Most people plan to work into their mid sixties before considering semi or full retirement. Life often brings unexpected changes that alter the path to retirement. Data demonstrates that in Australia the actual retirement age is 61-62 years, not the 65-67 years as expected. Early retirement can be due to:
– ill health – the biggest driver of early retirement
– restructures at your workplace – redundancies, skills no longer relevant
– imposed work practices that increase levels of stress – evaluation and record keeping
– changes in social attitudes that don’t match your personal values
– familial changes – ageing parents, divorce, care of adult children.
These unsettling changes are imposed by decisions not made by you. How does that leave you feeling? A little more than uncertain about your next step in life?
Mrs R, a senior Librarian at a local university was planning to work for another five to eight years before retiring. She had plans for commencing and completing renovations to her house.
That all changed when the university restructured due to funding cuts. Mrs R was informed she no longer had a job. At the same time her personal life was impacted by a sharp decline in her elderly mother’s health. My client, Mrs R, put off her renovation plans and spent three years caring for her mother.
The timing of these life events created a lot of stress and anxiety for Mrs R. With the support of her husband and an independent listening ear together we worked through the issues one at a time. From feeling overwhelmed Mrs R now lives a fruitful life in early retirement.
