Transitions to "Retirement"
by Nancy Mills
Until we have a new name for it, we will still refer to the time of life after full time, earn-as-much-as-you-can careers as "retirement." Most Boomers we meet are thinking not about traditonal retirement but about life options: a new career, a small business, a combination of volunteering and working part-time. And having some fun too!
What does it take to make a smooth and successful transition to whatever is next? There's a new study out that gives a name to the stages involved in moving into retirement. Working with Age Wave's Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., Ameriprise Financial uncovered five distinct phases and the feelings that accompany them:
Stage One: Imagination - from 15 to 6 years before retirement, positive feelings, looking forward to adventure and empowerment
Stage Two: Anticipation - 5 years before retirement, feeling dreams are closer but worries and anxieties mounting
Stage Three: Liberation - Retiring and feeling excited about it
Stage Four: Reorientaion - 2 to 15 years after retirement, joy is passing, feelings of emptiness, boredom, or worry mounting, an emotional let-down.
Stage Five: Reconciliation - 16 or more years after retirement, increased contentment, more acceptance and personal reflection
This study is valuable for Boomers. Many of us are in Stage One or Two. We can learn from those who have gone before us. There is value in envisioning the life we want and then planning for it.
But life is a process and one saying that I try to remember is: "Planning is invaluable but plans are useless." The meaning for me is that we can make all the plans we want but then "life happens." We can set our intentions, do our best and then let go of the outcome. And maybe we should try to move to Stage Five - the time of personal reflection - a little sooner.
What stage are you in? Comments always welcomed!
Until we have a new name for it, we will still refer to the time of life after full time, earn-as-much-as-you-can careers as "retirement." Most Boomers we meet are thinking not about traditonal retirement but about life options: a new career, a small business, a combination of volunteering and working part-time. And having some fun too!
What does it take to make a smooth and successful transition to whatever is next? There's a new study out that gives a name to the stages involved in moving into retirement. Working with Age Wave's Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., Ameriprise Financial uncovered five distinct phases and the feelings that accompany them:
Stage One: Imagination - from 15 to 6 years before retirement, positive feelings, looking forward to adventure and empowerment
Stage Two: Anticipation - 5 years before retirement, feeling dreams are closer but worries and anxieties mounting
Stage Three: Liberation - Retiring and feeling excited about it
Stage Four: Reorientaion - 2 to 15 years after retirement, joy is passing, feelings of emptiness, boredom, or worry mounting, an emotional let-down.
Stage Five: Reconciliation - 16 or more years after retirement, increased contentment, more acceptance and personal reflection
This study is valuable for Boomers. Many of us are in Stage One or Two. We can learn from those who have gone before us. There is value in envisioning the life we want and then planning for it.
But life is a process and one saying that I try to remember is: "Planning is invaluable but plans are useless." The meaning for me is that we can make all the plans we want but then "life happens." We can set our intentions, do our best and then let go of the outcome. And maybe we should try to move to Stage Five - the time of personal reflection - a little sooner.
What stage are you in? Comments always welcomed!
posted at 4:43 PM
6 Comments:
This is great! Well, I should be in the Imagination stage, but sadly, I'm in the Anticipation stage! And I suspect that many of our members are struggling through their Anticipation too! (Very Heinz Ketchup!)
Boomers! is wonderful. You and Mark are hitting the nail on the head. Love the show.
Thank you Mark and Nancy. I caught your program on tv the other day and decided to drop you a line, to tell you how much I enjoyed it. Right now, I am between stage 2 and 3, and can't wait to get there. There are so many things I would like to do and learn in the future, that I am definitely skipping stage 5, no time for that, provided my health holds up.
All the best,
Chris Browne
San Leandro, Ca..
GOOD MORNING OR SHOULD I SAY GOOD SNOW!!
WELL I TOOK A BUYOUT AT 48 AND EARLY RET AT 55. STRUGGLE IS WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR 12 YEARS. IS IT WORTH IT. JUST MAKE SURE YOU CAN PAY THE BILLS AND HAVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO! AND MAKE SURE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR INDEPENDECE. AND MOST OF MAKE SURE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL THE THINGS YOU DO FOR OTHERS,ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE PEOPLE. YOU WILL BE FINE BELIEVE ME YOU WILL. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU BOOMERS!
I am in stage 4, early retirement, moved to the sun. It sucks right now... Trying to adjust and get through to stage 5. Anyone have ideas to help? I have been feeling bored, empty, and emotionally let down.
I am thinking of what I want to be when I grow up! HA!
Just getting more active, which is helping. I have done the volunteering thing and I think I am ready for my second career. I am 57. I feel like I have completed most everything I wanted to. NOW WHAT?? I think I need a challenge.
Linda
Florada
Keeping busy and being challenged is the key for me; not to mention making new friends. I work at several small busineses that i'm passionate about which keeps things interesting. More people need to look at entrepreneurship to generate an income and keep busy.
I retired four years ago at 50 and moved to Thailand. I thought I retired early, but ran into may who expats who retired at 50, some at 40.
I've found I have to be more proactive than when I was working. After I plan and complete a project, I then have to come up with something else. No way I'm going to spend these years in front of the TV. Travelling is good as it takes up time in the planning and implementation stage. I am doing all those things I wanted to do and some I thought I would never do. One of the best times I had was spending several evenings with two young Vietnamese waitresses singing karaoke. It was a blast and the fact that I can't sing didn't affect my enjoyment.
I would encourage future retires to dream big and dream wild, and then make those dreams come true.
One last thing. Too many retirement articles focus on financial planning. That's important, but the big issue is "What do you do with your time?"
Post a Comment
Back to blog main page