Retirement is a significant milestone in life if it’s not the most significant. Many look forward to the day that they can live according to their own schedule, do the things they enjoy, or simply do nothing starting the first day of their retirement. This may sound like a nice idea for the first few weeks or even months, but it can also get a bit aimless and purposeless with unintended negative consequences. Life transition coaching for retirement can be extremely beneficial regardless of whether you are in the planning stage to retire, in the middle of retirement, or working to develop a new routine and finding new meaning with this new-found freedom.
On this post, let’s explore what retirement transition coaching is and how it can help you live a life with purpose and vigor.
What is retirement transition coaching?
Retirement transition coaching helps you explore and navigate through various opportunities and challenges. It also helps you adjust into a new phase of life with confidence, hope, and excitement. The goal of the coaching is to realize your unique needs and purposes through the freedom and time you have in retirement.
Her story: Redefined freedom with structure and direction in life
She was so excited to have finally retired after decades of hard work. She enjoyed a couple of months of unstructured lifestyle and was thrilled to have the freedom of doing whatever she wanted without having to report to anyone. Lo and behold, very soon, anxiety started creeping in as she couldn’t find meaningful things and activities to fill her days. The motivation to get out of bed every morning started to lessen. Seeing these warning signs, she reached out to me for help; we, together, identified what’s important to her, reignited her passion, and came up with a plan and roadmap for new adventures she now embraces with different purposes. She is organized, clear-minded and structured for the future she’s designed for herself.
The importance of retirement transition
Retirement transition is considered one of the most significant transitions in life because it touches almost every single aspect of a person’s life.
1. Emotion
Our emotions are massively influenced by the answer behind the question “Who am I.” For most of the career professionals who’ve devoted so much of themselves in the workspace, leaving behind their job title and accomplishments and living a retired life can produce a sense of loss, anxiety, or valuelessness.
2. Finances
Money generally is a big topic, and it matters even more as a part of your retirement. I bet you want to make sure you have enough investment portfolio to sustain your retirement life, don’t you? I know I do.
3. Health
How you stay active both mentally and physically, keep up with healthy diets, and commit to staying in shape will determine how well you will be able to embrace and enjoy life and activities in your retirement.
4. Social
For career professionals, you spend most of your time with people at work, and the time has come to change your social circle and dynamics with your retirement. While you can continue to maintain and strengthen your current relationships, it’s also time to explore and build new social connections.
5. Time management
You have 24 hours a day at your own discretion and disposal, how well can you manage your own time? Some of you may need extra support in creating a new schedule, setting priorities, and balancing between to dos and fun activities.
6. Lifestyle
As your routine and finances change, it may be necessary for you to adjust your lifestyle as well. A client who enjoyed a couple of exotic trips a year adjusted her travel options and spending, and still enjoy some exotic travel plans mixed with other inexpensive travels in her retirement years.
7. Newness and unknowns
Leaving behind the routines you’ve been used to for many years to step into the unknowns can be scary. The newness and unknowns can bring some initial excitement, and at the same time, the sense of uncertainty and restlessness also needs to be carefully monitored and managed.
8. Vision, values, and dreams
Due to life responsibilities, many of you have let go of your own dreams and visions in life. Retirement is the beginning of an exciting season to rediscover yourself and realize your own dreams and passions again.
The benefits of retirement transition coaching
The main benefit of retirement transition coaching is to provide you with a seamless and smooth transition from where you are today to where you want to be and support you to live a meaningful and exciting life while contributing to your loved ones and community. In addition, other benefits include:
- Building a new vision for your retirement life
- Establishing your personalized goals and roadmap
- Planning and gaining finance confidence
- Emotional support through challenging times
- Commitment to a healthier and more active lifestyle
- Enhancing relationships and building new connections
- Managing time and living intently
- Rekindling your passions
- Realizing your dreams and purposes
The process of retirement transition coaching
Not all coaches are the same. For me, I design my retirement transitioning client engagement to help navigate you from your career to retirement. Below are some steps that are involved in retirement transition coaching.
1. Assessment
In this initial step, you and I will get to know each other. You will also share fears, challenges, and concerns. Knowing where you are will allow you to see and measure your future success.
2. Vision casting
This is about sharing your dreams, visions, and goals you have for your retirement. This vision casting exercise enables you to see your future with clarity and makes the unknowns known to you.
3. Personalize your plan
It’s your retirement so let’s personalize it according to your visions. It’s about creating a plan and use that as a compass to follow through.
4. Execute your plan
It’s all about action and implementing your plan to its fruition.
5. Monitor the progress
This is not the once-for-all approach. Life may take a different turn, so do your needs. Regularly monitor your progress and adjust the plan whenever you see fit to make sure you are on track to fulfill your visions.
6. Celebrate your milestone
Realizing your progress by celebrating your achievement is a great way to recognize and reward your effort. Everyone can benefit from being recognized, so are you as you march toward your meaningful retirement!
Tips for choosing the right retirement transition coach
There are lots of self-proclaimed coaches out there, here are some basic tips worth your consideration when choosing the right coach to work with.
1. Credentials and experiences
Coaching is still a loosely regulated industry. Working with a coach who has relevant credentials and experiences matters. ICF credentialed coaches not only demonstrate their skills and capability, but also hold a higher standard of the code of ethics.
2. Compatibility
Having a good rapport and chemistry with your coach is crucial. Regardless of whether it’s the communication style, approaches, or ethical standard, you want to make sure you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts, feelings, and concerns, which is an important factor for a successful coaching relationship.
3. Testimonials
Due to confidentiality obligation, your coach may not provide any clients’ contact information for you to get in touch with; however, many don’t mind sharing a few words of their experiences. Ask for any past clients’ testimonials from the coach you consider working with.
4. Trust your instinct
Sometimes, your instinct will guide you into choosing the right coach for yourself. Trust your instinct when there’s a strong nudge in your heart.
Retirement transition coaching is valuable for anyone who wants to make the best out of their retirement years. Whether you are looking for finance planning, lifestyle adjustments, health upkeep, emotional resilience or realizing your dreams, having the right transition coach is vital for your success. I sincerely hope you are ready to embark on this new chapter of your life with excitement and confidence and live the best according to how you have envisioned your retirement life would be. If you need a coach to support your journey ahead, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash
About Faye Weng
Your Online Life and Career Coach
Faye Weng is an expert life and career coach who works with clients to take back control of their lives by rediscovering their passions, living/working with a clear purpose, and becoming people who can positively impact the communities around them. As your life and career coach, Faye will help you minimize noises and distractions, focus your effort and attention on the right things, execute a clear plan of action, and celebrate alongside of you when each milestone is reached. Click here to book a complimentary session.
Photo by: Ryoji Iwata, Estée Janssens, Holly Mandarich, Lindsay Henwood, Paul Skorupskas, and krakenimages on Unsplash
