A career is a journey for life
One definition of 'career' is 'journey'. One's course through life takes many twists and turns. Increasingly, people are working in several occupational fields, rather than sticking for 50 years in the same field, or even the same firm! People want more out of life and they are not prepared to just 'work to live' these days. career change is more acceptable.
Viewing career as a journey takes the pressure off feeling that one has to find exactly the right occupation straight off. Rather than seeing oneself as a peg with just one matching shaped hole, one can take a developmental approach, viewing work as just one part of life which evolves as one grows and explores new territory, changing tack and trying new things at the appropriate time.
That journey does not have to end because one retires. One can still explore, give and grow. At retirement these days, people may have over twenty years of active life ahead, so planning for one's third age is vital if one is to experience real quality of life and not simply degenerate, discarded on the scrap heap! It helps to think about what work provides, in order to identify what may need to be replaced in ones third age.
Viewing career as a journey takes the pressure off feeling that one has to find exactly the right occupation straight off. Rather than seeing oneself as a peg with just one matching shaped hole, one can take a developmental approach, viewing work as just one part of life which evolves as one grows and explores new territory, changing tack and trying new things at the appropriate time.
That journey does not have to end because one retires. One can still explore, give and grow. At retirement these days, people may have over twenty years of active life ahead, so planning for one's third age is vital if one is to experience real quality of life and not simply degenerate, discarded on the scrap heap! It helps to think about what work provides, in order to identify what may need to be replaced in ones third age.
What Color is Your Parachute (for Retirement)?
Richard Bolles also appreciates that the career or journey continues!
What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement: Planning Now for the Life You Want
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/29/2009) 
Surviving the transition into retirement
Interestingly, it has been found that a significant number of men die within two years of retirement, but if they survive those two years, their life expectancy is normal.Obviously, we owe it to ourselves (and our loved ones) to keep fit and healthy - the man in the photo is 76 years old! There is no excuse for not knowing what it is important to do or not do. Everyone knows smoking can kill. Everyone knows that drinking excessively is bad. Everyone knows that being overweight is equally associated with premature death and illness. Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial and important. While we can leave it to retirement when we perhaps no longer have the pressure of work to distract us, it is clearly best not to wait until it is too late - today is the day to actually make a start at getting fitter!
Forty and Fighting Fit!
Fit over Forty: A Revolutionary Plan To Achieve Lifelong Physical And Spiritual Health And Well-Being
Amazon Price: (as of 11/29/2009)
Fit Over Forty: The Winning Way to Lifetime Fitness
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 11/29/2009)
Fit and Forty. Zwanzig Jahre 40 bleiben.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/29/2009)
Work can gives us an identity
In retirement one can lose a sense of who one is
Think of the old army officer who still likes to be referred to as 'the Colonel'. Some people are what they do - they are defined by their work and when that is lost, so is their sense of identity. They have to find a new sense of self and rebuild their self-esteem.Obviously, loss of identity can induce a sense of worthlessness and of having been scrapped, but just as when one is made redundant, it is important to remember that it is the job which is made redundant , not oneself! It is important to remember that in retirement, one remains that same person with particular skills and abilities, irrespective of position or title.
Sometimes, taking other positions of responsibility can restore a sense of importance, e.g. become the treasurer of the local charity, or the captain of the bowls club.
Retirement ideas on Amazon
The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 11/29/2009)
How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/29/2009)
The AARP Retirement Survival Guide: How to Make Smart Financial Decisions in Good Times and Bad
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/29/2009)
Last Laughs: Cartoons About Aging, Retirement...and the Great Beyond
Amazon Price: $16.52 (as of 11/29/2009)
How to Love Your Retirement: Advice from Hundreds of Retirees (Hundreds of Heads Survival Guides)
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/29/2009)
Work gives us mental stimulation
In retirement it is important to keep ones brain active
One's brain needs exercise just as one's body. It is important not to just veg in a chair for the next twenty years watching day-time TV and the Shopping Channel!Besides crosswords, puzzles and sudoku, these days, you could always borrow the grandkids' Nintendo Brain Training games! Better still, think about how you might continue to work part-time, whether in paid or unpaid employment, to keep your brain active. Perhaps you have skills which you could use to teach and tutor others? With access to so many part-time and distance learning courses, maybe now is the time to take some courses or even study for that degree!? Computers and the internet can be a great source of fun, discovery, learning and communication. Why not update your skills?
Work gives us routine
It is important to make the most of one's time and not just fritter it away
In retirement, one assumes that one will have time to do all the things which one never had time for before. However, I once took a gap year with no clear plans or established routine. The time was simply frittered away. I never decorated the house, became super fit, read those books or even travelled to the extent I had intended. I had a break of sorts, but felt disappointed, irritable and unfulfilled because I had in effect wasted a great opportunity, and as a result, the respite did not entirely provide the refreshment and sense of renewal for which I had hoped.In retirement, routine is important. One needs some structure, some plans for this continuing journey, if one is to be able to look back and think, 'Yes, I made the most of the time I had'. Balance is vital too. I heard a story that one retiree walked his dog so many times a day, the poor thing simply dropped dead with exhaustion (the dog, not the owner!)
Take a planner and plan out your years and weeks, ensuring a good variety and a sensible balance and routine of activities. You should then have a sense of continued growth, direction and progression rather than stagnation.
Work keeps us active
No-one is likely to suggest that in retirement you should take up aerobics or be running marathons (although some do!), but exercise is good for bone density and osteoporosis, and it keeps joints supple and prevents weight gain (often already a factor over 50 years - why local authority gyms tend to offer a discount over this age). Keeping up with the grandchildren (or dog) can take some energy, but why not take up yoga, bowls, swimming. Pilates, or the age-old favourite, golf? Then again, what is wrong with a good constitutional walk? This could be a stroll round the park, but equally, a conscious decision to walk to the shops rather than simply jump on a bus or in the car. Retirement Speech!
Retirement Quotes and Speeches
- famous retirement speeches quotations quotes thoughts speech
- famous retirement speeches quotations quotes thoughts speech
- The Day He Retired
- More Gehrig: The Day He Retired
- Retirement speech - two free speeches that you can customise yourself
- Two free samples retirement speeches for you to customise.
- Free Retirement Speeches and Tips on How to Write a Retirement Speech
- RetirementPartySupplies.com features free retirement speeches and tips on how to write a retirement speech, plus retirement party ideas, gifts and party supplies for retiree parties.
- Famous Retirement Speech Videos
- Check out some of the most famous retirement speech videos and get inspired to write your own
Work provides interest
In retirement one might pursue new activities or further existing interests
Potentially, retirement could be quite boring. Work, (if well matched with what one does), provides interest, stimulation and motivation, and without such incentive one can find onself suffering from apathy, inertia and perhaps even depression!What have you always dreamt of doing? World cruise? Course in water colour painting? Learn French? Play bridge? Write a list of all those things which appealed over the years, but for which you have never had time, before. What is stopping you now? Are you really too old to give it a go? Are you sure? Why not brouse through the U3A activities lists for inspiration? Grandchildren are great for revisiting one's youth - taking them on trips can be a good way of addressing and sharing one's own interest in museums, galleries or steam railways etc.
Activities for Over Fifties
- U3A - The University Of The Third Age - Home
- U3A - University of the Third Age - The Third Age Trust
- Car Insurance, World Cruises, Travel Insurance, Holidays - Saga
- Saga offer a wide range of options to the over 50's, from Car and Home Insurance to World Cruises and Package Holidays.
- Prime50plus - The UK's No.1 Lifestyle Portal for the Over 50's
- Prime50plus is designed for those over 50's or more mature individuals with long memories who are still looking forward to lengthy, active and positive lives.
- Over Fifties Friends: Over 50s Social Networking. Senior activities and clubs
- Over 50s: leading UK social and dating community for over 50s
- Career Breaks and Gap Years for Grown Ups
- Career break and gap year information for grown ups looking for an alternative holiday different from the usual tourist traps. We list specialist travel companies that can help you plan volunteer placements, tours and treks, and tailor made holidays
- Distance Learning Courses and Adult Education - The Open University
- The Open University's official website; Part-time higher education, supported distance and open learning for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.
- Over fifties, over 50s, oldies & seniors sites from the original SilverSurfers' UK site
- Best UK sites for older people on SilverSurfers.net for the over 50s.
Work gives us a social interaction and perhaps even a full social life
Retirement can be lonely
Often a senior business executive can find much of his or her social life revolves around work - entertaining clients at dinners, Ascot, Henley, the opera, at golf, shoots, or on trips abroad. Even at lower levels, many find pleasure in socialising with workmates outside of work. When one retires, this social circle can quickly disappear and one may begin to feel lonely, and loneliness in old age has even been linked to Alzheimer's!There is really no need for this these days, because there are plenty of opportunities to find company, whether it be at a church, community event, adult education setting, or a specifically organised group for senior citizens (e.g. Saga or U3A - see links above).
Dating for the Over Fifties
- Over fifties, over 50s, oldies & seniors sites from the original SilverSurfers' UK site
- Best UK sites for older people on SilverSurfers.net for the over 50s.
Get the girl!
Humour
Work provides an income
Financial planning for retirement is important
One does not have to go from full time work to no work. If financially secure, then you might choose to volunteer, but It may be that you prefer to work part-time in something income-generating, perhaps in the same field but as a consultant, or perhaps in something less demanding. You could teach others and pass on some of your wisdom, or perhaps write or work from home. You could work with a local charity or interest group (whether behind the scenes doing the administration or financial management; front line, counselling, raising funds or promoting a good cause; or even in a practical role, in conservation, hands-on caring, or as an engineer on a steam railway etc.).Obviously, financial planning for retirement should start at an early age and it is not sensible to wait until one leaves work to then discover that one can no longer meet one's financial commitments! Look into pension when this still seems to be miles off as a consideration. Should you find yourself struggling, there are often, as a home-owner, options for equity release from your property, or for renting it out. Then again, retirement can be a good time to downshift, sell the large family home, and leave the dirty and expensive city for a pretty little cottage in the country, or in Spain or Provence! Where do you want to live?
Retirement Planning
The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 11/29/2009)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Retirement Planning
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 11/29/2009)
Tools & Techniques of Employee Benefit and Retirement Planning, 11th ed. (Tools and Techniques of Employee Benefit and Retirement Planning)
Amazon Price: $62.36 (as of 11/29/2009)
The AARP Retirement Survival Guide: How to Make Smart Financial Decisions in Good Times and Bad
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/29/2009)
Save Your Retirement: What to Do If You Haven't Saved Enough or If Your Investments Were Devastated by the Market Meltdown
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 11/29/2009)
Magazines for Over Fifties
Terry Wogan reads it!
- The Oldie - 3 issues for £1
- The Oldie
- Saga Magazine - Editors Choice - Saga
- Saga Magazine - Editors Choice
Retirement in the news
- Alzheimer's research links postponed retirement with later onset - Times Online
- Working until 65 or beyond could postpone the onset of dementia. A study of 382 men found a significant association between later retirement and later onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The research supports previous theories that
- Retirement wealth check: are you on target?
- More than half of people approaching retirement fear their pensions will fall
short of expectations after taking a "bet on equities" that has failed to
deliver, according to a damning new report. - Retirement gap years: mum's gone to India - Times Online
- Seven years ago I flew into an African sunrise, touching down in Cape Town on the first stop of my gap year. My friend and I dumped our rucksacks at the hostel, found the pool and the surfers who lived next door and discovered the plea
- Over 80 yoga teacher says "Forget age" | Featured Articles
- An Australian over 80 yoga instructor is a shining example to us all of how yoga holds back the years.
- Online Recruitment - One million over-fifties ’dumped on the scrapheap’ want work, says TUC
- One million over-fifties ’dumped on the scrapheap’ want work, says TUC - Online Recruitment with Onrec.com
- BBC World Service | Programmes | Outlook | "Retirement is not the end" - Ann, Kenya
- Ann Lipson muses on what retirement means for Kenyans.
- For a Healthy Retirement, Keep Working - Well Blog - NYTimes.com
- Many people view retirement as a time to stop working. But new research shows that people who take on full- or part-time jobs after retirement have better health.
Retirement tips
- 10 Ways to Find Your True Identity in Retirement
- Plan retirement - full content list
- Plan retirement - full content list
- Retirement Tips for Individuals
- Internal Revenue Tips
- 10 tips for a happy retirement - Telegraph
- A comfortable retirement means reviewing spending, and how much you need to
save if the state pension age rises. - Retirement Jobs - Tips for Finding the Best Retirement Jobs
- Tips for finding or creating retirement jobs, and how employers are recognizing the need to offer retirement jobs to older workers.
- Over 50s contacts : Directgov - Directories
- Useful government bodies and support organisations for the over 50s
Retirement Counselling
The following London-based providers will help you assess what you represent as a human resource and identify fulfilling and rewarding options for the future.
- Sherridan Hughes The Career Management Expert
- Occupational psychologist with 21 yrs experience in career change, career consultancy, career assessment, outplacement counselling, and retirement counselling.
- Career Change, Changing Careers, Career Guidance, Tests, Uk, London, Advice
- Career Analysts based in London UK offer career change advice and career guidance tests. Specialists in aptitude tests and helping clients choose a career. Also providing development and advisers for all manner of clients.
Jobs for over fifties
- Jobs for the over 50s - full time, part time, contract, self employed, voluntary
- Full time, part time, contract, self employed jobs and volunteer jobs for over 50s
- laterlife recruitment
- Work for mature people
- Retired Recruitment: A Recruitment and life style for the 50+
- Retired Recruitment a recruitment and life style for the over 50 age group seeking jobs vacancies, partners, friendship and love
- Job programmes for over 50s : Directgov - Over 50s
- Specialist programmes and resources available to anyone over 50 who is looking for a new job or hoping to gain new skills
Check out my Other Career Lenses!
Career and Work Oracle Headquarters
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Career and Work Oracle Headquarters
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Career and Work Oracle Pearls of wisdom from Career Gurus, HR professionals, and Expert Recruiters, providing career and job advice, personal development and self-marketing tips, spotlights on specific careers, and work psychology features. This ne...
Retirement Blogs fromGoogle
- Retirement May Not Be a Casualty of Recession - The Best Life ...
- The Best Life Retirement May Not Be a Casualty of Recession Share Comment By Philip Moeller Posted: November 12, 2009 Double-digit unemployment, soaring budget deficits, and a fragile economic recovery all provide ammunition to the "sky ...
- Naslund comes out of retirement to play with Forsberg - Posted Sports
- Canada's trusted source for national news, financial news, world news, commentary, entertainment and sports.
- Getting Back on Track - A Retirement Account Recovery Action Plan ...
- Just one year ago the American economy took a turn for the worse, and ever since many individuals have been experiencing financial difficulties, especially in.
- AP Source: Iverson retirement may be brief (AP) | Learn Guitar
- AP - Allen Iverson's retirement could be a short one.
Let me know you are out there!
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Sep 10, 2009 @ 9:03 am
- You know, retirement is just another phase to our lives on this earth. I really think that retirement has come into its own in the past decades. It is NO longer a solitary, uneventful phase. People are maximizing their retirement -- their final swan song.
by sherridan
Sherridan Hughes is a chartered psychologist specialised in career assessment, analysis and counselling - a proven career catalyst. After previous liv... (more)
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