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Some thoughts on life in retirement
I have recently been giving some thought to life in retirement. Here are two models that provide a framework:
- Action for Happiness
This organisation has an excellent website full of really useful ideas and resources: https://actionforhappiness.org/
It sets out 10 keys to happier living: GREAT DREAM
Giving: Do kind things for others
Relating: Connect with people
Exercising: Take care of your body
Awareness: Live life mindfully
Trying out: Keep learning new things
Direction: Have goals to look forward to
Resilience: Find ways to bounce back
Emotions: Look for what's good
Acceptance`: Be comfortable with who you are
Meaning: Be part of something bigger
See also the section on happiness on my Connect & Learn website - https://sites.google.com/view/connectandlearn/topics/happiness
2. The Wheel of Life
This is a tool frequently used by coaches , and indeed I have used it as a coach many times myself. There are a great many resources about this available on the internet, and one I rather like is from the Positive Psychology website - see https://positivepsychology.com/wheel-of-life-coaching/
This sets out these segment headings as an example, but what you choose to use is very much up to you:
Money & Finances
Career & Work
Health & Fitness
Fun & Recreation
Health & Fitness
Environment (home/work)
Community
Family & Friends
Partner & Love
Personal Growth & Learning
Spirituality
Here is one reinterpretation of these headings, taking into account life in retirement whist still maintaining an interest in professional work issues and blending in some of the Action for Happiness keys above:
Partner & family (including carer responsibilities)
Friends & neighbours
Community (including neighbourhood, locality, community of interests, doing kind things)
Work (including professional interests, voluntary and charitable work, being a carer)
Fun & recreation (including developing new interests, creativity and travel)
Environment (including house, garden, the locality, outdoors and nature)
Personal growth and learning (including doing new things)
Money & finance
Meaning (including spirituality, being part of something bigger, having goals)