Retire without “Retiring”

If you have read this blog for a while you would get a sense that we have dismissed the “traditional” view of retirement. No sitting around in rocking chairs here (well maybe once in a while!) We have pretty much said that only you can define retirement. With that in mind I would like to propose the somewhat radical idea that you can retire without retiring!

Retirement is a different state of mind and a new stage of life

The closest we have come to a definition of retirement is that it is a time of change. It is a different state of mind and the beginning of a new stage in life. We have also said that many of us will keep working, and some at the same company or business. However we have mostly implied that the job will change with maybe fewer hours, for example.

I propose that you might be able to “retire” without changing your job or profession, but maybe just by changing your focus.

It’s a matter of focus

Much of our focus during our career is on job aspects that don’t really mean much in your retirement years. Career advancement may be less important. Office politics really don’t matter as much. Even salary increases are not as important if it means working long hours that could be spent on things that we care more about.

So, during our working retirement what things can we eliminate or at least drastically change:

Doing everything with an idea toward career advancement.
Playing office politics to assure that next promotion.
Working ridiculous hours to try and get that bigger salary increase.
And you can think of others.

And what can we start emphasizing:

Spend more time helping people, including your boss!
Focus on people you care about.
Focus on your hobbies and causes, rather than that next career advancement.

Some might be thinking that we are short changing our employers by taking such an approach. That is not true. When you start eliminating the time spent on such unproductive endeavors as office politics it allows more time for real work. And let’s face it, a lot of the extra hours that people put in are meant to impress the boss more than anything else. There are numerous studies that show that productivity drops considerably after a certain point and there may even be more mistakes.

Enlightened Employers

Enlightened companies might even encourage “retirement without retiring.” We are talking here about their most senior and seasoned employees. These employees have much to teach and many tips to pass on to the younger coworkers. Because they are not involved in office politics they can act a as “bridge” between groups and help improve morale and productivity.

Employee Advantages

For the employee “Retirement without retiring” has many advantages. Obviously keeping a full time income allows you to save more funds in your nest egg and keep from having to access that nest egg for income. It keeps you mentally sharp and socially connected. You can still enjoy your hobbies and causes and may find you have more time for them than you expected. Less overtime hours and a mind that doesn’t spend after work hours plotting your next career move will do that!

I realize that this plan will not work for everyone. However I think it may for many and is worth exploring.

Until next time…