| Research has validated the top 15 factors needed | | | | portion of our day. Scheduling activities to make |
| in our lives to create a successful retirement. | | | | use of our day is essential. The average age of |
| Each of us will find some if not all of these | | | | first retirements is now 57.5 years of age. We |
| factors will need our attention before we can | | | | are healthier, better educated and more highly |
| transition into a phase of life that fulfills those long | | | | skilled than our parents at this age and therefore |
| awaited expectations and desires. | | | | working, in the same or a new career, continues |
| I have identified over my many years of work as | | | | to be the number one choice after the first |
| an HR professional, and now as a retirement | | | | retirements. |
| coach, there is one ALL-IMPORTANT factor you | | | | 3. Utility: In addition to just using our time, we |
| must address, either before or at least early in | | | | were paid for services that were of use to |
| our retirement, to assure a successful emotional | | | | others. This gave us a sense of utility or |
| adjustment to retirement. Replacing work | | | | usefulness. Finding activities where we can be |
| satisfiers. | | | | useful can keep us challenged and slow our aging |
| For most of us, our work gave us a sense of | | | | mentally, emotionally and physically. |
| ego-security knowing we are "somebody". We | | | | 4. Socialization: developing a new network of |
| have to replace those satisfiers we unconsciously | | | | relationships to replace a need satisfied by our |
| receive from work. Most of us have worked | | | | coworkers is not well understood. Family, while |
| more years than not. Over those years work has | | | | critical, does not provide the more objective |
| become an integral part of who we are. So much | | | | conversations, common daily experiences and |
| so that elements of work have become satisfiers | | | | perhaps fun when we interacted with others |
| in our lives and when they are removed without | | | | during our workday. |
| comparable replacement, there is a loss. There | | | | 5. Status: each persons need for status differs, |
| are at least five satisfiers received from working: | | | | for some it will continue to bea title, for others it |
| 1. Money is, of course, number one. Sources of | | | | need only be the look in the eyes of those they |
| ongoing income have to be earned, saved or | | | | help. |
| received from investments. Without adequate | | | | Ignoring the need for these 5 satisfiers is one of |
| money there is no funding for those things we | | | | the leading causes of a retiree's number one |
| find fulfilling, rewarding and meaningful. | | | | emotional malady: depression. |
| 2. Time management. Work has filled some | | | | |