Congrats on being close to retirement. I'm in a very similar situation -- I'm 58 and my wife is 56. We stopped full-time work 4 months ago. It has been amazing! Few practical steps that helped me:
Hired a Professional Coach that focused on work/life transitions. Did a 6 sessions over 4 months. It helped me get perspective and focus on the challenges.
Read and re-read the book Transitions (by William Bridges). This was recommended by the Coach. It is SO good and helped you come to a realization on the process and stages of a big transition (applicable to retirement, marriage, divorce, having kids, etc.).
Alignment with spouse on Why We are Retiring? The financial piece was 25% of the discussion. We ended up creating a PowerPoint that we could review on a monthly basis (started about 12 months before retirement).
Put together an inspiring plan for post-work life. We just returned from 5 weeks in Spain, taken few trips to see family, go on daily hikes/long walks, and starting attending more workout classes.
And ... we stopped using the word Retirement! Our chosen word was ReCreate. The challenge was seeing "Retirement" as sitting on your porch, in the rocking chair, and watching the grandkids play in the yard. This is NOT us (at least not right now).
Few ideas that I'm still implementing and are coaching from my friends who stopped working in 2023-2024 so little bit more experience.
Do NOT commit to anything during the first year. Anybody that did was sorry they made the commitment. Give yourself time & space to figure things out.
Put together a proactive plan to stay in contact with friends. We often don't realize how work keeps us connected, especially if you worked in a large company and big office/site (like I did).
Try something new and different, keeps the mind fresh and challenged.
Finally, I've worked since 12 years old. Did the full corporate ladder. Traveled 2+ million miles. Did too many 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. meetings. I was considered a guru in my area and well compensated. Yet ... It is great being free from the meetings, emails, project due dates. It has been 5x better than expected. You'll love it! As a good friend told me last year "Come to the other side! It is amazing!" I now know what he's talking about. Best of luck!
Comments
Congrats on being close to retirement. I'm in a very similar situation -- I'm 58 and my wife is 56. We stopped full-time work 4 months ago. It has been amazing! Few practical steps that helped me:
- Hired a Professional Coach that focused on work/life transitions. Did a 6 sessions over 4 months. It helped me get perspective and focus on the challenges.
- Read and re-read the book Transitions (by William Bridges). This was recommended by the Coach. It is SO good and helped you come to a realization on the process and stages of a big transition (applicable to retirement, marriage, divorce, having kids, etc.).
- Alignment with spouse on Why We are Retiring? The financial piece was 25% of the discussion. We ended up creating a PowerPoint that we could review on a monthly basis (started about 12 months before retirement).
- Put together an inspiring plan for post-work life. We just returned from 5 weeks in Spain, taken few trips to see family, go on daily hikes/long walks, and starting attending more workout classes.
- And ... we stopped using the word Retirement! Our chosen word was ReCreate. The challenge was seeing "Retirement" as sitting on your porch, in the rocking chair, and watching the grandkids play in the yard. This is NOT us (at least not right now).
- Few ideas that I'm still implementing and are coaching from my friends who stopped working in 2023-2024 so little bit more experience.
- Do NOT commit to anything during the first year. Anybody that did was sorry they made the commitment. Give yourself time & space to figure things out.
- Put together a proactive plan to stay in contact with friends. We often don't realize how work keeps us connected, especially if you worked in a large company and big office/site (like I did).
- Try something new and different, keeps the mind fresh and challenged.
Finally, I've worked since 12 years old. Did the full corporate ladder. Traveled 2+ million miles. Did too many 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. meetings. I was considered a guru in my area and well compensated. Yet ... It is great being free from the meetings, emails, project due dates. It has been 5x better than expected. You'll love it! As a good friend told me last year "Come to the other side! It is amazing!" I now know what he's talking about. Best of luck!Post: When the Spreadsheet Gets Real
Link to comment from June 5, 2025