As a first step to preparing for life after work, I recommend creating a realistic retirement vision. Sit back, relax and imagine yourself in your first six months of retirement. Then in one and two years. Does your mental picture change? If so, how? Take a moment and record your thoughts. Now think about year 3 and 4 in retirement. What are you doing, who's in your retirement picture, how are you maintaining your health, what's your social circle like? Again, record your thoughts.
Visualize yourself at the end of your retirement when you're 90, 95 or 100. When you think of your life, what are you proud about? What have you done that brought happiness to you and others? What will you be remembered for? Again, write down your thoughts.
Think about the people you know who have made a success of their retirement. What do they do that you admire? Think of those who are challenged by retirement. What are they doing or not doing that makes them, in your opinion, less successful in retirement?
It has been said that the life we lead is a result of the choices we make. In your pre-retirement years, it's important for you to make the right choices - the ones that will result in building a fulfilling and energetic retirement. Visualization helps you create a mental model of retirement and helps to prepare you for making the right choice.
Richard Atkinson
Author: Don't Just Retire - Live It, Love It!
www.dontjustretire.com
twitter: @dontjustretire
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