Steps to a Happy “Retirement”

Seriously, retirement may not be in your best interest.  And not everyone who retires loves the idea of not having to go to work, so why not take steps to a happy retirement.

However, because right now you’re in the middle of a dreadful week . . . and the stress and long hours have taken their toll . . . you might wish that there were some options.  I’ve been at that place myself many times.  Going from week to week not knowing what I could do differently — and usually way too tired to do much of anything at all.  Since those days of toiling away in a corporate office, I’m inviting you to consider your own retirement as what might be one of the most honored and prestigious privileges for people who love to travel, vacation, and think outside the box.

Retirement is not the same as it used to be.  The outdated perception invokes images of older people in rocking chairs who eat early-bird dinners.

Your office can be anywhere! (Shelli collaborating with Sunshine at Il Fontanaro in Umbria, Italy

But retirement is happening at a younger age, more so now than ever before, because it doesn’t mean not working – it means spending time doing what you want to do and still earn a living.

It’s true; when you aren’t tied to a desk, you get a truly wonderful variety of options, all dependent on your own palette of choices, such as:

• Eating Healthy. Enjoy having time to learn about healthier diets, experimenting with recipes, and cooking healthier meals.
• Learning Something New. When’s the last time you took a class – in anything — or updated your skills?  If you can’t remember, it’s time to do something about it.
• Getting Some Exercise. Whether it’s 30 minutes or three hours a day, exercise is important.  It gives us stamina against disease, helps our balance, and keeps us physically and mentally alert.  Walking, yoga, and low impact exercises are my favorites.
• Eating Less. Without the daily stress that accompanies typical jobs, the tendency to over-eat is lessened.  You’ll also have time to make lunch your main meal of the day rather than dinner so you’re not so full when it’s time for bed.
• Travelling As Much As You Can. With no schedule, it’s a great time to see other places – in the US or around the world.  Consider what places you’ve always wanted to see and then go see them!
• Getting Rid Of Items You Don’t Need Or Don’t Use. Let’s face.  We just don’t need nearly as much “stuff” as we used to think we did when we were younger.  So donate, give away, or sell it.

These options above only begin to paint a picture of the privilege of not being tied to an office.  You’ll also benefit from:

• Unequalled Personal Freedom. Take on your own project, or challenge yourself to learn a new skill.  You’ll have time to accomplish something that is yours and yours alone.
• A Worldwide Opportunity. See how the rest of the world lives.  Immerse yourself in different cultures, cuisines, languages, and landscapes.
• More Purchasing Power. Because of the strength of the US dollar, there’s more purchasing power overseas, meaning travel is cheaper or we can stay longer.
• Personal Lifestyle Choices. No more pressure to keep a large home, a job title, or compete with the neighbors so money will go further.  Be yourself and don’t worry what others thinks.

In a few words, retirement (or working from anywhere in the world) has become one of the best options allowing people to live life on their own terms.  Yet, it’s attainable for more and more people.

One of the resources that we’ve used over the past several years to transition our lifestyle is the International Living Magazine.  We attended the Mexico City, Mexico conference last year and will be attending the Orlando, Florida conference taking place April 12 – 14^th.

I’ll be writing more about our lifestyle changes, as well as the conference, in upcoming articles.  Stay tuned!