So, we all know what retirement means, don’t we?  It means ‘the act of leaving your job and ceasing to work.’

I know the definition but as I’m standing here – potentially – on the threshold of retirement (I’ll explain why later) I realise that I’ve always seen retirement as an abstract concept (a time when I’ll be able to do what I want, when I want). However, I don’t really know what that means or looks like.

In this blog I just want to share my experiences/thoughts, on the approach and entry into retirement, in the hope that it can help you or your family, or at the very least, make you smile. Welcome to my ‘journey’.

CURRENT SITUATION

As at 31 December 2024, I elected to take an Early Retirement (ER) package from my company after 35 years of service, and hence I’m in the early days of deciding what to do next and how to cope with it.

I know that there are many different reasons for retiring, including:

1. Age
2. Health issues
3. Financial security
4. Stress
5. Need for more ‘me time’
6. Company/organisational changes

The reason that I opted for ER was probably a mixture of ‘more me time’ and ‘company changes’ and, as a friend keeps telling me, I’m probably not really ready for ‘full time retirement’ yet.

(I always been used to having lots of things going on in both my personal and business life and quite frankly the idea of having 5 more full days to play with scares the hell out of me).

HOW CAN RETIREMENT AFFECT YOUR LIFE?

There are many effects that ‘retirement’ can have upon your life and can include such things as:

1. Reduced income (at a time when you have more time to spend it in)
2. Psychological (who are you now that the job is no longer part of you?)
3. ‘Your standing’ within your family & wider community (do you now become the gofer since you are ‘always free’?)
4. Health – both physical & mental health are in danger of declining
5. Cognitive abilities – it’s a case of ‘use it or lose it’
6. Boredom & loneliness

MY INITIAL DECISIONS

• Part Time Employment – I’m looking for project-based work to provide myself with some structure, mental challenges and some income.
• Positioning with Friends & Family – After a number of discussions, my family and friends have all bought into the fact that ‘just because I’m retired’ doesn’t mean that I pick up all of the odd jobs, housework etc i.e. I have a right to spend my ‘spare time’ as I see fit. (We call this the ‘Gofor Promise’.)
• Interests – Whilst I’ve always had a fair number of interests I’m looking to add more and set myself a series of challenges.
• ‘Use it or lose it’ – Knowing that it’s easy to ‘take things easy’ and hence do less physical & mental activity, I have increased my physical activity (a bit of jogging – not my greatest ability nor one that I enjoy that much) and am using the challenge of setting up my project-based business (so far the projects I’ve picked up include creating business strategies, refining an Investors Pack and committing to working at some trade shows) to keep the old ‘grey cells’ going.
• My default position is ‘YES’ – If someone suggests an activity then I now always start off with a YES unless there are any good reasons to take the opposite view (even if the activity doesn’t even appeal)

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

• Ideas Jar – When I think of something that I could ever consider doing I write it down on a piece of paper, fold it and put it into an ideas jar. Then if I’m ever at a loose end (it’s not happened yet) then I reach into the jar, pull out an idea at random and then if I don’t like that idea I choose again, and maybe again, until I find something that entertains me.
• Returning to Your Previous Occupation – If you are thinking of taking a part time role (or even full time) in the industry/service that you have spent a long time in, your expertise lasts around 6 months before the pace of change significantly impacts your usefulness or worth.

‘EARLY RETIREMENT’ – HOW’S IT GOING SO FAR?

Well, it’s only been a short time into this new adventure but…

• BLOG – I’ve started this blog
• 365 DAYS OF PHOTOS – I’ve challenged myself to taking 1 photo each day (with the idea of representing 2025 in pictures). To make it worthwhile I’ve given myself a theme and whilst this sounds pretty simple it is quite hard work and takes up a fair amount of time.
• LINKEDIN – Given that I’ve decided to pick up part-time project work (and by that, I mean anything that I can do that doesn’t require a long term, fixed commitment) then I’m now writing a LinkedIn article every week.
• TRAVEL – My wife and I didn’t have a ‘gap year’ and so we’ve committed that we’d take our ‘year out’ one adventure at a time. We now have the opportunity to pick up the pace and so have two adventures organised; one to The Gambia and another to India.
• GOFOR PROMISE – You remember that my family and friends are really supportive about allowing me to spend my free time as I wish? Well, I had some holidays to take before I left the company and on the first day my mother-in-law said ‘oh good, Philip can help go shopping’…. My wife very kindly reminded her of the ’Gofor Promise’.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN FUTURE BLOGS?

In future I hope to add:

• Photos from my 365 challenge
• Articles that you may find of interest/help
• Links to my LinkedIn articles
• Dig deeper into some of the subjects mentioned above

I hope that you’ve found this interesting, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on ‘retirement’. Let’s share and learn together.

Until next month.

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Link to next post (Part 2) is provided below.

Link to NEXT POST

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💡 Want more stories and insights on the Rookie Retirement journey?

Every chapter explores a different side of life after full-time work — from personal stories to health, purpose, and travel.

👉 Browse the full series here: [Contents Page]

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Regards

Phil

Thanks go to Pixabay for help with the images used in this post.