BEST PRACTICE
“ Take the time to process what is ending, and look at opportunities to better accept a new reality.”
identity is wrapped up in their former career or even time as a parent. Te overwhelming majority identify with their current activities and interests. And 89% of people in their 60’s said they have a strong sense of purpose or passion in their lives.)
AARP also reports that 60% of retirees move into new lines of work and most all say “because they want to,” not just because they have to for financial reasons. Tey find that work is more flexible, fun, and fulfilling—and less boring and stressful! Recalibration provides an opportunity to control the amount and the pace of our work.
Terefore, it’s critical that we spend our post-career years doing something that matters. Failing to find a purpose can lead to depression and a myriad of health issues. Recalibration (and retirement) is a process and our wishes will change along the way.
Te practical considerations
Take the time needed to process what is ending, deal with past hurts or losses, grieve, work towards letting go of those things preventing a successful transition, and look at opportunities to better accept a new reality. Te inability to let go of the past will keep us forever anchored there. Recalibration provides an opportunity to assess, heal, forgive, and move on.
Bring the best of the past forward. Understand what you are leaving behind when you quit work—other than a paycheck—and look for ways to replace the parts that are important. Connections, structure, engagement, purpose . . . can all be found in leisure
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activities like volunteering, mentoring, and new hobbies. Or it may be found in new paid roles that offer different opportunities and challenges suited to your interests, experience and abilities.
A recent AARP survey found that people want flexibility, fun, and adventure and to experience new things, especially between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Te 9-to-5 job is extremely rare in Church ministry—that alone would be a new experience. And the survey found that people miss their work friends more than they do the paychecks. Work in ministry is work with others, so finding a way to replenish those connections may be vital for those changing their ministerial work.
Practice detachment and disengagement as you begin to let go. Depending on your stage in life (moving to a new active ministry, retiring from ministry leadership . . .) begin letting go of some possessions, activities, or commitments. And incorporate the new—work, hobbies, friends— so you can practice how you want to live.
Financial concerns might be the most pressing. So, prepare a budget—an accountable spending plan that identifies what you want to do and how you want to spend your time. Consider how you will pay for health insurance and long-term care. Take note of what you have saved and identify new or potential income streams. Consider part- time work. (One in four Uber drivers is over age 50 and 3 percent are retired.) Consider how you can resize your life and spending to live more simply.
Physical concerns may be equally pressing. Commit now to a healthy lifestyle so you can enjoy life later. And consider your relational/social needs by creating a circle of friends and calendar activities, including your family, which may require relocating to live close enough for regular contacts and visits (especially if you have grandkids).
Continue to foster your creativity. What hobby do you want to restart or start new? Create your “bucket list”—and plan to cross off one item right away. Curiosity is the fountain of youth. It is about still wanting to learn and still wanting to grow. What small business did you always want to start? Write a book . . . make a video . . . create
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