Retirement Villages
The Three R's of Retirement - Reflection, Resilience and Renewal
By Eva Bennett
Reflection - As we get closer to the end of our working life, which may have spanned 40years, it is a good time to start reflecting on what we have achieved in both our personal & work lives; what obstacles we have overcome; what interests we have developed; how we get on with those around us. Also the goals & dreams we still want to realise, now that we'll have more time to do the things we put on the 'back-burner while we were busy working full-time, bringing up a family & whatever else demanded our time & attention. Rather than looking with regret at what we didn't do, we can now look at the new opportunities that are now possible. In this reflection process, we can start a 'bucket list' of the things we would still like to do in our lives. This gives us something to look forward to, rather than feeling life has come to a standstill.
Resilience - After the big changes that retirement brings, resilience helps us to 'bounce back'. No matter how well prepared you think you are for this stage of life after work, many people find it can be a shock to the system. A fear can take hold of not knowing how to live life now that the routine & structures of work life are gone. If not dealt with, it can lead to depression, particularly for men. Staying positive, seeking help & believing that you can move through this transition period, is al part of being resilient. Research is finding that people who maintain an optimistic outlook, can live up to 12 years longer with better health, than someone who has a pessimistic outlook.
Renewal - The time spent on reflection keeps our outlook more hopeful & positive, our mental & physical health balanced, makes us more resilient & helps us to renew ourselves in this new stage of our lives. When we see that retirement can be an exciting new beginning, we aren't caught up in dwelling on the past. We bounce back with renewed energy, re-inventing ourselves, regaining our feeling of self-worth we had in our work life. We explore the opportunities that are available in our community, learn new skills & also use the skills & talents we have developed over the years, to help others. Life takes on new meaning, we maintain our health and we enjoy life!
Eva Bennett has written a book, "So What Do We Do Now?" The Baby Boomers Guide to Enjoying Retirement. She has presented at over 60 retirement planning seminars around Australia on 'How to Avoid the Common Pitfalls of Retirement' . Her book, with its practical tips on how to deal with all the life changes that retirement brings, has become a 'must have' tool for pre-retirees & retired people. To find out more, go to www.ebec.com.au.
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