As one of the first “Baby Boomers” – that is, one of those human beings born in the period after World War II and up to the early 1960s – I have been thinking a lot over the last few years about how much longer I will work and what I will do after I retire. It could be a dilemma; On the one hand, after 46 years of work, I am tired of working for a boss from 8 am to 5 pm every day except Saturdays and Sundays. On the other hand, I am in good health and I don’t want to give up work just to spend the rest of my days entertaining in the garden. So what is the solution?
First, I have changed my mind about the idea of ​​retirement. Retire is a dirty word. It means quitting work and hanging around waiting to die. After all, isn’t that what people do? They quit the job and after a few years of slacking off, they die. The certainty of death is very good for creating focus. It’s not that we focus morbidly on him all the time, but that we know he’s getting closer and we need to make the most of the time we have left. Every day I think more about “refocusing” instead of “withdrawing”.
My idea in refocusing is to give my employer a chance and then do something I enjoy that will keep me active, alert and maybe generate some extra income. Instead of refocusing on one activity, which is like leaving one job for another, I’m working on diversifying my activities. I think a balance of maybe charity work – giving back to society, running a small internet business and some short term part time work will suit me. I want to choose how much time I dedicate to what I do.
If you’re a Baby Boomer like me, why not think about refocusing instead of withdrawing?
Here are some suggestions for a balanced refocus:
Do some gardening: Gardening can be relaxing if you like to be outdoors. It also gives a sense of delight and I get to see an award-winning rose blossom into a beautiful work of art, sculpted by the hands of an unknown master designer. His house will look special as his efforts begin to pay off. Pick a time of day that works for you to avoid excessive heat or cold, sunburn, or getting hit by rush hour traffic. Maybe start with half an hour per day and increase if you want.
Work for a charity: Find a charity that suits you and volunteer to deliver books to seniors, deliver Meals on Wheels, do some chores at nursing homes, or find someone you’d like to read to once or twice a week. . This will get you out of your home, away from your spouse (if you have one), and allow you to feel good about helping someone who needs and appreciates your help. Remember that one day you may need someone to help you.
Do some paid part-time work: This does not have to be in the area in which you have spent your life’s work. If he were a rocket scientist, get a job as a doorman in a hotel or club, he’ll meet hundreds of interesting people and maybe enjoy socializing. If I were a taxi driver, I might get a job registering vehicles for a commission car dealer. Whatever you do, find something you enjoy and do as many or as few hours as you want or your employer allows. My uncle was almost 80 years old and washed dishes in a Chinese cafe a couple of times a week for lunch. A friend is in his sixties and does odd jobs driving for visiting celebrities. Another, in his sixties, works one day a week taking bets for a bookmaker.
Work from home: There are literally thousands of jobs you can do from home, including making money online as an affiliate, dropshipper, or eBay seller. You could host a book exchange or house sitter for people who are on vacation or out of town. You could walk someone’s dog, water their plants, feed their animals, pick up their dry cleaning. There are truly endless opportunities to earn money. And if you do it more to stay active than to put food on your table, it can be fun.
Research a topic of interest: If you’ve always wanted to know something about the Norwegian pink-tailed swan, do some research and perhaps put your findings into an e-book for sale on the Internet. Or just enjoy the research and keep your knowledge to yourself.
Take a trip: Among all your other activities, take time to take a trip to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit. You don’t have to go for two years, you can go for a few weeks and more often. Traveling provides a nice break from your routine and is good for personal renewal if you feel like you are in a rut.
Do nothing: That’s right, do nothing for at least part of your week. Sit in a chair and listen to good music. Dream some pleasant dreams, read a good book, watch a TV show, or just doze off and rest. Or maybe have half a bottle of red wine and then fall asleep, it will be so much easier!
Whatever you do, don’t retreat and sit back and wait for the Grim Reaper. The longer you wait, the faster he will arrive. Make the decision now to refocus and plan to do a variety of tasks that will keep you physically fit, mentally healthy and, if possible, increase your income. As far as we know, we only have one life… don’t waste a single minute.
Make every minute count!
Copyright 2005 Robin Henry