One of the advantages of having worked as a pharmacist as long as I have been an opportunity to better know and understand the pensioners and their way of life. What I have learned of them had a huge impact on my thinking about how to obtain the maximum of the mature years. As I interacted with them, I used to think that if all persons contemplating retirement had the opportunity to deal with retirees on a daily basis it would dramatically change how to prepare for and live in the years of retirement.
One of the most important things that I learned of retirees is that there are distinct stages to retirement, but very few people understand these steps and therefore see no plan or how to deal.
The first stage of the retreat consists of newly retirement enjoying the freedom of not having to go to work every day. This is what I call the phase of moon of honey - finally to do what you dreamed about doing - have fun well and assuming that fun, finance, and a good health will last forever. For the most part retired this stage lasts about 2-3 years.
The second stage announces the closure of the phase of moon of honey and awareness that the fun and games is not as pleasant or fulfilling that they were. Settled retirement lifestyle begins to take hold. But here's the thing - most people don't anticipate and understand that settled traditional life retirement leads to "stealth decline" - decline ramp of an inability to use the mind and body to maintain the skills of the youth. Most see coming. Also at this point, health problems who may be minor irritants before beginning to flare. And finance at this stage? The statistics are not in the positive column for much too many retirees.
Decline of the stealth is the daily interaction with primarily with others of similar age. Frequent exposure to their situation and the mentality affects the rate of aging. It is impossible to associate the people of the same age on a regular basis in a relatively closed environment and not be influenced by them and how they live.
Most retirees get to the second stage, accept and love with where they are in life. Friends, activities, health and financial questions are what they are. Life continued to revolve around the traditional culture of the former, with the participation in senior activities with senior friends. If any thought is given in the future in terms of what might be even little and are very well if it makes you happy.
Then it is third phase. It may be more rewarding or disappointing life stage.
At the end of the second stage, many retirees want still more life and themselves, but they do not know what to do or how to do it. If they think going back to work on the previous job or something y, probably is not a realistic option because things have changed. They have changed as well, mentally and physically. A huge part of change is often devastating loss of self value because they are more productive. Signs of physical deterioration worsen the problem. Thus, they are more nostalgia but unable to find the performance. Some have the courage and the ability to reinvent itself, most do not.
The best strategy is as follows: before retirement, know yourself. The appeal of leisure and freedom that accompanies the retirement is compelling, but you cannot allow a fantastic vision of utopia to replace reality. WHO and what you are and what you still want in life and how you plan to do until you close the door on the life of your work.
If you are retired and the third phase, and if you are determined to get more life but feel stuck, here are some suggestions:
Get yourself the old culture and way of life.If you can find a part-time job, you can enjoy, consider a gift even if the pay is lower than you want.Take courses that will teach you a new skill that not only has the value on the market but will help you to grow and maintain critical cognitive abilities.Join new groups to do more to eat, meet and retirement and age related are not.Run in the elections. You can do worse than the clowns currently supports.Volunteer to do work which will take you outside of yourself and put you in touch with younger people. Volunteer work is often a large door to paid work.If you are a woman, avoid women which focus on the "young", but live in the past. They you drag to the bottom and the sabotage of your goals.You are so much more than your chronological age. You have acquired the wisdom and valuable experiences that are not outdated. If you have a desire to create and produce do not culture or tradition to pack down to the bottom of your enthusiasm or extinguish your determination barely veiled suggestions that you are too old or not competent that you used to be. Listen to your body and your mind and are re-tooling of life that you would prefer it. After the retirement of honeymoon is over, you can have a life that is better than ever. Be brave and go for it. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Barbara Morris, R.Ph. is a pharmacist, author of "Put old on hold" and an authority on the strategies of health and anti-aging. Subscribe to http://www.putoldonhold.com/ for his monthly old put on the ballot to hold and receive his free ebook, "Twelve DivaTested tips for fabulous skin." Its expertise is quoted in an Art Linkletter and Mark Victor Hansen's new book, "How the rest of your life the best of your life."
