We are big fans of this blog by LovedBeingRetired and especially his post this morning about finding the beauty in down time. When our clients complete the Fit-to-Retire assessment and pre-retirement checklist, they work with FTR advisors to create a 100-Day Playbook for the first three months or so of retirement. The playbook suggests custom-selected activities like travel, charitable work and language learning that they may engage in to fill their time and fulfill their life. It’s a game plan to get started, and to ensure sure some of their hours are busy each day. But, the rest is up to them. Retirement is a grand experiment. And, the challenge, especially for those Type A folks (we won’t mention any names), is to be ready (enthusiastic AND prepared) for whatever is to come…even the down time. That’s why the exercise of Fit-to-Retire is so valuable. By working through the process – honestly answering the assessment questions, dutifully completing the checklist – our clients are more prepared to welcome whatever comes in their transition – including those occasional afternoon naps and daydreams.
Thanks for the mention Cathy. I think your 100 Day Playbook is a great idea. So many of my readers begin their retirement without much if any planning ahead of time. It is wonderful to be optimistic about living a happy retired life but why not help your cause by preparing the way? Since you will likely have 20 or more years during your second act, the more you know about yourself and what you will do to stay actively engaged in living, the better. Finding a balance between down time and the pursuit of meaningful activities is a wonderful place to be. And the sooner you get there, the better! 🙂
Dave, thanks for leaving a comment with your endorsement of our concept. I’m a loyal follower of your blog. Would love it if you’d check us out at http://www.fittoretire.com and give us your honest critique on the entire FTR process. Best, Cathy