The Biggest Challenge of Going Back to WorkThe hardest thing about going back to work once you've retired is staying committed to the idea. There are more options than when you were young--work, consult, or tighten your belt instead, for example. The first strong step toward getting on with getting back in the workforce is being sure that's what you want to do and then ignoring the other options.
Is It Time to Redesign the Work Week?Is getting the work done within traditional work hours and at a company location really all that effective? Much of what we now do as work can be accomplished anywhere and at any time of the day using electronic access. Perhaps it's time to rethink how to get it done.
The Power of Negative ThinkingWe all know we should 'think positive.' That's easier said than done with so many messages about what to worry about, avoid, or be afraid of. There are some powerful consequences to all that negative thinking. Here are some tips on how to stay on the plus side instead.
Why Rich Guys Don't RetireIf you've decided you don't have the funds to be able to retire, you're in good company. Many of the richest people in the world--Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates--are still working. What do they know that we need to learn?
Making a Choice About ChoosingWhen you make choices on purpose, the results are far more satisfying-even if what you choose is what you were already doing. Here are the key steps to deciding well.
Grandma Geek - Learning to Love Tech after 50Many over 50 can choose whether they want to become computer savvy. But information is moving toward electronic access and not knowing how to 'go online' will become a bigger and bigger disadvantage. Even more important, continuing to learn keeps you vibrant. Get on with it!
Retirement: Not Working Might Be Harder Than You ExpectMuch as the idea of not working is the brass ring for those still holding full time jobs, it's not the delight we all expect for many once they actually retire. If that's the case for you or a loved one, here are some things to do-and not do.
Family Time When You're Retired and the Family Isn'tA big expectation of retirement is that you will be able to spend more time with family. But what if 'family' doesn't have any more time than they are already spending with you? Or wants you take on responsibilities that you don't want?
Creating the Characters for Your Everyday DramasWe want to believe all those awful emotional things that happen are someone else's fault. But most what makes us miserable is stuff we are telling ourselves. And we have all the power we need to change that.
4 Keys to Continued EmploymentYou can do a lot to insure that you have a job. Start by finding the things you like about what you are doing-even if it's a job you don't really like -and appreciating them. Then do all you can to get really good at it and become the person everyone wants on the team. It's easier than you might think if you decide you want to do it.
'No Problem' Is a ProblemTo thrive, businesses need to pay attention to how young employees relate to older customers. Those past 50 have the money to buy, but they value how they are treated in the transaction more heavily and are willing to not buy at all if the experience isn't positive. Given the culture's ageist assumptions, they are often treated poorly by default.
The Psychology of Passive IncomeRelying on passive income is comfortable when the economy is running smoothly. But when things get bumpy, what can you do to keep your attitude calm and your outlook positive? Downturns are part of every cycle and we need to learn to cope with them. here are some ideas for doing that.
Using Your PainPain is one of the best tools ever for getting us to stop what we are doing, change direction, or otherwise modify current behavior for the better. Instead of telling yourself, 'I should not be feeling this pain' look for what it's trying to help you do.
Experimenting with the Shape of WorkThere's a lot to learn about innovative work design from what's going on now to cope with the sour economy. The reduced hours, furloughs, and temporary layoffs that are part of current company survival tactics also give us room to experiment with new approaches to work what can provide a competitive advantage once the economy improves.
The Colors of RetirementThe attitude you use to plan and enter retirement makes a huge difference in the quality of your life when you get that far. Assuming you 'can't' and letting yourself become invisible will give you a boring gray life. Addressing what you believe in and taking action that brings you joy and keeps you engaged will make retirement sparkle like silver.
Are You Squandering Your Company's Experience?If you just keep your experienced workers doing the same thing they've been doing, you're wasting the talent and knowledge base they've been developing over those years-and taking a risk they will end up using it for someone else, either now or when they retire. Use them--to train the next generation, to solve the tough problems, to add perspective to development teams.
Top 10 Reasons to Ditch Ageist AssumptionsAgeism is a bad idea for a lot of reasons and many of them have nothing to do with 'the right thing.' To be effective in a knowledge-based economy, we need to mesh new thinking with experience and with the wisdom that only comes with age.
Searching for SuperGeekComputers are scary for those of us who didn't grow up taking them apart to see what's inside. When they quit working, we want someone to fix them instantly. But computer technology is a trial and error effort. Even if you know a ton, figuring out what's wrong is a matter of trying things to see what helps-and what doesn't. So learn to do that yourself with your own computer before you look for superhero help.
Economic Downturn Strategies - Confirm What's ImportantHard times are the best times to take a long, sincere look at what you value and how you want to live. When things slow down because times are tough and the plans you made won't work anymore, the best benefit of all is the chance to make an honest assessment of what's really important toYOU so you can build your life from that foundation.
Why to Love Your WorkJust trudging along in a job you hate is the worst thing you can do for yourself and those around you. Finding the work you love and getting into it with the passion that's uniquely yours will have you enjoying every day instead of just your time off.
Becoming Wise is Worth Getting OlderGetting older can mean getting wiser-at least if we choose to accept both. Wisdom is one of the best perks in life but the only way to acquire it is by being around for a while and paying attention to what's going on around you. We need to start savoring that.
Laugh When It Hurts - Using Humor to Cope with the DownturnHumor isn't just for those lighthearted times when things are going well. It's an essential part of a good tool box for coping with the difficulties life sometimes brings. As we face the hard times and bad news of this economic roller coaster ride, use humor to help keep yourself centered. That's best done by laughing AT yourself and WITH others. And include some silliness if you can.
Retirement Travel and Relocations --Assess Your GeographyA lot of us dream of travel or moving to a different part of the country when we retire. That may be exactly what you need, but it's expensive, financially and emotionally. Knowing why you want to go is essential for it to be satisfying. Take some time to focus on what you hope to gain with the trip or the move. Here are some key questions to help you lay that out.
Time to Rethink Work and Retirement?The decision to continue working or retire has more options than we typically consider. When the economy gets scary, giving up work seems insane. But the chance to have all the fun retirement promises also has allure. Luckily, it doesn't have to be an either/or decision. You can add work to your retirement plans in ways that leave room for the rest. Using what you believe is important to choose the work you want to do is the key.
Time to Rethink 'Old'We're shooting ourselves in the collective foot with how we define 'old' in this culture. Assuming anyone over 50 is 'old' is as ridiculous as assuming they're all acrobats with Barnum and Bailey. When we decide people who are still capable can't do the work because of their age, we lose access to an incredible amount of talent and experience. Even worse the practice costs each of us in terms of Social Security and Medicare needs.
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