Managing Retirement

Managing post retirement blues is important. Anxiety and Stress are common in the post retirement period and need to be managed. One has to reorientate to make necessary changes in life style to overcome them.

Tips for Fifty Plus on Life after Retirement

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Enjoy Your Retirement

1. At Retirement you still have at least 20 to 35 years (considering increasing life expectancy) which is a significant period in one’s life. So make the best use of these golden years.

2. Retirement gives you an opportunity to work for yourself. It is the time to do things which you always wanted but had no time to do it.

Focus on Health and Wellness

3. Remember that after retirement, health is your most important asset and prioritise it accordingly. Take special care of your nutrition, physical work out, mental faculties and emotional balance

4. Balanced Diet: Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can enhance your health and energy levels.

5. Regular Check-ups: Stay on top of your health by scheduling regular medical check-ups and screenings.

6. Stay Physically Active by exercising regularly

Spend time meaningfully and constructively.

7. Feeling of fulfilment and purposeful engagement is important to keep you going in your retired life.

8. Redefine your Purpose of Life. Retirement is not the end but a new beginning. Your purpose will act like a tonic which will give you adequate strength to live a satisfied and engaged life after retirement.

9. Reading is a good constructive pass time. Watch knowledge enhancing and thought provoking documentaries.  These programs are other constructive way of passing time. these can  be seen on programs like Netflix, Prime, Youtube etc.

10. Subscribe and listen to useful podcasts is another option. There are a variety of are thought provoking talks which add to your knowledge base without straining your eyes.

Maintain Mental Sharpness

11. Keep Learning Something New. Remember, ‘It is never too late and You are never too old to Learn.‘ Try online courses, learn a new language, or explore creative outlets like painting or writing. Engage in activities that challenge your brain, such as puzzles, reading, or playing musical instruments.

Maintain Emotional Balance

12. Meditate. Meditation can help you stay calm and focussed. Time spent on meditation is an investment. The returns are in the form of increased energy level, reduced stress level and a sense of inner peace.

13. Stay Optimistic: Cultivate a positive attitude toward aging. Focus on the opportunities that come with more free time rather than the limitations.

14. Practice Gratitude: Regularly reflect on what you’re grateful for. This can enhance your overall sense of well-being and contentment.

15. Stay Connected: Maintain relationships with family and friends. Regularly attending social gatherings or engaging in community activities can prevent feelings of isolation

16. Make a Bucket List(a list of things that you wish to accomplish in your lifetime) and plan and track your goals for accomplishing activities which you have been always wanting to do before you hit the bucket. It will gives you a focus and motivation to achieve.

17. Travel more. Travel makes life exciting and energises you. It adds value to your life and rejuvenates you. Plan your distant and adventurous travels early after retirement as health becomes a major issue later and there is no guarantee that you will live that long.

18. Define your life-style plan in consultation with your partner and follow it. Your plan needs to have activities which  give you pleasure,  foster social interactions, make your life relevant and ontribute to your overall wellness,

Plan Your Finances Well

19. Budget Wisely: Adjust your budget to align with your retirement income. Be mindful of your spending to ensure your savings last.

20. Review Investments: Regularly review your investment portfolio and consult with a financial advisor to ensure your funds are managed effectively.

volunteering

21. If you get an opportunity, volunteer for a social service for the benefit of the community with the aim to give back to the society

 

Thus, your Post-Retirement Basket needs to have a balanced mix of some work, hobbies, ongoing learning, recreation, travel, reconnecting with family and friends and giving back. The goal should be to expand social connectivity, purposeful activity, self esteem through productive engagements and overall enjoyment of life.

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क्या सेवानिवृत्ति सबसे महत्वपूर्ण गतिविधि है?

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सेवानिवृत्ति एक बिल्कुल नई अवधारणा है

सेवानिवृत्ति एक बिल्कुल नई अवधारणा है जिसे 19वीं शताब्दी के अंत में स्थापित किया गया था, जिसका उद्देश्य एक तरफ 60-65 वर्ष की आयु पार करने वाले कर्मचारियों को राहत प्रदान करना था और दूसरी ओर नई पीढ़ी के लिए रिक्त पदों को भरना था। उस समय, औसत जीवन प्रत्याशा सेवानिवृत्ति की आयु के करीब थी, उस उम्र तक बहुत कम लोग रहते थे। बेहतर जीवन प्रत्याशा के साथ, आज 60 वर्ष की आयु में सेवानिवृत्त होने वाले व्यक्ति के पास जीने के लिए लगभग 20 से 30 वर्ष अधिक हैं। आज लोग सेवानिवृत्ति इसलिए नहीं लेते क्योंकि वे उम्र के कारण काम करने में असमर्थ हैं, बल्कि इसलिए कि लगभग 30 से 40 वर्षों तक काम करने के बाद लोग अवकाश और आनंद के लिए समय की प्रतीक्षा करते हैं। जहां तक ​​उत्पादकता का संबंध है, 60 वर्ष की आयु में, व्यक्ति अभी भी उत्पादक होता है क्योंकि पुराने दिनों के विपरीत आज मुख्य रूप से मानसिक कार्य के बजाय, अनुभव और ज्ञान की आवश्यकता के मुकाबले प्राथमिक रूप से शारीरिक कार्य करना पड़ता था।

सेवानिवृत्ति सबसे महत्वपूर्ण जीवन बदलने वाली गतिविधियों में से एक है।

इसकी तुलना एक अन्य महत्वपूर्ण जीवन बदलने वाली गतिविधि से की जा सकती है जैसे शादी करना और बहुत सारी योजना (प्रेमालाप) और नए जीवन में समायोजन की आवश्यकता होती है। प्रक्रिया सेवानिवृत्ति की योजना के साथ ही शुरू होती है। किसी को जो प्रमुख योजनाएँ बनानी होती हैं उनमें वित्तीय योजना, निवास स्थान का निर्णय करना, सामाजिक दायरा, स्वास्थ्य, चिकित्सा और कल्याण के मुद्दे और गतिविधियों की योजना, शौक और व्यस्त रखने के लिए शगल शामिल हैं।

सेवानिवृत्ति का उत्साह

सेवानिवृत्ति के कुछ ही समय बाद और सेवानिवृत्ति की तारीख तक, एक सेवानिवृत्त व्यक्ति के लिए उत्साह की अवधि है। इसमें पहले से बनाई गई योजनाओं को अंतिम रूप देना शामिल है, विदाई भाषण और विदाई भाषण जहां संगठन में आपके योगदान को हाइलाइट किया जाता है (कुछ वास्तविक, कुछ अतिरंजित)। किसी को उपहार और उपहारों के साथ महत्वपूर्ण और सम्मानित महसूस कराया जाता है। एक व्यक्ति जीवन के दूसरे चरण में प्रवेश करने के लिए उत्साहित है जहां वह अब आराम और स्वतंत्रता के जीवन का आनंद ले सकता है। सेवानिवृत्ति की प्रारंभिक अवधि गोल्फ, समाजीकरण, यात्रा और आनंद के लिए खाली समय के साथ विश्राम और आनंद से भरी होती है। इस अवधि को विवाह के तुरंत बाद ‘हनीमून अवधि’ के साथ जोड़ा जा सकता है। यह कुछ महीनों तक जारी रह सकता है जिसके बाद व्यक्ति को पता चलता है कि दैनिक गोल्फ़िंग, लगातार यात्रा, समाजीकरण और मनोरंजन का आनंद समाप्त हो रहा था। बोरियत होने लगती है। शारीरिक सीमा और स्वास्थ्य संबंधी अन्य समस्याएं भी दिखाई देने लगती हैं। किसी को पता चलता है कि शारीरिक सीमाओं के कारण दैनिक गोल्फ, लगातार यात्रा और सामाजिक मनोरंजन को हैक करना आसान नहीं है, जिसकी पहले परिकल्पना नहीं की गई थी। इसके अलावा, जब कोई व्यक्ति अपने कामकाजी जीवन के दौरान व्यस्त और पूरी तरह से व्यस्त था, कुछ छोटी-मोटी शारीरिक बीमारियों को महसूस नहीं किया गया था या अक्सर उन पर ध्यान नहीं दिया गया था। लेकिन सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद ये मुद्दे प्रमुख और चिंता का विषय बन जाते हैं।

रिटायरमेंट ब्लूज़ का सामना

धीरे-धीरे, व्यक्ति को अपनी पहचान, जीवन के उद्देश्य और अपने निपटान में उपलब्ध पर्याप्त समय को सार्थक और उत्पादक रूप से कैसे भरना है, के नुकसान का भी अनुभव होने लगता है। किसी को यह एहसास होना शुरू हो जाता है कि सेवानिवृत्ति का अब तक का अनुभव वैसा नहीं था जैसा किसी ने सोचा था। कई बार व्यक्ति को बहुत अधिक फुरसत का दोषी महसूस होने लगता है। बीमारी और सेहत के डर से उम्र बढ़ने का अहसास भी कभी-कभी सताता है।

आप जितने बड़े होते जाते हैं, उतने ही अलग-थलग पड़ते जाते हैं। आपके सामाजिक संपर्कों की संख्या कम होने लगेगी। बहुत से युवा लोग जो आपके पद पर रहते हुए आपकी प्रशंसा करते थे, उनके पास अब आपके लिए या बहुत कम समय नहीं होगा। कई बार ऐसा भी होगा जब आप अपने सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन पर नहीं होंगे। आप बिना किसी विशेष कारण के चिंतित, चिंतित और सुस्त हैं। आप नीचे गिर गए और ऊर्जा की कमी है। जीवन आपको बेकार लगता है। यह तब होता है जब व्यक्ति को चिंता और तनाव का सामना करना पड़ता है जो शारीरिक और मानसिक स्वास्थ्य दोनों को और नुकसान पहुंचाता है। मौजूदा महामारी ने सेवानिवृत्त लोगों की मुश्किलें बढ़ा दी हैं। लॉक डाउन, अलगाव, उच्च भेद्यता और भविष्य के बारे में अनिश्चितता ने चिंता को बढ़ा दिया है और कई लोगों को अवसाद के कगार पर पहुंचा दिया है।

प्रत्येक सेवानिवृत्त व्यक्ति इस अनुभव से गुजरता है, हालांकि डिग्री और प्रभाव भिन्न हो सकते हैं। इस चरण की पहचान करना और इसे खत्म करने के लिए आवश्यक संशोधन करना महत्वपूर्ण है। इसलिए, जीवन की कठिन वास्तविकताओं का सामना करना और स्वीकार करना महत्वपूर्ण है और अपनी जीवन शैली और दिनचर्या में आवश्यक परिवर्तन करके खुद को फिर से उन्मुख करना है।

पुन: उन्मुख करने की आवश्यकता

अपना समय फिर से शेड्यूल करें और एक रूटीन बनाएं। एक दिनचर्या बनाएं जो अवकाश और मनोरंजन को गतिविधियों के साथ संतुलित करे जो आपको तृप्ति की भावना दे। आपकी दिनचर्या को आपकी कल्याण गतिविधियों, आपके उत्पादक शगल, मनोरंजन और समाजीकरण के लिए समय देना चाहिए। यदि आप दिन के अंत में गतिविधियों का एक स्वस्थ मिश्रण प्राप्त करने में सक्षम हैं, तो आप संतुष्ट महसूस करेंगे। इससे आप अगले दिन का इंतजार करते हैं। दिनचर्या का लाभ यह है कि यह आपको प्रासंगिक और वांछित महसूस कराता है। जिस दिन या जिस क्षण आपको यह सोचना पड़े कि ‘अब मुझे क्या करना चाहिए’, आप अपने समय का सदुपयोग नहीं कर रहे हैं। कभी-कभी अपने निर्धारित दिनचर्या से ब्रेक लेना और ‘जाने दो’ की भावना रखना अच्छा होगा। ऐसे काम करें जो आपको करने का मन करें, भले ही वह आपकी दिनचर्या का हिस्सा न हो।

शौक और शगल विकसित करें। हर कोई जानता है कि समय का सदुपयोग करने के लिए शौक और शौक रखना एक अच्छा तरीका है, लेकिन कई सेवानिवृत्त लोग ऐसे भी हैं जिनका पालन करने के लिए कोई विशेष शौक नहीं है। इसलिए, शौक और शगल बनाएं, अगर आपके पास कोई नहीं है। बस देखें कि आप क्या करना पसंद करते हैं। यह पढ़ना, संगीत सुनना, बागवानी करना, वृत्तचित्र देखना, खाना बनाना आदि जैसी साधारण बात हो सकती है।

समान विचारधारा वाले लोगों के समुदाय में शामिल हों और सामूहीकरण करें। यहां तक ​​कि दूसरों से जुड़ने के लिए सोशल मीडिया का इस्तेमाल करना भी एक अच्छा विकल्प है। आप हमेशा अपने कंप्यूटर या स्मार्टफोन पर एक क्लिक के साथ ‘अपने प्रकार’ के लोगों को ढूंढ सकते हैं और उनसे जुड़ सकते हैं।

खुद को दूसरों के लिए उपयोगी बनाएं। स्वयंसेवक और किसी की सेवा करने वाला। अपने अनुभव और झुकाव से आप हमेशा ऐसे क्षेत्रों को खोज सकते हैं जिनमें आप दूसरों की मदद कर सकते हैं। यहां तक ​​​​कि आपके निवासी कल्याण संघों की गतिविधियों में भाग लेने जैसी साधारण चीजें भी आपको बेहतर महसूस कराएंगी।

हमेशा कोशिश करें और कुछ नया सीखें। यह आपके मानसिक संकायों का प्रयोग करेगा और संज्ञानात्मक गिरावट को रोकेगा। यहां तक ​​​​कि अपने स्मार्ट मोबाइल फोन का उपयोग करने के टिप्स और ट्रिक्स सीखने और महारत हासिल करने जैसी एक छोटी सी चीज भी आपको एक अच्छा बढ़ावा देगी। इस हाई-टेक युग में, सेवानिवृत्त लोगों को बहुत कुछ अपडेट करने की आवश्यकता है। इसलिए, कभी भी यह महसूस न करें कि आप सीखने के लिए बहुत बूढ़े हैं।

आकार में बने रहना। अपनी उम्र के हिसाब से नियमित कसरत करें और फिट रहें। व्यायाम आपको एंडोर्फिन जारी करने में मदद करेगा जो शरीर में सकारात्मक भावना को ट्रिगर करेगा। पोषण पर भी ध्यान दें और अपनी उम्र के हिसाब से सही खाएं। सही वजन रखना सभी जीवन शैली की बीमारियों के खिलाफ एक निश्चित शॉट बीमा है।

जीवन में एक उद्देश्य और अर्थ खोजें। यह मत सोचो कि जीवन में अपने उद्देश्य की खोज के लिए आपको कुछ फैंसी और विशेष करना है। बस उन गतिविधियों में शामिल हों जिन्हें आप पसंद करते हैं और दूसरों के लिए दयालु और उपयोगी बनें। इससे आपका जीवन सार्थक बनेगा और आपको संतुष्टि मिलेगी।

अपने दिमाग को काबू में रखें। आपका दिमाग आम तौर पर अवांछित विचारों में तल्लीन रहता है, ज्यादातर अतीत के पछतावे या भविष्य के डर से संबंधित होता है, जो आपके शारीरिक, मानसिक और भावनात्मक स्वास्थ्य पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डालता है। ध्यान आपके दिमाग को शांत करता है और आपके तनाव को प्रबंधित करने और नकारात्मक सोच को रोकने में मदद करता है।

क्या सेवानिवृत्ति सबसे महत्वपूर्ण गतिविधि है? Read More »

Work-Life Balance after Retirement

/ Leave a Comment / Life Activity Balance after Retirement, Managing Retirement, Relevance of Work-Life Balance after Retirement, Work Life Balance / / , , , , ,

Updated on September 21st, 2022

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work life balance after retirementRelevance of Work-Life Balance after Retirement

When one talks about work life balance, one is generally referring to balancing the time spent on work to the demands of one’s personal life. Is the work life balance relevant after Retirement? One may argue that once the person stops working, then where is requirement of a balance when the entire time is available towards personal life.

But the fact is that after Retirement, you do not stop working, but continue to work, with a difference that now you only work for yourself. The nature of your activities undergo a change. You are no more under obligation or binding and you do not take orders from others but are your own master.

There is a lot that you can do after retirement like creating something new that you are proud of, serving others, building your community, making strong relationships, and countless other forms of pursuits that are deeply rewarding. At times people become more busy after retirement due to their engagement in activities which they love and like. So, after retirement, what is required may be termed as Activity-Life balance instead of work-life balance.

Activity-Life Balance

But time is a finite resource and needs to be closely monitored and effectively utilised. If not judiciously used, it passes fast without you realising it. The days will pass into weeks, weeks into months and months into years, when you look back as to what you have achieved during the golden period of your time. The great contradiction of the retired life is that there appears so much time, and yet so very little of it. Retirement, after all, marks the beginning of your final phase of life.

Activities after Retirement

Productive Activities

Some retirees  take up a part-time job just to supplement their income or if they do not have adequate pastimes. Some others spend  their time in productive and creative activities  like reading, writing, blogging, painting, cooking, gardening, learning new skill etc. Your daily physical exercise, work out and meditation etc also forms part of this group.

Pastimes for Pleasure

Activities for Pleasure and Entertainment through hobbies, pastimes, holidaying and adventure. It includes your time taken for playing your games, watching movies, listening to music, taking a walk with your dog etc

Socialisation

Activities which involve socialisation and spending time with near and dear ones. These are mainly group activities.

Pre-occupation with Electronic Devices

Of late, an additional activity which takes away a good chunk of retiree’s time is their pre-occupation with electronic devices like smart phone, tab and laptop etc.

How to Balance Life after Retirement

There is a need to balance all the groups of activities mentioned above to get the most out of the time left in your life after retirement. Any imbalance in activities would result in devoting too much of time in one at the cost of other.

Spending too much of time on your productive engagements may be at the cost of your entertainment and socialisation. Similarly, spending too much of your time on activities like Golf, would leave very little time with your family and children/grandchildren. Over-socialisation may take a toll on your health and may deprive of your productive activities like  exercise, stimulation of your mind and other creative endeavours. Addiction to your electronic devices may result in  spending a disproportionate time on social media, messaging and other apps, thereby leaving little time for other activities.

Therefore one must make a conscious effort to track one’s time and spend it on a mix of activities which gives satisfaction and sense of fulfilment.

Structure your time

Schedule your time by laying down broad time-slots for each group of  activities. Structure it, but not strictly as it was being done for your working life. Have built in flexibility.

Have a Routine for everything

To name a few, you may have a morning routine which includes exercise, meditation, breakfast etc. Working routine which includes your time for productive and fulfilling activities, routines for socialisation, pastimes and entertainments, routine for your social media and messaging apps,  bedtime routine and so on. Routine forces you to stick to your plans which you have laid down for yourself. This way you are able to make the best use of your time. At the same time you do not miss out any activity which you are required to do.

Club your activities to get the best out of your time

Try and club activities which can be enjoyed with  family and friends such as hiking, playing games, swimming, dancing, cooking etc. Travel Frequently. It breaks the monotony of your routine life and brings in excitement and positivity in you life.

Devote time for adequate Rest

Taking rest is a productive activity as it rejuvenates and renews you. It is a kind of investment to improve your productivity and wellbeing.

Track & Fulfil you Bucket List

Make a Bucket List, if you do not have one. Make all out efforts to achieve all items in it before it is too late. Your list may include places to travel, skills to learn, people to meet, and doing anything else that matter to you most. Life is not endless, and you may not have the adequate strength to achieve many of the activities, if you postpone them indefinitely.

Use Technology to your advantage

Don’t be averse to Technology, but make use of it effectively. It  can automate many of your activities and add to the quality of your life. Your apps can help your manage your time. At the same exercise caution.Technology has literally increased the time on screen leaving very little time for outdoor activities and face to face socialisation. Switch off and detach from you devices at times and  take a break. Observe ‘Internet Fasting’ once in a while.

Develop a Habit of Writing a Diary

Writing a dairy is a good habit and helps you in analysing how you are doing. You probably want to know what you’re going to do when you wake up in the morning. So make a list of the important things which matter. At the end of the day, take a stock of what worked and what didn’t, what went wrong and how can you can set it right. Introspect by self-examination and self-analyses with the aim to improve.

“Everyone must learn to analyse himself dispassionately. Write down your thoughts and aspirations daily. Find out what you – not what you imagine you are! – because you want to make yourself what you ought to be. Most People don’t change because they don’t see their own faults.”

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

Discover your Purpose of Life

One of the important challenges in the golden period is finding purpose and meaning in life. Having a clear purpose of life is the  key to achieving  contentment and eventually peace of mind. Embrace Spirituality. Spiritual People  have a clear purpose which makes their lives meaningful. They are clear on: “Why am I here?” and “What kind of Impact do I want to make in the world?”

Leave a Legacy

Remember, you have only one life and so make the best of it.  Have you ever thought as to what would people say about you at your funeral. What legacy are you going to leave behind after you depart this world. I am sure you always would like to leave a legacy behind to be remembered for your values and deeds which mattered to people close to you. So, there is a need to make a conscious effort towards this and try to leave a legacy which keeps your memories alive even after you leave this world.

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What makes Retirement the most important Life Changing Activity

/ Leave a Comment / Managing Retirement, Retirement, Retirement, the most important life changing activity / / , ,

Updated on October 15th, 2022

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overcoming post-retirement anxiety

Retirement is a fairly new concept

Retirement is a fairly new concept instituted in the late 19th century with the aim of providing relief to workforce which cross the age of 60-65 on one hand and vacating positions for the new generation to fill on the other. At that time, the average life expectancy was close to the retirement age, with very few living up to that age. With improved life expectancy, today, a person retiring at the age of 60 has nearly 20 to 30 years more to live. Today people take retirement not because they are incapable of working due to age,  but because having worked for nearly 30 to 40 years, people look forward to time for leisure and enjoyment.  As far as productivity is concerned, at age 60, one is still productive as unlike olden days one had to perform primarily physical work as against predominantly mental work today, requiring experience and wisdom.

Retirement is one of the most important life changing activities.

It can be compared to another important life changing activity like getting married and calls for a lot of planning (courtship) and adjustment into the new life. The process starts with planning of retirement itself. The major plans that one has to make include Financial plan, deciding the place of residence, the social circle,  health, medical and wellness issues and plan for activities, hobbies and pastimes to keep one busy.

The Excitement of Retirement 

From  just  short of retirement and stretching up to the Retirement date, is the period of excitement for a retiree. It all includes final touches to the plans already made, the send off and farewell speeches where your contribution to the organisation, are highlighted (some genuine, some exaggerated). One is made to feel important and honoured with gifts and niceties. One is excited to enter into another phase of life where he can now enjoy a life of leisure and freedom. Initial period of Retirement is full of relaxation and enjoyment with free time for Golf, socialisation, travel and enjoyment. This period can be equated with the ‘honeymoon period’ immediately after marriage. This may continue for few months after which one realises that the pleasure of everyday golfing, frequent travel, socialisation and entertainment was waning out. The boredom starts to set in. The physical limitation and other health related issues also start showing up. One realises that It is not easy to hack daily Golf, frequent travels and social entertainments due to physical limitations which were not envisaged earlier. Also while one was busy and fully occupied during  his working life, certain minor physical  ailments were not felt or often not noticed. But after retirement, these issues become prominent and a concern.

Facing the Retirement Blues  

Gradually, one also starts to feel the loss of identity, the purpose of life and how to meaningfully and productively fill the ample time available at his disposal. One start realising that the experience of Retirement so far was not as one had envisaged. At times, one starts feeling  guilty of having too much of leisure. The feeling of ageing with fear of sickness and health also start haunting, at times.

The older you grow, the more isolated you become. Your number of social contacts will start to diminish. Many younger people who used to admire you when you were in position will have no or very little time for you now. There would be other times when you are not at your best. You are anxious, worried and lethargic for no specific reason. You fell low and lack energy. Life appears worthless to you. This is when one starts having bouts of anxiety and stress which further harms both the physical and mental health. The current pandemic has added to the woes of Retirees. The lock down, isolation, higher vulnerability and uncertainty about future has added to the anxiety and has led many on the verge of depression.

Everyone retiree goes through this experience, although the degree and effect may vary. It is important to identify this phase  and make necessary amends to get over it. So, it is important to face and accept the hard realities of life and re-orientate yourself by making necessary changes to your life style and routine.

The need to Re-orientate

Re-schedule your time and create a Routine. Make a routine which balances leisure and entertainment with activities which give you a feeling of fulfilment. Your routine  must cater for time for your wellness activities, your productive pastimes, entertainment and socialisation. If you are able to achieve a healthy mix of activities at the end to the day, you will feel satisfied. This makes you look forward to the next day. The benefit of routine is that it makes you feel relevant and wanted. The day  or the moment you have to wonder as to ‘what should I do now’, you are not making a good use of your time. At times it would be well in order to take a break from your set routine and have a feeling of ‘Let Go’. Do things that you feel like doing even though it is not strictly a part of your routine. 

Develop Hobbies and pastimes. Everyone knows that  having pastimes and hobbies is a good way of utilising time, but there are many retirees who do not have any specific hobbies to follow. So, create Hobbies and Pastimes, if you have none. Just see what you love doing. It could be a simple thing like reading, listening to music, gardening, watching documentaries, cooking and so on. 

Join a community of like-minded people and socialise. Even using social media to connect with others is a good option. You can always find and connect to people of ‘your type’ just with a click on your computer or smartphone.

Make yourself useful to others. Volunteer and be of service to someone. With your experience and inclination you can always find areas in which you can be of help to others. Even simple things like participating in activities of your resident welfare associations will make you feel better.

Always try and Learn something new. This will exercise your mental faculties and prevent cognitive decline. Even a small thing like learning and mastering tips and tricks of using your smart mobile phone will give you a good boost. In this high tech age, there is a lot which retirees need to update on. So, do not ever feel that you are too old to learn.

Stay in Shape. Do regular work out right for your age and and stay in shape. Exercise will help you releasing endorphins which will trigger a positive feeling in the body. Also pay attention to nutrition and eat right for your age. Keeping the right weight is a sure shot  insurance  against all life style diseases.

Find a Purpose and meaning in life. Don’t think that you have to do any thing fancy and special to discover your purpose in life. Simply engage in activities which you love and be kind and useful to others. This will make your life meaningful and give you satisfaction.

Keep your mind in check. Your mind is generally engrossed in unwanted thoughts, mostly concerning regrets of the past or fear of the future, which adversely affects your physical, mental and emotional health. Meditation pacifies your mind and helps in managing your stress and  prevent negative thinking.

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Making the Best of Your Retirement

/ 3 Comments / Managing Retirement, Retirement, retirement, the best period of life / / , , , , , , , , , ,

Updated on September 21st, 2022

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Enjoy Your Retirement

At Retirement you still have at least 20 to 35 years (considering increasing life expectancy) which is a significant period in one’s life. Retirement gives you an opportunity to work for yourself. It is the time to do things which you always wanted but had no time to do it. So make the best use of this time and enjoy the ‘Joys of Retirement‘. Transition to the retired life from an active life is a challenge that you need to be prepared for. With your physical and mental faculties diminishing  gradually and availability of support reducing, you have to keep  your spirits high to keep you going. With little efforts, you can live your life well and meaningfully after retirement.

Health is your most important Asset

Remember that after retirement, health is your most important asset and prioritise it accordingly. With depleting energy levels, playing golf everyday,  partying and  touring very frequently may not be sustainable unless you take care of your health. Take special care of nutrition and physical work out. Make it a point to get your medical check up at least once every year. Apart from physical health, exercise your mental faculties, maintain emotional balance and work towards your spiritual growth. If you are careful and meticulous in your health and wellness plan, you can even Reverse your Biological Age.

Live Life meaningfully

Initially, the retirement appears like a long vacation where you have freedom to do whatever you like.  After a while, a feeling comes in that spending time in passive activities like watching TV  or listening to music is OK for a while, but what is important is to spend time meaningfully and constructively. Whatever you do must give you a feeling of accomplishment. Feeling of fulfilment and purposeful engagement is important to keep you going in your retired life. There has to be a balance in the activities which give you pleasure, fulfillment, purpose, feeling of being wanted and doing something worthwhile.

Define the Purpose of your Life

Ask Yourself ‘What is the Purpose of my Life?’ Understand and Define your Purpose of Life, if not already done. Having a purpose will help you in focussing your energies and give significance to your life. Your purpose will act like a tonic which will give you adequate strength to live a satisfied and engaged life after retirement. It will help you in achieving true ‘Happiness after Retirement‘

Keep Learning Something New

Remember, ‘It is never too late and You are never too old to Learn.‘ Doing courses in your area of interest is a good pastime and investment of time. Online courses(many of which are free) offer a good opportunity to undertake these courses in your home comfort without any pressure of time or money.

Reading is another good constructive pass time. I would recommend every retiree to invest in a e-Book reader. The advantage of eBook reader is its easy access to millions of books some of which may be free. Using an E-book reader you can even start reading a number of books simultaneously on a time sharing basis. At the same time you carry your entire library with you wherever you go.

Watching knowledge enhancing and thought provoking documentaries  is another constructive way of passing time. These programs can  be streamed from programs like Netflix, Prime, Youtube etc.

Subscribing and listening to useful podcasts is another option. There are a variety of are thought provoking talks which add to your knowledge base without straining your eyes.

Learn to Meditate

You also need to devote time for mind stilling/controlling exercises like meditation and mindfulness, may be for 15-30 minutes a day. Time devoted may be increased gradually. Time spent on meditation is an investment. The returns are in the form of increased energy level, reduced stress level and improved concentration. If you are a beginner, you may go through the post ‘Learn the Meditate: My Experience and Lessons’.

Formulate your Life-Style and Activity Plan

Define your life-style plan in consultation with your partner and follow it. Your plan needs to have activities which  contribute to your overall health and wellness, give you pleasure,  foster social interactions and make your life relevant.

At the beginning of each day, make a broad  activity plan as to what you intend to do for the day and at the end to the day take a stock of all that you could achieve. In the beginning, it may be disappointing as you may miss out many of your targets. The exercise is still worth as it forces you to plan and review your achievements.

Accomplish your Bucket List

A Bucket List is simply a list of things that you wish to accomplish in your lifetime. It  is good to have a Bucket List is it forces you to  plan and track your goals for accomplishing activities which you have been always wanting to do before you hit the bucket. It gives you a focus and motivation to achieve your dreams. Go through your Bucket List periodically and make an all out effort to accomplish your list as early as possible.

Spend more time with your family

Spend more time with Family. Once you retire, you’ll have plenty of time. No, you can’t go back and make up for the time you didn’t have earlier in life. But now you can resolve to spend more time with family. Spend time with your grandchildren.

After Retirement you are available to your spouse 24x7x365 (presuming that your spouse is not working) which your spouse is not used to. In fact your spouse is getting double of you you with half (or even less) of your income. Therefore it is important to get along well with your spouse at home. One aspect which you must remember that your retirement means more load on your spouse and it is your moral responsibility to share the load. Now you have no excuse for not doing it.

Travel More

Travelling makes life exciting and energises you. It adds value to your life and rejuvenates you. The memories of your best holidays makes you feel good and positive. Plan a trip at least once in six months and make the best use of this time. Plan your distant and adventurous travels early after retirement as health becomes a major issue later and there is no guarantee that you will live that long.

Exploit Technology to your advantage

Use technology to your advantage. Most of the retirees today have a working knowledge of computers and most of the mobile based applications. If you lack the basic knowledge, it would be a good idea to take up a basic course on computer applications. It would enable you to exploit the technology to the maximum thus easing your life. Smart phones are a boon to Fifty Plus, if exploited well.

Plan your retirement corpus/accumulated savings.   Invest them in a manner that you take a balanced and calculated risk to maximize your returns. It is always better to seek professional advice so that you get a better return after catering for the inflation. In addition, you must have a Viable Withdrawal Plan  to enjoy the fruits of your savings and investment to the maximum in your lifetime. Remember, expenditure on health care in the later years can be heavy. Therefore, take an appropriate Insurance Plan that covers you and your spouse adequately.

Consider Volunteering/Part time job

If you get an opportunity, volunteer for social service or for non-profit organizations for the benefit of the community with the aim to give back to the society. Taking up a part time/ full time job after retirement is not mandatory unless you need money and want to supplement your income to maintain your lifestyle. However, if you do not have adequate hobbies and pastimes to keep you busy, you may take it up as an occupation, even if you are financially sound. Always make sure that you leave enough time for your rest and recreation.

Balance your leisure with productive engagements

Thus your Post-Retirement Basket needs to have a balanced mix of some work, hobbies, ongoing learning, recreation, travel, reconnecting with family and friends and giving back. The goal should be to expand social connectivity, purposeful activity, self esteem through productive engagements and overall enjoyment of life.

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WHY IS AGE 50 CRUCIAL?

/ 4 Comments / 50 से 60 के बीच आयु, Ageing Gracefully, Life after 50, Managing Retirement, Retirement, Self introspection / / , , , , , , ,

Updated on September 23rd, 2022

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Therefore at age 50 one needs to  take a stock of  his achievements and failures, one’s assets and liabilities and plans for future.  At this age one still has about 10 to 15  years of working life to set the things right and make changes, if required.

Important questions that one must ask short of Retirement:

-Am I doing adequately to keep myself physically fit and in good health which will see me through for the next 25 years?

–Have I planned my Retirement well after considering all aspects

-Have I taken care to be financially sound to be able to maintain my current life style even after retirement ? Am I saving adequately for my Retirement?

-Will I be able to sustain myself without having to work after 65 to meet my financial commitments?

-Are my Children well settled and financially independent? If not, do I have plans in place to finance their requirement?

-Have I decided the place where I am permanently settling down? Do I have a house of my own?

-Do I have plans on how to spend my time constructively and meaningfully after retirement?

-Do I have a  social network to keep me socially active?

-Do I have hobbies and pass times to keep me occupied in the activities I like?

-How is my relationship with  my spouse and my near and dear ones?

-Have I understood and defined the purpose of my life?

-Do I have a routine to calm my mind periodically through techniques like Yoga, Meditation etc?

These are some of the questions that one needs to ask himself/herself at the threshold of retirement to build a clear vision of the life that lays ahead. If the answer to these questions is in the positive, you are well prepared to play your second innings of life. However, if the answer to many of these questions is in the negative, then it is a wake up call for you to make necessary amends. The fading years of life can be made the best  period of you life by timely planning and positive action.

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