Reinventing Retirement (Presentation or Training)

This is a Melibee speaker that you should pass on to your Human Resources office.

Have you thought about what you REALLY want to do when you retire? Studies show that people who plan for their post retirement years experience a greater sense of personal success and fulfillment than those who do not. Leaving a job, whether or not it’s your choice, is a major turning point in life, a transition from one phase to another. Transitioning is a process that occurs over time, not an event that happens the last day of the job. When you take time to consider what is really important and plan accordingly, not only will the transition be smoother, the post retirement years can be the most rewarding of your life.

Although transition from a career or profession to “what’s next” can be confusing, overwhelming and scary, it can also be an opportunity for making intentional choices about how you want to live the next part of your life. It doesn’t necessarily mean not working. It’s more about the possibilities for living and working differently, whether that means full or part time work or consulting, volunteering, developing an encore career, pursuing interests and hobbies, and/or finally having time for leisure. The goal for many people at this life stage is being able to fit work into life rather than continuing to squeeze life into work.

We are being challenged to redefine our vision of retirement, to reassess needs and priorities, and to reinvent ourselves. It’s no longer about “retiring from” but more about what will you “retire to.” How do you want to spend your precious time and energy? Reinventing retirement is an opportunity to use your experience, creativity and skills in life enhancing and generative ways; begin a new career, make a contribution, step out of your comfort zone. It’s about positive, successful aging; “growing whole” instead of “growing old.”

Roberta K. Taylor, RNCS, M.Ed., is a licensed psychotherapist, career/life transition coach, licensed third age coach, 2Young2Retire certified facilitator, and couples relationship coaching specialist. A member of the National Speakers Association, she facilitates workshops and speaks to professional and community organizations on topics related to midlife and retirement transition. She brings her expertise in adult development and life planning, as well as her own life experience, to working with individuals and couples facing the challenges and opportunities in the second half of life. Roberta is the co-author of the book “The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle: 10 Must-Have Conversations for Transitioning to the Second Half of Life.” (Roberta is based in Massachusetts.)