Showing posts with label enjoying retirement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label enjoying retirement. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Moving After Retirement - Tips for an Easier Transition

Don't let a retirement move scare you!

Every year, thousands of Americans move to a new location after they retire.  They may simply downsize to a smaller home in their current community, or they may decide to make a major change to a new city or state.  Some retirees may move to a small town or into an active adult community.  Others may decide to find a condo in the center of a busy city.  Whatever you decide, the decision to make a major change late in life can feel intimidating.

After living for years in your pre-retirement home, it may be a challenge to make a major change later in life.  However, there are steps you can take to make the transition a little easier. As a result, I was pleased when guest author Jim McKinley wrote the post below to help make moving a little more organized and easier for our readers. 

In particular, I would like to point out his paragraph about enlisting help.  You may need help both packing up and moving your pre-retirement furnishings and belongings, as well as getting unpacked and settled in your new home.  Whether you get professional packers from your moving company, or you get help from your friends and family, having others assist you can make the change much easier and less stressful!  Below is the guest post from Jim McKinley.

Six Tips to Make Moving Into Your Retirement Home a Breeze

by Jim McKinley

Retirement is an exciting time to start a new chapter in your life. Whether you're downsizing to a smaller home or moving to your dream location, settling into a new house can be overwhelming and stressful. However, it doesn't have to be! With a few helpful tips, you'll be able to create a comfortable and happy home in no time. In this article for Baby Boomer Retirement, we'll guide you through the process of settling into your new post-retirement home, with a focus on setting up your kitchen, enlisting help, refreshing your bedroom, creating a stress-free office space, meeting your neighbors, and exploring your surroundings.

The Importance of Setting Up Your Kitchen ASAP

The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so it's important to set it up as soon as possible. Start by unpacking your essentials such as pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Make sure everything is easily accessible, so you can whip up a quick meal without any stress or frustration. Once you've unpacked the basics, take some time to organize your pantry and fridge. (Ad) This will help you get into a routine and make meal planning a breeze!

Enlisting Help for an Efficient Unpacking Process

Moving can be a challenging task, but it doesn't have to be a solo endeavor. Don't hesitate to ask friends, family, or trustworthy moving experts (Ad) for assistance in unpacking your belongings. This will not only make the process quicker and more efficient, but it will also be an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and create new memories in your new home.

Bedroom Refresh with New Bedding

Transforming your bedroom into a comfortable and inviting retreat (Ad) is easy and affordable with new bedding. For example, by purchasing a two-sided duvet cover, you can change up the look of your bedding according to your mood or the season. This versatile option comes in a variety of designs and styles, making it easy to find one that matches your personal taste and decor. If you’re looking for bedding, duvets, or decor, this site could be helpful (Ad) in finding what you need.

Working from Home

If you're consulting or working part-time during retirement, it's important to create a dedicated workspace that eliminates any potential stress or distractions. Start by evaluating your space and determining what furniture and equipment you'll need. Then, create a clean and organized workspace that is free from clutter and distractions. This will help increase productivity and decrease any potential anxiety associated with working from home.

Tips for Meeting Your New Neighbors and Building Community

Your new neighborhood is an exciting place to explore, and what better way to do that than by meeting your new neighbors? Take a walk around the block and introduce yourself to those who share your street. This will not only establish a sense of community but may also lead to new friendships and social engagements.

Discovering Your New City

Retirement is the perfect time to indulge in hobbies and activities that you've always wanted to try. Take some time to explore your new surroundings and discover what your location has to offer. Whether it's hiking trails, museums, or local restaurants, there's sure to be something that sparks your interest.

Settling into a new home can be an exciting and joyful experience, but it's important to approach it with patience and a positive attitude. By setting up your kitchen, enlisting help, refreshing your bedroom, creating a dedicated workspace, meeting your neighbors, and exploring your surroundings, you'll quickly and happily settle into your new post-retirement home.

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Check Out My Etsy Store:

Gifts available at: DeborahDianGifts.etsy.com
In addition to this retirement blog, I also have an Etsy store where I list gifts for retirees and almost everyone else on your shopping list.  You'll find that many retirees have home businesses, which is one reason it is so important to plan to have a dedicated workspace in your new retirement home.  

At my Etsy store, you can find jewelry, t-shirts, coffee mugs, wall art and more there.  Check out the items available at:


Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.  You will receive one weekly email containing the most current post. 

If you are interested in learning more about financial planning, Social Security, Medicare, where to retire, common medical issues as you age, travel and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Friday, March 31, 2023

Be Brave - Lose the Beige - Finding Your Sass After Sixty - A Book Review

From Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JK00RQ (Ad)

As a retirement blogger, I am often asked to review more retirement books than I can possibly read.  However, when I was asked to review the new book, "Be Brave. Lose the Beige! Finding Your Sass After Sixty,"  I was immediately charmed by the title. 

Most of us, after a certain age, feel pulled between "acting our age" and wanting to still feel free to kick up our heels and enjoy the remaining decades of our life.  How often have we been told that older women should not wear short skirts, low cut blouses, colorful clothing, big earrings, or anything that brings attention to us?  I was curious to read what the author of this book, Liz Kitchens, had to say about brightening our lives instead of muting ourselves as we age.

In the opening pages, I loved how she refers to our generation of women as "Lady Boomers."  What a great description!  This book "began as a blog and evolved into stories that chronicle how creative thinking helped this baby boomer cope with Empty Nest Syndrome, navigate sex over sixty, and transition from being "outtasight" to being literally out of sight."

Doesn't that description already make you want to order a copy of "Be Brave - Lose the Beige"? (Ad)

Chapter Titles Sure to Pique Your Interest:

The Creativity Evangelist

The 'Tweener Generation

Brother Time and Sister Space: Navigating Life's Transitions

Your Rx for Aging

Gummies, Pets and Ex-husbands

The Power of the Purse

The Reluctant Angel

Great Grand Parenting (One of my favorite chapters)

Caregivers Living in Color

What's Next, Boomer?

Each chapter ends with a special "Exercise Your Creativity" idea to help you apply the message in that chapter to your own life.  

The book is full of practical suggestions for managing your relationship with your recently retired spouse, your adult children, and your grandchildren, while maintaining your own identity and enjoying your life.  It also talks about being more selective in your friendships, so there is better balance in your relationships.  In other words, you can learn how to help others, while maintaining boundaries and not allowing yourself to be consumed by the needs of other people in your life.  It is not easy, but this book will help get you started in the right direction.

The BBLB Manual of Maxims

The book ends with a list of maxims which the author suggests for Lady Boomers.  She also recommends that you add a few of your own.  After all, you are trying to learn to think and live more creatively, not just follow someone else's set of rules!

She has written 35 Maxims.  Here are five maxims I particularly liked, but you will probably have your own favorites:

Breaking little rules is empowering

Don't let kid demands derail the pursuit of your passions

Seek out the silver linings

Avoid becoming someone's oxygen tank

Take calculated risks

If you liked these five maxims, you are sure to like the rest of the list.

Set Aside Time to be Charmed

I was delighted by reading "Be Brave - Lose the Beige."(Ad)  Many of the retirement books I am asked to review are very dry manuscripts about financial planning, rescuing your finances, and taking care of your health.  There is nothing wrong with these books.  Those are important topics for retirees.  However, this book is a delight to read, talks about your relationship with others, and will change your relationship with yourself!  Enjoy it! 

From the Amazon Reviews:

"Be Brave. Lose the Beige! started as a blog and morphed into a movement. This movement gently pokes fun at ageist rules and expectations. It says “yes” when the rest of the world keeps saying “no.” 

"The stories and creative techniques outlined in this book are guaranteed to introduce color, sass, and a lightness of spirit into your later years. Are you ready to start coloring outside the lines, even if a few pesky rules get trampled in the process?"

About the Author:

Liz Kitchens conducts workshops and seminars on creativity, is the founder of "What’s Next Boomer?" and of the website, "Be Brave. Lose the Beige," which focuses on issues facing women of the baby boomer generation. She is also a contributing writer for the online magazine, "Sixty and Me," for the over-60 crowd.  She is an insightful and interesting writer. 

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Buy at DeborahDianGifts.etsy.com

One of the ways that I have personally exercised my creativity as a Lady Boomer has been to start an Etsy store.  I love designing the different products or personalized cards inside the jewelry gift boxes, and then having everything professionally made and delivered to my Etsy buyers.

The background card inside the gift boxes for some of my jewelry (like the friendship bracelet in this photo) can be personalized with the name of the person you are giving it to, or you can send me a special message you would like included.  Just message me on Etsy at DeborahDianGifts.etsy.com

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. You will receive a weekly email with the most current post.

If you are interested in learning more about retirement, Medicare, Social Security, common medical issues as we age, financial planning, where to retire and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Etsy or Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission to support this blog, at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit: Amazon and Etsy

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Your Attitude about Retirement and Aging Can Make all the Difference!

We have often heard the expression "attitude is everything."  We know this can be true whether we are trying to start a new relationship, build a business, or raise a family.  Unsurprisingly, it is also true of the way we approach retirement and aging.  The more optimistic and positive our attitude, the more likely we are to enjoy the last years of our lives.

How do we develop the right mindset, though?  Does it only happen if we have plenty of money and good health, or can we have a pleasant, positive outlook, even when everything does not go exactly as we would like?  As I have aged, I have observed that many people are enjoying their retirement, whether or not they are able to experience a luxurious, healthy lifestyle, while other people seem bitter and unhappy, regardless of how fortunate they may seem to outsiders. The difference seems to be when people have learned about "Attitudes of Gratitude: How to Give and Receive Joy Every Day of Your Life." (Ad) We are all more likely to have a happy retirement when we learn how to have the right mindset, and these are skills we can learn at any age.

Because I have seen how important it is to have a positive mindset as we approach retirement, I invited Chris Ryan of The Next Phase of Life to share what he has learned during his years as a life coach about how much better we age when we adopt the right retirement mindset.  The  information he provides below may help you approach the final quarter of your life with greater enthusiasm and joy.  You may also want to check out his website and sign up for his free newsletter.

Enjoy his guest post:


Why You Need the Right Retirement Mindset

by: Chris Ryan

As the founder of NextPhaseofLife.com I am always seeking experts like Deborah-Diane to share their wisdom on how baby boomers (those born 1946 to 1964) and the silent generation (those born before 1946) can have a fun, fulfilling and healthy retirement. We talk about the five pillars of a great retirement as:
.     Good health 
.     Adequate financial resources
.     A sense of purpose
.     Supportive community
.     A positive mindset

Many articles, books and videos about retirement cover the first four pillars of a great retirement, but neglect the fifth. Yet, I believe that your attitude about this important phase of your life can be as important, or more so, than even the issues of health and finances. We all know retired people who have money, good health, and plenty of friends and family around, yet spend much of their time acting miserable. I used to play tennis with a retired guy who seemingly had all the necessary assets, yet he was so gloomy his nickname was ‘Cranky Bob’. Who wants to go through life with the moniker ‘Cranky’? I can think of a hundred other words I’d rather have describe me than cranky. 

By contrast, there are others with limited resources and health problems, who are still cheerful and optimistic. You think: if I were that person, I would hate life. Yet they are positive beacons who spread joy. So, in this sense, it is obviously not the circumstances that determine one’s disposition, but rather the mindset. This is good news, because you may not have that much control over factors such as your health, finances and family. Sure, you can exercise and eat right, but if you have a genetic disposition to illness, robust health may not be in your future.
 
Once you reach retirement age, there are plenty of options for work or starting a business, but you may not have the ability (or desire) to put in the hours and energy needed to totally turn your financial ship around. Likewise, with your community. You may have few or no close friends, and few family members nearby. 
 
Regardless of whether you give yourself a "10" in each of the other four criteria (health, finances, purpose, and community), your mindset can vastly improve your overall happiness and sense of well-being.  Fortunately, if you get the mindset part right, the other good stuff tends to fall into place. Your health improves, people want to be around you, and you can more easily find and express your purpose. Even your finances may start to improve. Life just gets better.  
       
Focus on the Gain

A smart guy and seasoned citizen named Dan Sullivan talks about the importance of teaching yourself to focus on the “gain” instead of the “gap”. To put it another way, if you practice the art of gratitude for what you already have, instead of bemoaning what you don’t have, you are more likely to get more of the good stuff (the gain) instead of the bad stuff (the gap). Mr. Sullivan explains the concept in this YouTube video.  The video is worth watching several times until you get the concept – it is a potential life changer. 
    
One of the big caveats to a positive mindset is to not expect that just because you feel a certain way, life is always going to cooperate. This demand that your expectations will be fulfilled can do a lot of harm. The truth is that you can be both a realist and an optimist. In other words, you expect good things to happen but accept the reality of whatever actually happens. We all have sunny days and rainy days – days when it seems everything is going our way, and others when the opposite is true. Either way, you are just one more person doing life. 

Jenkin Lloyd Jones expressed this concept exactly right: “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old-time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

To paraphrase the Rolling Stones, you really can’t always get what you want. Sometimes you do and often you don’t. Wanting what you get is more important to happiness than getting what you want. The trick is to accept what you get and, like Jenkin Lloyd Jones says, enjoy the ride. 

About the author: Christopher Ryan is founder and CMO of Next Phase of Life and a certified life coach. For more information, visit www.NextPhaseofLife.com.

If you are interested in learning more about financial planning for retirement, where to retire, Social Security, Medicare, common medical issues as you age, and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the article:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:   Provided by Chris Ryan