Jun 29, 2022
The usual focus of this podcast is the financial side of retirement. Equally important is knowing what retirement will actually be like. On this episode, I sit down with retirement coach and podcaster Wendy Green to discuss the logistics of retired life, retiree time management, and finding your purpose outside the workplace.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- Getting to know Wendy Green [1:31]
- Retirement surprises and making the most of your third act [3:23]
- Finding purpose beyond the early retirement phase and leaving behind the legacy you want [8:50]
- The importance of mindset and goal-setting in retirement [14:50]
Making the most of your retirement
Most people are counting down the days until they walk out of their workplace for the last time and enter retirement. But few consider this very important question: What are you going to do? How are you going to meaningfully fill your days after devoting 30-plus years to a career? Wendy gives most people a six-month honeymoon period before the golf bags and aimless days get old and 18 months to two years before retirees get their feet under them again. But with a little planning, it doesn’t have to take that long to acclimate.
Wendy suggests identifying and cultivating the roles that serve you while leaving behind the ones that no longer do. Going from strictly planned days to no plans at all can be a difficult transition to make. That’s why Wendy helps her clients put together a schedule that fits the retired lifestyle they want to have. Retirement is the time to pursue passions that were put on the shelf to prioritize family or a career. Take a class. Learn a skill. Go on that trip to Europe you’ve always dreamed of. Fill your days with the things that matter most to you.
Discover renewed purpose
When we think about the focus of retired life, we often identify travel and time with family as top priorities. And they are! But Wendy notes that this is more of an early retirement view. Once retirees get a few months or even years under their belt, they often yearn for more, and life starts to become about purpose. They ask bigger questions like why am I here and what SHOULD I be doing with the hopefully 20 to 30 years I have left?
Volunteering can be incredibly positive for people looking for renewed purpose in retirement. It’s important to find things that will bring you fulfillment and leave behind the kind of legacy you desire. Wendy has witnessed clients find purpose in everything from working with organizations tackling food insecurity and homelessness to puppeteering and working with children. Age is just a number when it comes to making an impact. Get out there and discover your next passion. Listen to this episode for more of Wendy’s insights on retired life!
Resources Mentioned
- Visit Wendy’s website
- Listen to the Hey, Boomer! Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
- Follow the Hey, Boomer! Podcast on Instagram