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Retirement

December 4, 2022 Leave a Comment

Changing Direction in Later Life

While ageing is inevitable, the second half of life is an opportunity to revision and re-ignite our lives.  We can:

  • Change gears – if we choose to
  • Scale back, change direction, start a business, exit the workplace, revitalize our lifestyle, re-train
  • Refocus our time and energy on things that matter
  • Make conscious choices about how we spend our time and who we spend our time with
  • Seek new opportunities and challenges
  • Channel our energy into activities that matter.

Transitioning into a new period of active life offers:

  • New perspectives
  • An opportunity to step outside our comfort zone
  • The chance to recharge our batteries
  • An opportunity to build and develop our inner resources and navigate and plan a more balanced and rewarding lifestyle. 

The choice is over to us.

Depending on your mindset, this phase of life can potentially be even more fulfilling than what has gone before, but can be daunting.

If you are ready to shape this new phase in your life and enter a new stage of renewal and personal growth, contact me, I can help. 

Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Mobile 027 633 2821

Filed Under: Retirement

May 15, 2022 Leave a Comment

Life After Work

As our paid working life comes to an end, most of us plan to enjoy many years in what we traditionally call ‘retirement’.  In today’s world, the population is ageing, which means that we are probably going to have far more time in this phase of life, than any previous generation – maybe even decades!  Whilst we all age differently and have no way of knowing how long we are going to live, the potential to live longer, healthier, and enjoyable lives provide a golden opportunity to: –

  • Change our lifestyle and routines
  • Pursue new activities
  • Fulfil long-nurtured ambitions
  • Strengthen our relationships family and friends
  • Focus on our health and wellbeing
  • Meet new people
  • Reconnect with the community we live in, and
  • Grow in ways that were not possible when our lives focused on paying the mortgage, raising the family, doing the daily commute, and eons of workday stresses and cares.

Of course, there is always a period of adjustment when we make big life changes, but this stage offers an exciting opportunity – a chance to reflect, re-vison and re-ignite our lives. 

It takes skill and planning to ensure that our post-paid work years are happy, healthy, and secure, rather than drift into aimless, mind-numbing, monotonous leisure (doing nothing) – a luxury that can quickly fade into disenchantment.

The goal in retirement is not to give up, let go and stagnate.  You still have a life to live.  To get the best out of later life, plan for the transition and the foreseeable future.  After all, life is a continuous adventure and it’s up to each of us to make the most of it.

Dr. Angela Robertson is an inspirational author, speaker, facilitator, and coach with a wealth of experience in maximising individual and collective potential.  Through her coaching, writing, and speaking engagements she encourages people, regardless of their age and stage, to continually expand their horizons, leverage their strengths, and channel their energy into activities that matter.

E.mail Angela for more information kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Filed Under: Retirement Tagged With: fulfillment, later life, Retirement

March 19, 2022 Leave a Comment

What does later life look like?

What does later life look like for you?  Looking ahead to what we may traditionally call ‘our retirement years’, we’ll have potentially only lived for two-thirds of our lives.  Accepting that we all age differently, given the gift of healthier, extended lifespan, these years can be the best years of our lives – depending on our mindset. 

As life is a continuous adventure, our chronological age becomes less and less relevant.  Our functional age is far more important.  As Adlai Stevenson once said,

“It’s not the years in your life, it’s the life in your years that count”

I believe later life offers so many possibilities for personal growth and fulfilment.  We can change gears, change direction, and expand our horizons if we want to.  This phase of adult life provides us with the opportunity to channel our time and energy into the activities that we enjoy and the relationships that really matter.  Ageing is inevitable, so it makes sense to embrace the ageing process, take good care of ourselves, enjoy life’s pleasures, and make the most of the additional years later life offers. 

What thoughts come to mind when you think ahead?

Are you looking forward with excitement or apprehension?

Storytelling is a wonderful way to explore and learn from other people’s experience.  A huge debt of gratitude is due to the awesome men and women who generously shared their stories with me.  From diverse backgrounds, these individuals’ range in age from their mid-50’s to 100 years.  They all live in New Zealand for at least part of the year and have reached a stage in life where it is possible to both look back and forward.  With their permission a lifetime of wildly different experiences has been condensed into the four collections of inspirational cameo short stories in the ’Older and Bolder’ series of books. 

Despite the unique set of circumstances and the challenges these men and women have encountered, they appreciate that their experiences, and the lessons they learned along the way, have shaped who they are and the choices they make.  Each has responded to new opportunities ahead, despite their different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.  Their attitudes to life and their perspective on ageing is insightful and uplifting.  They embrace life and all that it offers on their own terms, and inspired by their example, so can we.

Along the way we learn that it’s never too late to change direction, start something new, live in a different place, make bold decisions, take on significant projects, and invest in meaningful relationships.  It’s up to each one of us to make the most of our extended lifespans.  After all, life is a gift for us to enjoy, and as Marty Rubin wisely said,

“Everything is irrelevant but this:

To embrace life.

To feel it.

To savour it.

To love it”.

‘Embracing Life On Our Own Terms’, the third collection of stories in the ‘Older and Bolder’ series, features 17 stories cameo life stories of 7 women, 6 men, and 4 couples.

Embracing Life On Our Own Terms Fascinating life stories of awesome individuals thriving in later life.

Paperback copies can be purchased directly from the author at Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz ($30 postage free in NZ), or from the following online bookstores Dr Angela Robertson Books: Buy Online from Fishpond.co.nz 

Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle 

www.kobo.com/nz/en/search?query=Embracing+Life+On+Our+Own+Terms

Dr. Angela Robertson is an inspirational author, speaker, facilitator, and coach with a wealth of experience in maximising individual and collective potential.  Through her writing and speaking engagements she encourages people, regardless of their age and stage, to continually expand their horizons, leverage their strengths, and channel their energy into activities that matter.

Filed Under: Older and Bolder, Retirement Tagged With: later life, mid-life and beyond, Retirement, self-actualisation

July 2, 2021 Leave a Comment

Who are you? Redefining your retirement identity – Interview with Sonia Speedy for Lifetime Retirement Income, June 2021

We plan our leaving party and the holiday after, and we plan our finances – but many forget to plan their lives after they head into retirement, says Maximising Potential development consultant, Angela Robertson.

Having a plan for what your retirement or ‘new direction’ might look like is vital for ensuring people can maintain their sense of identity and wellbeing, she says.

“We’re often defined by our roles and jobs, like being a Mum, or being a plumber. When those activities stop, we have difficulty defining who we are now. Sometimes we introduce ourselves by saying ‘I used to be’. ‘I used to be a plumber’, or ‘I used to be a parent, but my children are all grown up’”, Robertson says.

She believes it is helpful to think of what is happening as a change of direction, of taking on other opportunities and relationships, rather than dwelling on what “used to be”.

But moving away from a workplace or previous commitment can take time to adjust to and may involve a ‘grieving’ style process.

“In our previous roles, we contributed. People depended on us. We were needed and appreciated. When our circumstances change, we feel a sense of loss. We miss the familiar connection, and this can be accompanied by a sense of insignificance – of not mattering”, she says.

In making the transition, it’s important to recognise and acknowledge these feelings.

“Those pulling back from work should take time to really evaluate what they enjoy doing, what matters to them, and the sort of people they enjoy spending time with. Then work to build those elements into their lives. rather than just becoming busy for busy’s sake”, she says.

Redefining your direction

Robertson outlines a number of important questions to ask yourself, as you begin plotting a new course.

  • Do I feel appreciated?
  • Do I appreciate myself?
  • Do I appreciate what skills and abilities I have?
  • What are my strengths?
  • What do I really enjoy doing?
  • Who are the people I really enjoy spending my time with? And, do they appreciate me and me them?

She recommends the Gallup Clifton Strengths Top 5 Strengths Assessment, which costs around $37 and provides users with information on their top five strengths. Robertson runs coaching sessions on applying these strengths effectively within our lives.

Building new relationships

A new direction can mean a need to build new relationships too, as regular contact with our previous work colleagues begins to diminish or plans to spend more time with children and grandchildren fail to come to fruition as envisaged.

Some people think they’re going to spend a lot of time with family, but actually our adult children don’t necessarily want us in their lives all the time, Robertson says.

“Couples need the freedom to raise their own children as well,” she says.

While it’s important to maintain our connections with family and friends, it is also important to make new connections.

“It’s a matter of looking for activities where people have a real interest and where you can meet encouraging, uplifting people to forge friendships with.”

Robertson points to the power of invitation – simply inviting people to come along to something you’re doing, or to go out for a coffee.

“We never know how long we’re going to live, but we could have decades ahead of us, so we can change direction more than once. We can join a book club and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. It doesn’t have to be for life.”

Filed Under: Retirement

September 18, 2020 Leave a Comment

Celebrate Retirement On Your Own Terms – Interview with Sonia Speedy for Lifetime Retirement Income, Sept 2020

Dr Angela Robertson is about to head off to visit Paper Plus in Blenheim when I call to interview her.  At age 65, she’s much like the people featured in her new books – a long way from the traditional idea of ‘retired’.

She’s making a delivery of her latest book ‘Celebrating Life On Our Own Terms’ which is being launched at the end of this month. It’s come out in quick succession to’ Life On Our Own Terms’, which was released just after lock-down was lifted in July.

ISBN 978-0-473-50082-5     ISBN 978-0-473-51912-4

Both books are a celebration of life in your later years – and what’s possible with a positive mindset. From the 98-year-old ex-Air Force Officer and later NZ Diplomat in Russia that now spends his time painting portraits in Nelson and likes to do parachute jumps on significant birthdays (he intends to do one on his 100th, just as he did for his 90th), to the man making coffins for people from his retirement village on the Kāpiti Coast. Then there’s the former nun (now married) who sits on the executive of Grey Power.

There are short stories of people who have finished up their work life careers to use ‘retirement’ – and in some cases their superannuation money – to launch start-up businesses, doing everything from starting coffee carts (and traveling to Rwanda to work with the coffee growers), to companies providing social connections for those aged 55+ such as Chirpy Plus.

The self-published books are part of Robertson’s Older and Bolder series, with a third one in the making.  They came about after she had a go at semi-retirement herself with the aim of spending more time with her husband.

“I was wondering what everyone else was doing with their time and started asking people how long they had been retired and what they were doing with their time.

“Then I realised that some people hadn’t retired. Or they had retired for about two weeks but thought ‘no, that’s not for me’.”

People kept referring Angela to other people to talk to and she found their lives so inspiring, she offered to write their stories for them. Soon it became apparent there was a book or two in the making to encourage others to maximise the second half of life.  She began trading short stories for a jar of plum and apple jam and a “fancy copy” of the published book.

“People would say – ‘oh, you should talk to so-and-so’ and they would say, ‘I’m not an interesting person’, and then actually you would find out they were,” she says.

While the first book is focused on those aged 65-98 years-old, with many based on the Kāpiti Coast where Robertson lives, the second book looks at people from their mid-50s to mid-80s, with a broader geographical spread around New Zealand.

Having worked at places like the Department of Internal Affairs and Massey University as a professional development practitioner, Robertson is used to focusing on developing others and helping them to find fulfilment. However, she has found inspiration herself through her books.

“It’s become quite a big passion project of mine. I’m inspired by these people – this is how I plan to age,” she says.

“I’m going through a transition myself. For me now its about writing and encouraging people to be the best they can be and to lead fulfilling lives.”

Robertson says there can be a lot of anxiety about turning 50, 60 and 70. However, people can have decades still to live and many have more choices than they’ve ever had once the heavy-lifting of caring for families and maintaining careers recedes.

“This is an age of opportunity. Everyone has some activities and projects they’d like to pursue, relationships they’d like to develop, and unfulfilled ambitions that we can now undertake. What were they? What did you always want to learn, do, or where did you want to go to?  It’s never too late to start!

“You can say ‘oh yes, but…’ and have a reflective life of disappointment, or you can look forward with gratitude. Ageing is a mindset and how you feel about that impacts on how you age.”

Celebrating Life On Our Own Terms will be launched on 29th September at the Council Chambers in Levin (1-3pm).  A second event will also be hosted on 30th September at Te Newhanga Kāpiti Community Centre in Paraparaumu (1-3pm) to help accommodate safe social distancing.

The latest book will be available from Paper Plus stores, from Robertson herself and online from Fishpond.  It’s also available online in ebook and Kindle formats.

Robertson is available for speaking events.  Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Filed Under: Retirement

April 17, 2020 Leave a Comment

Reimagining Retirement

People over 60 today are surely the most active and adventurous ever.  The second half of life is a chance to:
• Enjoy the freedom to focus our time and energy on what we want to do
• Fulfil long nurtured ambitions
• Spend time with people we like, love and appreciate, who enrich our own lives
• Establish new routines
• Increase community connectedness and contribution
• Grow in ways that were not possible when life was filled with the full-time workday stressors and cares we had when we were raising our families

Many of us are:
• Working – 1:4 people over the age of 65 are currently in paid employment
• Starting businesses
• Volunteering
• Travelling
• Writing blogs
• Learning new things
• Retraining
• Starting new hobbies and activities
• Building the home, we’ve always dreamed of
• Teaching and mentoring others
• Helping others in a myriad of ways e.g. caring for elders or caring for grandchildren
• Renewing friendships
• Making new friends
• Starting and/or joining clubs
• Researching our family history
• Writing our memoirs or novels
• Working on legacy projects
• Simplifying our lives
• Exercising more

These are just a few examples – the list is infinite.

Later life offers us the opportunity to be ourselves and do what we want to do. It offers new possibilities for personal growth, a chance to expand our horizons, and the opportunity us the opportunity to utilise our skills and share our talent and expertise to our advantage.

It takes skill and planning to ensure that second half of our lives are as happy, healthy and secure as they can be. To minimise anxiety – start your planning early. Financial planning is a must – but a fulfilling second half of life is about so much more than money. It is up to us how we spend our days.  Life is not a dress rehearsal and as Carl Jung said –

“The greatest potential for growth & self-realization exists in the second half of life”

What’s your road map to retirement?  Would you like some assistance? Contact me kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Filed Under: Retirement Tagged With: encore careers, freedom, fulfillment, later life, mid-life and beyond, our golden years, over 60, Retirement, self-actualisation, seniors

March 29, 2020 Leave a Comment

Mid-life – a time for reflection, revisioning, and reigniting our lives

Mid-life is a time for reflection, revisioning, and reigniting our lives. In the past we may have been focused on learning, earning and raising our families. With so many responsibilities there may have been limited time to put our energy into the relationships and activities that matters most to us. Looking ahead, towards what we may traditionally call ‘retirement’, we have potentially only lived for two-thirds of our lives. Compulsory retirement is a thing of the past in the developed world. A new life-stage has been created for which we have no terminology. We are growing older, but we are not ‘over the hill’, ‘worn out’, ‘un-productive’, ‘old’ or ‘elderly’ at any pre-determined age. Age brings advantages that no previous generation has had. This is a cause for celebration as the potential to live longer and healthier lives creates new opportunities and exciting challenges for everyone.

What thoughts come to mind when you think ahead? On the same journey myself I wondered how others aged 60 + had approached this stage in their lives. What was their perspective on ageing? Had they planned ‘retirement’? How did they transition from one stage of life to another or was this a continuous journey? How were they spending their additional years? Like many people I read widely on the subject, but I wanted to hear personal stories from ordinary, everyday people, who were also on this life journey. I randomly asked people to share their stories with me in exchange for a pot of home-made jam. During our conversations I captured the context of their earlier lives, their plans and lifestyle choices. It was a humbling experience. These individuals are living fabulous, fulfilling lives, on their own terms. It’s with their permission that I can share their stories with you.

Let me introduce you to these remarkable individuals in my book ‘Life On Our Own Terms’.  This paperback edition is available in New Zealand from Paper Plus bookstores or directly from me at kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Copies can also be purchased online from Amazon.com (kindle and paperback) and Barnes and Noble.com (ebook)

Filed Under: Retirement

March 18, 2020 Leave a Comment

Living a full life as we age

There has never been a better time. Globally the population is ageing. By 2025 there will be an estimated 1.25 billion people over the age of 60. Annually the number of centenarians is growing. Although there is no way of knowing how long we are going to live, with dramatic improvements in health care and notable increases in life expectancy, there is a good chance that many of us will live to 90 and beyond – a lot longer than our predecessors. Increased longevity provides us with so many opportunities, so why does society have such a pernicious view of ageing?  Let’s face it, many of us struggle with the reality of growing older. Few of us look forward to being 50, 60, 70 or 80 years of age. Nevertheless, ageing is inevitable. Whilst we have no control over our chronological age, if we proactively take care of our physical and mental wellbeing, we can influence our biological age. The chances of living a full, healthy, enjoyable life are higher than ever, when we make good lifestyle choices to maximise the benefits and minimise the drawbacks of getting older. While it is appreciated that we are all wired differently, how we age and how we feel about it influences our lifestyle choices.

Increased longevity offers so many opportunities. What choices are you making?

Looking for an inspirational speaker on Age and Opportunity? Contact me kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

 

Filed Under: Retirement

November 26, 2018 Leave a Comment

Reframing and embracing change

The constant in life is change.

Change can be BIG – life altering events that rock your world, or small – the changes we encounter day-to-day. For example, cancelled appointments, urgent tasks that popped up unexpectedly, traffic detours, a child that forgets their school bag, a friend can’t meet you as planned for lunch – the unexpected happens and plans need to be rearranged.

Change, BIG or small is inevitable and unavoidable. We all experience change in our lives which can be physical, environmental, changes in our relationships with our family and friends, and changes in our work and workplace.

Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past and the present are certain to miss the future – John F. Kennedy

Depending on your situation, how the change was initiated – whether you actively instigated the change, or whether the change was someone else’s decision, will influence how you deal with it.

Regardless of the circumstances BIG change can be both daunting and exciting so it’s important to discover ways to roll with it.

[Read more…] about Reframing and embracing change

Filed Under: Retirement, Talent

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