Helen Whitten and Keren Smedley

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Four-step retirement plan

Our four-step process offers you an approach that will enable you to meet your retirement goals

Step 1

• Write a list of all your skills and qualities
• Ask others their opinions so you make a really comprehensive list
• Go back to this list to remind yourself whenever you are feeling anxious or concerned and have ‘forgotten’ what you can do

Step 2

• Find somewhere relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and spend time day-dreaming – creating your successful retirement
• It doesn’t need to be like anyone else’s dream. It is yours
• Use all the ingredients that will make it special to you
• Let your mind wander and don’t worry if it is not all realistic, this is just the start of you creating your best future
• Jot down a few notes of your thoughts and then continue with your day
• Just thinking about it starts an unconscious process in our brain that will set you on that path

Step 3

Come back to it a few days later and now make a detailed list in three different groups:

1. not possible, if some items are really not possible then discard them – no point hankering after something that can’t happen, eg to train as a commercial airline pilot
2. possible with minor modification eg learning to fly a small aeroplane at a local flying school
3. totally possible. For example, learning a new language, going to a country you have never visited before, learning to ice cakes, improving your computer skills, making clothes, putting up shelves, painting – there are hundreds of things out there for you to do. The world is your oyster!

Step 4

• Choose two to tackle first – one hard and one easy
• And make a clear goal eg to spend more time with your grandchildren or learn to draw
• Work out a staged plan of how to achieve you goal - six stages is usually enough e.g. stage 1 – ‘phone son or daughter’ and talk about how to spend more time with your grandchildren
• Put a date beside the goal – knowing when you are going to do this means you can’t put it off forever, eg ‘call by the end of September’
• Over the next few weeks go through the other things and find exciting concrete things you can do

Bear in mind the costs – financial and physical – and don’t overstretch yourself.

Make sure you always have some space in your week to relax, reflect and deal with anything unexpected that you might fancy.

One thing for certain is that in this phase of life you are your own boss. So grab the opportunity with both hands and make it work for you. That way you’ll ensure you have a good retirement- enjoy!

This article was created: 25 July 2006.
This article was last edited: 13 November 2006.

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