Done With Work

Larry Gard, Ph.D. If you’re a late-career professional trying to figure out retirement, this pandemic poses a triple threat.  You’re contending with the potentially greater risk of medical complications, it can be hard to explore popular post-work activities right now (such as volunteer roles and travel), and it’s anybody’s guess what will happen with the stock market.    The decisions surrounding retirement may feel more fraught because the future is so uncertain.  There’s no telling what trajectory this pandemic may take.  Should you pull the pin and retire now or wait to see if the economy picks up?  Should you sell your business or try to keep it afloat?  If you do retire, what can you do to occupy your time that will feel meaningful?  These questions have always been part of the retirement decision, but they take on added complexity in light of Covid-19.     You may find it helpful to think back to...

Larry Gard, Ph.D. One of the functions of work is that it provides structure to our lives.  Even if your work is quite varied, chances are you still follow a schedule of some sort.  Now, for just a moment, imagine having no place to go, no appointments, and no schedule.  Some people are reluctant to even  think about exit planning because they can’t conceive of a life without a work routine.  They’re convinced that such a life will feel aimless and unsettling.    So how will you spend your days?  Will you need to have a new routine in place immediately, or will you be comfortable allowing one to emerge gradually?  Either way, you should identify in advance a few practical and rewarding activities that can be introduced into your daily or weekly routine.  The last thing you want is an empty calendar on Day 1 of your retirement.   If you’re truly at a loss about how to occupy your...

Larry Gard, Ph.D The other evening, I ran into a friend Peter who I hadn’t seen in some time.  He appeared relaxed and contented, and he informed me that he retired last year.  We chatted about his various pursuits and initiatives.  Peter related a story about a colleague at his old company who was apprehensive about his own retirement, fearing he would feel aimless and bored. Seeking reassurance he phoned frequently during Peter’s first few months of retirement to ask, “what are you doing?”    Many late career professionals I speak with describe the same uneasiness that Peter’s colleague had. They’re not confident that they’ll find truly meaningful, satisfying things to occupy their time.  Many of them claim few if any hobbies or interests other than work.  On further examination, this isn’t always true.  Their work is particularly compelling because that’s where their focus is. They actually do have o...