Why you need a Retirement Recipe

When we’re approaching a big change in life, a lot of us have big hopes for how it will go. The hard part is putting the details in place to set those dreams in motion.

Put another way, it’s often difficult to align our actions with our intentions. Why? It seems pretty straightforward? 

This isn’t because you’re weak, or inexperienced, or not smart enough.

(You are strong. You have experience that translates. You are brilliant.)

In reality, the change ahead is ripe with disrupting qualities across many areas of life. The disruptions leave us feeling wobbly, uncertain, and exposed. When we’re in this vulnerable state, we tend to play it safe. It absolutely makes sense that we keep our cards close to the vest and our movements small. 

However, sometimes, the disruptions derail us to a point of stagnancy. Or, worse, the disruptions egg us on to default to our negative bias rather than expanding in courage.

Have you ever had healthy intentions that have been derailed by the unexpected events of the day?

I’ve said it before in previous blogs, if we feel like we’re climbing a mountain every day to do the healthy things, we’re certainly going to be depleted of energy. 

Navigating disruption takes a lot of energy.

So what does this have to do with a Retirement Recipe? What is a Retirement Recipe? 

A Retirement Recipe is your list of healthy ingredients you want to have on hand to sprinkle into your days and weeks. 

For the recipe to be delicious, it takes preparation.

• First, “What am I making?”
  This is the vision and design for how you want to feel and who you want to be.

• Next, “What ingredients are needed?”
  Get really clear on the actions that help you feel the way you want to feel. Just like a food recipe, details are crucial. You don’t just want to “wing it”.

• Finally, “How do I ensure this is relevant and top of mind?”
  Because you’re in new territory, your default will be to do what you’ve known in the past. Hang your recipe on your fridge, your dresser, the background of your phone… Wherever you’ll have a regular visual reminder for these important and healthy ingredients that will shape your actions. 

It is an exciting responsibility that YOU are the creator of your recipe. That means that you’re in charge of how it turns out. If someone is a few months into their retirement and not finding it enjoyable, how wonderful that he/she has the privilege of adjusting accordingly. 

In 8 years of Coaching, the most likely culprit I’ve found that rattles intentions is not that the recipe (intention) is faulty, but that the recipe has been tucked away and forgotten. It’s out of sight, out of mind and the actions we so desire aren’t happening consistently.  

Are you curious about a template to help you build your Retirement Recipe? I’d love to send you mine! In each Retire Wellthy cohort, this is the focus of our final “wrap up” week. It’s a super valuable way to bring everything from the 8 Dimensions of Wellness together on one page and support healthy living.