement Planning—Replace What Work Provides.”
Another model is the Six Arenas Of Life model. It is another way to make sure you are addressing all aspects of your life and making sure you are setting goals in each of these areas and seeking life balance.
The Six Life Arenas
Here is the Six Life Arenas Model developed by the founder of Retirement Options, Richard Johnson. It’s a wonderful and effective way to plan for your retirement. You can start today!
- Work – Allow your concept of work to change and consider volunteering, part-time work, consulting, or entrepreneurship. Consider volunteering or working part-time at something you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t change your career course to do it. There is life after work and work after retirement. You get to choose a more balanced and relaxed pace.
- Self-care – Nurture your body daily with healthy food, exercise, and health care visits to your family doctor. Maintain daily protocols for any chronic illness or condition you have. Nurture your psyche with self-care activities that feed you emotionally, socially, and physically.
- Financial concerns – Explore your financial circumstances, attitudes, and values that affect the financial decisions that you have made and are making now. Make corrections where necessary and keep communication open with your partner, financial planner, and your estate attorney.
- Family and friends – Nurture family, friend, and collegial relationships. As much as you are able, have dinners together, play board games, and listen to life’s struggles with compassion and life’s wins with celebration. Support your loved ones and share in their lives. Do repairing of relationships where necessary.
- Fun and relaxation – Use your freedom from work and work responsibilities to do nothing with your time except what you want to do. Take a break from your work/retirement routine. Relax, watch the ocean, play with your grandchildren, play tennis, go boating, or bird watch.
- Personal growth – Seek self-improvement and self-awareness personally, intellectually, and socially. This is a time to explore and develop your interests, talents, skills, and gifts. It’s about life purpose and how you can find life meaning, maintain curiosity, and pursue lifelong learning
With this model, it is often helpful to draw a circle and divide it into 6 sections. Fill in activities for each arena that will meet your needs for satisfaction and success.
Freedom To Create Your Life/Work Balance
There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest.
Use both and overlook neither.”
—Alan Cohen
Balance is a life-long process we all seek no matter what stage of life we’re in. Some have more success than others, but it is imperative you never lose sight of its importance, especially in retirement.
In my own life, because I have been so work-oriented, I’ve struggled to find that work/life balance. In my younger years, I put so much of my energy into education, trainings, licensure, and staying up on the latest trends in my field that these arenas were very full: Work, Financial concerns, Personal development, and Family and friends. However, I lost sight of the importance of Self-care and Fun and relaxation. I have made some progress. Now, traveling, taking more time off for leisure pursuits, exploring new and different areas of self-care, and hobbies are additions to my life. I am also a member of our local Rotary Club, volunteering on various committees for the good of the community. I’ve met some wonderful, like-minded people and have experienced tremendous fulfillment and satisfaction, much like my work has provided. We are vacationing more, spending additional time with family, and now I even have alternatives to working only from my office. I can now work from anywhere on Zoom. What changes can you make now to ensure that your life will continue to evolve into a more balanced picture?
Embrace and value the freedom to choose the lifestyle you worked so hard for during your lifelong career. You deserve it!
Dee
As you face these uncertain times due to COVID-19 as well as changes and transitions in life and work, I welcome the opportunity to assist you. I am available for virtual consultations and virtual presentations at this time instead of corporate and group seminars and community workshops. Please contact me.
Dee Cascio
Author, speaker, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach, Retirement Lifestyle/ReCareer Coach, and Life and Work Transitions Strategies Coach.
The Life and Work Transitions Community
You’ve joined a great group — people who plan to make successful transitions in life and work. May you be inspired to use your strengths and skills to grow in this season and may each transition be your best ever.
You are free to choose and these tools can help
Ready To Retire? Successful Retirement Planning To Make The Best Of The Rest Of Your Life
