Many retirees experience a “gray blur” effect where days lose their identity. The feeling that days, months, and years are blending due to repetitive routines. The “gray blur” is a profound state of burnout and depersonalization where life loses its colour, routine feels mechanical, and your sense of self fades into the background. For some,…

Successful retirees recognize the need to plan for happiness and productivity.  They evaluate what’s important to them and construct actions to satisfy their needs and wants. By creating a vision of a realistic retirement and building an action plan to achieve it, they are proactively and energetically seeking results. Throughout the retirement visioning process, it…

Recently I was asked by an adult child, “How can I help my parents better prepare for retirement?  I’m concerned they may not be considering their options.” After thinking about the request, my observation and advice is as follows: Remember, by helping parents identify a clear concept of what makes for a well-rounded, holistic, happy,…

Retirement is a time of great change – you are adopting a new lifestyle, becoming more self-reliant, making decisions on health and well-being, and taking on new and different responsibilities. With such changes comes a chance for fear to grow. Fears such as: “Will I lose my physical or mental health as I age?” “Will…

According to the Angus Reid Institute Canada, 22 to 24% of retirees report struggling or feeling off-track.  30% of new retirees experience psychological or social adjustment issues (such as isolation or loss of purpose). Key Reasons Retirees Struggle What to do to prevent unhappiness in retirement To prevent unhappiness, explore your future as a retired…

The chance one partner will die before the other is 100% for any couple.  Generally, it is the husband who passes away first.  This is due to a combination of biological factors and differences in health behaviours or social networks. According to Statistics Canada, the wife frequently lives from 3 to 6 years longer. Given…

It has been said that the life we lead is a result of the choices we make. Visualization helps you create a mental picture of retirement and helps to prepare for making the right choices. In your pre-retirement years, it’s important to make choices, the ones that will result in building a fulfilling and energetic…

Recently my wife and I attended the diamond wedding anniversary for a cousin and her husband.  As we were driving home, I began thinking about what it takes to reach 60-years of marriage. As I thought of my cousin, plus other couples I’ve known who also have celebrated years of marriage, I concluded the secret…

For years, I’ve researched, written, and coached people on how to retire successfully.   Frequently I’m asked, “What makes for a happy retirement?”  Conventional wisdom often defines happiness as status, (the job you have) financial security, (money in the bank), worldly goods, possessions, (big house / flashy car), lifestyle, and accomplishments. I have met people who…

(results of palliative care patient surveys) Building a retirement vision The above wishes should be part of imaging your new role as a retired person. This includes things that make you happy. Successful retirees build their own realistic and well-rounded vision of retirement.  They create and implement a plan to make it happen!  Read: Retirement:…