Life Coaching Tips for a Successful Retirement

culled from:http://www.campbellharrison.co.uk
Although the idea of not having to work anymore can be exciting (and something you might have been looking forward to for many years!), for some it can be a mixed blessing. The change from being in work to being retired presents many different feelings, ranging from panic and boredom to sheer joy at having time available to do what you want. As with all big life changes, retirement can take a lot of adjusting to and it’s quite common to feel unsure about this new chapter in your life.
Sheffield based life coach Karen Perkins regularly coaches people through the changes experienced in retirement. Karen identifies two clear areas affecting retirement which need to be considered – the emotional and practical changes which take place. By planning for both of these areas, Karen is confident that anyone can have a happy retirement. Below she shares her top tips for coping with the changes retirement brings.

• Emotional Changes

Praise yourself and be proud of your achievements
Approaching retirement age is a time of reflection so it’s important to recognise your achievements in your job and personal life. Make a list of all the things you have achieved so far and recognise how amazing these achievements are: whether it’s raising a family, renovating a beautiful home or being well-respected at your workplace.
Manage your health
Fitness plays a big part in emotional wellbeing as it’s a great way to make friends, maintain your health and try new activities. Plan a manageable fitness routine. Even if you’re not into anything strenuous, walking is a great way to get some exercise little and often. If you don’t know where to start then check out the Activity Sheffield website as this site lists free activities such as health walks, dance sessions and low intensity aerobics. Before you start a new fitness regime, get the OK from your doctor and consider seeing a chiropodist to have your feet checked over; healthy feet will keep you fitter and active longer into retirement.
Relationships
Reappraise your relationships and if, for example, your partner is still working, decide how will you include them in your good life, and not pressure them into doing what you want to do. Agree a plan together and try to anticipate what you will need to do to keep everyone happy!
If you don’t have a partner then silver dating is all the rage, but the same rules of dating at any age apply; use common sense, tell people where you are going, have a get out plan if the date goes badly and never arrange to meet someone at your or their house for the first time.

• Practical Changes

Defining short, medium and then long term aims in retirement is so important as if you don’t have a vision of how your retirement is going to look how will you get there? Planning how you will spend your time will help make retirement seem the norm and help ease you into a life outside of work.
Having a few special things to look forward to when you first retire will help break up the time and make retirement seem all the more fun! Days out, weekends away and holidays will help you to make the most of your free time and give you plenty to look forward to.
A great way to plan your week is to make weekends special and give your weekdays a framework so you have a clear routine with regular activities planned in.
Hobbies and activities
Even if retirement is a few years away, there’s no better time to start planning how you’ll spend your time. Why wait until you retire to do the things you are really passionate about? If you have spare time now then start focusing on your hobbies and interests so it’s easier to spend more time on these once you retire.
If you’re looking to learn a new skill or brush up on your knowledge then the Sheffield U3A (University of the Third Age) provides lectures, study days, concerts, classes, trips away and much more, all designed to enhance your skills and spark your interest. The Sheffield Telegraph also lists regular events, activities and volunteering opportunities in Sheffield and the surrounding area.
Don’t forget to keep doing all the activities you used to do before you retired and if possible, see if you can recruit a friend who’s retiring at the same time to share your activities with you.
Work
If you are currently working then talk to your HR department about succession planning and support so you are clear about what your options are. It could be that your employers would love you to go part-time which can help your cash flow and ease you into retirement. Speak to a financial advisor about managing your money in retirement if you do decide to keep working.
Some companies offer courses on retirement, but if you’ve spotted one you’d like to attend then ask if your company will pay for it for you. If you work for yourself then plan ahead and consider who will look after your business when you retire. You might want to consider scaling your business down and just working on it part-time in retirement or training someone up to pass the business onto.
Your home
Moving is no doubt a very stressful thing to do, but if the kids have flown the nest and your property is just too big then moving sooner rather than later can save the stress and heartache of having to make a rushed (or forced) decision later in life. Downsizing into a future-proofed house that can meet your needs until you are 99 ¾ with minimum adaptations will mean you can enjoy your entire retirement without the pressure of a large home looming over your head. If you do decide to move then consider the facilities you might need later in life such as good access, bus routes and local shops.