Author: Margot Krekeler

3 simple steps to develop clarity, goals and action steps – and the retirement life you want

The ADA Framework is a straightforward and handy tool that we can use to solve any problem, make any changes, and design and realise any project.

Whenever we feel confused or stuck, we can ask:

How can I gain more awareness/clarity – and use it to make decisions and take action? And create the results I want?

 

In this article, following the steps A/Awareness, D/Decision, and A/Action will help you create a personal strategy for a successful transition into retirement. 

#1 – AWARENESS – Build a clear understanding of your starting point.

    1. Identify challenges and concerns:
      • What specific fears or concerns do you have about retirement?
      • What limiting beliefs might be holding you back?
    2. Explore desired outcomes:
      • Who do you want to be, and how do you want to show up?
      • How do you want to fill and structure your daily life?
    3. Self-assessment questions:
      • What personal strengths, skills, and passions could help you shape your retirement?
      • What values are most important in this phase of your life?

PRACTICAL TIP – Create three lists: One for current challenges, one for desired outcomes, and another for your personal resources. Use these as a foundation for your retirement strategy.

#2 – DECISION – Set priorities and choose goals.

    1. Define success:
      • How do you want to define a “successful” and fulfilling retirement?
      • What goals would make this new phase meaningful and rewarding?
    2. Describe the desired outcome:
      • Write a short statement describing your ideal retirement experience. For example: “I want a retirement filled with learning, travel, meaningful contributions through mentoring, and quality time with loved ones.”
    3. Set priorities and specific goals:
      • Which areas of life need the most attention, and how will you ensure they become your priorities?
      • What specific goals would you like to achieve within the first year of retirement?

PRACTICAL TIP – Use a vision board, mind map, or simple bullet points to outline your retirement plans, your priorities and your core goals. This will serve as a guiding document as you move forward.

#3 – ACION – Take first action steps, evaluate and adapt.

    1. Create an action plan:
      • List 3-5 key actions you can take in the next three months to begin exploring and building the retirement life you want.
      • Identify specific milestones and deadlines that will help you stay on track.
    2. Build a support system:
      • Who can help you achieve your retirement goals?
      • What networks or communities could you join for social and professional engagement?
    3. Evaluate and adjust:
      • Schedule regular check-ins (monthly or quarterly) to review your progress and adjust your action plan.
      • Reflect on what’s working and what needs to change.

PRACTICAL TIP – Use a tracking tool, planner, or journal to monitor your goals, progress, and lessons learned. Reward yourself when you hit key milestones.

IMPORTANT PRACTICAL TIP

Designing our retirement life is a huge task – and we don’t need (and can’t) do it in one go!

As soon as you start to feel overwhelmed or frustrated, it’s time to lean back and intentionally choose what to FOCUS on right now:

    • Choose ONE task or life area you want to work on.
    • Set SPECIFIC goals (the smaller, the better).
    • Set SHORT-TERM timeframes.

The following case study is supposed to demonstrate the importance of focus and the effectiveness of the ADA Framework:

CASE STUDY

Agnes was hesitant to do any retirement planning. The whole topic made her feel very uncomfortable.
 
After playing around a bit with the terms awareness, decisiveness, and action-taking, she realised that the idea of making detailed plans for all areas of her retirement life was just too overwhelming. She decided to focus and apply the ADA Framework on the one area that worried her most: mental health.
 
This is what she got out of the 3-step process:
 
A – Awareness: I am anxious and worried about my mental health. I want to stay mentally fit.
 
D – Decision: My mental health is an important life priority. The goal I set for myself here is to learn/study something new and challenging. My first choice is learning a new language.
 
A – Action: I will enroll in a Spanish language course for 6 months. Then, I evaluate and re-decide.
 
The results she got in this one life area – the awareness she built, the decisions she made, and the actions she started to take – were all Agnes needed to get going.
 
Over several months, she took other life areas through the ADA process as well and finally felt very confident about her retirement-planning capabilities. And her retirement life.

Summary of the three steps of the ADA framework:

Step 1 – Awareness

Identify current challenges, limiting beliefs, and desired outcomes to build a clear understanding of your starting point.

Step 2 – Decision

Make decisions about what you want your life to look like and describe it in a vision statement. Set priorities and choose goals.

Step 3 – Action

Take intentional action steps toward your goals, seek support, and stay adaptable and flexible when circumstances or goals change.

If you have any questions about the ADA Framework,  please get in touch (margot@letgo-moveon.com.au).

 

How to start designing a meaningful retirement life you love

Before choosing our priorities for retirement, defining our core goals, and planning our next action steps, we need to explore the key topics of our current and future life.

We need clarity on where we are now and where we want to go/be.

Then, we can decide how to bridge the gap between the here and there and choose the priorities, goals, and actions to create a life structure that supports and enables the retirement life we want.

Exploration of the key topics of your life

I suggest you schedule a series of meetings with yourself on your calendar to ask and answer a series of questions.

The following list suggests essential life topics to consider and offers example questions to help you get started.

Adjust the list to your circumstances and requirements: Add to the list what you miss and take out what’s not relevant to you.

Topic 1 – Your Identity

Who are you right now? What are the essential parts of your current identity? – Which of these parts will you take along into your retirement? What do you need/want to change about the person you are right now? What are the essential parts of your new identity?

Topic 2 – Your Purpose

What are your current values, beliefs, and the things you stand and fight for? – What are the topics, goals, passions and interests you want to focus on in the future? How do you want to (re-)define the meaning of (your) life?

Topic 3 – Your mindset and mental fitness

How do you feel about retirement? What are your thoughts and emotions when you imagine this new phase of life? Are there fears or uncertainties holding you back? – What beliefs do you want to let go of? What new perspectives do you want to adopt? How will you keep your mind engaged, flexible, and resilient?

Topic 4 – Your relationships

What does your social network look like just now? Who are the important people in your life? What do you appreciate in your relationships, and what frustrates you? – Who will naturally drop out of your contact list? Who do you want to add? Which relationships do you want to change or intensify?

Topic 5 – Your physical health

How do you currently feel physically? What are your strengths and challenges regarding your health and fitness? – What habits do you want to keep, improve, or introduce to maintain and enhance your physical well-being? What role will nutrition, exercise, rest, and medical care play in your retirement plan?

Topic 6 – Your financial security

Do you have a clear understanding of your financial situation? Are your current resources aligned with the lifestyle you envision? – What steps can you take to feel more financially secure? What adjustments might be necessary to sustain financial stability and independence throughout retirement?

Topic 7 – Your personal development

What new skills, knowledge, or experiences excite you? Are there interests or talents you’ve never had time to explore? – What forms of learning and personal growth do you want to prioritise? How will you challenge yourself to continue evolving?

Topic 8 – Your professional and social engagement

Do you want to stay professionally active in some way? What role will work, volunteering, or mentoring play in your life? – What kinds of projects, initiatives, or social causes could offer you a sense of purpose and fulfilment? How will you balance engagement with flexibility and leisure?

Topic 9 – Your lifestyle, home, and living environment

Where do you want to live, and what environment best supports your happiness and well-being? Does your current home fit your vision for retirement, or would a change be beneficial? – How will you structure your daily life to include the activities, routines, and surroundings that bring you joy?

PRACTICAL TIP:

Don’t overcomplicate or overthink this exercise.

This is just the starting point of an ongoing journey.

However, the journey can only start if you take the first step. I recommend you do it in writing.

Write down whatever comes to your mind; there are no wrong questions or answers.

The goal is to understand yourself and your ideal retirement life better.

Important:

If you feel intimidated by the first two topics – identity and purpose – I suggest you put them aside for some time.

Instead, start exploring other life areas that you find more approachable. Finding your answers in those areas will automatically help you clarify how you want to define your identity and purpose.

In the next newsletter article, I will describe how the ADA Framework (Awareness/Decision/Action) can help us define clear goals and action steps – so we start to actively create the retirement life we want.

Retirement and Goals – Are your goals still the right fit for your life?

What’s your relationship with your goals?

Do you like choosing goals and then investing time, energy, and effort in achieving them?

I believe goal-setting is important because it keeps us moving forward and helps us live our lives intentionally.

Goals provide us with direction, motivation, and focus.

I also believe that it’s important to regularly re-evaluate our goals and ensure they continue to guide us in the right direction, in the direction we want to go NOW.

    • If, on our journey to the goal, our priorities change,
    • or if we realise that this particular goal is too far away
    • and that it costs us too many resources to get there,
    • and that it is not that important to us (any longer),

then we are free to say, ‘No, I changed my mind. This is no longer one of my priorities. I no longer want to go there.’

We are free to decide to go somewhere closer (a similar but smaller goal) or change direction completely (choosing a completely different new goal).

How can we know for sure that changing direction and giving up a goal is the right thing to do?

We can ask ourselves questions like the following (and answer them honestly!):

    • Does the goal still align with my values and my current priorities?
    • Does working on the goal energise me or make me feel exhausted?
    • What impact would letting go of this goal have on my well-being?

Letting go of a goal isn’t failure; it’s prioritising what’s important NOW.

It’s about being honest and courageous and making changes – if what we want to achieve has changed.

So, how is your relationship with your goals?

When did you deliberately decide to let go of a goal? What made you change your mind? Was it a good decision to let it go? Why yes? Why not?

Are you currently pursuing a goal that seems no longer worth the time, energy, and effort? Are you torn between thinking you need to stick to it and wishing you could let it go?

Could questions like those above help you find the right answer?

If you enjoy exploring ideas and tools like this,

you’ll love my newsletter, ‘Retirement Success Strategies for Professionals’.

Every week, I share proven strategies and practical tools that you can apply to create and enjoy a meaningful retirement.

Sign up for the newsletter here.

Take these 2 steps to enjoy your daily life in retirement – instead of feeling overwhelmed.

If you feel overwhelmed in your daily life, it’s usually because you are experiencing something as being ‘too much’.

The ‘too much’ could be

    • too much work/too many tasks to do,
    • too many appointments/events/calls to attend,
    • too many discussions/arguments in your relationships with your spouse/boss/sister/etc.,
    • too many choices when you get dressed,
    • too many options of things to do over the weekend,
    • too many ideas for the content of the next blog post, too much/many … (fill in the blank).

The ‘too much’ is not a fact or reality; it’s no real thing. It’s something that’s created by your thoughts.

You are not feeling overwhelmed because there is too much; you feel overwhelmed because you think there is too much.

You feel overwhelmed because you have a human brain.

The brain can focus only on one thing at a time.

If we have various things going on in our life, our brain spends a lot of energy trying not to forget anything. That’s why it jumps from one thing/thought to the next and backwards, trying to take care of everything simultaneously.

So, the natural response of the human brain is to create feelings of being overwhelmed if we try to keep too many things in our heads and if we haven’t decided on what to focus on.

You can take the ‘too much’ burden from your brain’s shoulder.

You can help your brain move away from being overwhelmed and relax.

There are two steps to solve the ‘too much dilemma’:

Step 1 – Write down everything that’s going on in your head. Everything.

For example:

    • If the ‘too much’ is about your work, create a to-do list and write down every task that you think you need to do.
    • If it’s about your relationship with your sister, write down anything that worries or frustrates you.
    • If it’s about weekend planning, write down every activity you could possibly choose to do.

Step 2 – Pick one thing from your list to focus on now. Just one.

For example:

    • Prioritise the tasks and work and choose the one you will start working on.
    • Pick one of the worries about your sister and plan how you want to sort out that worry.
    • Make a list of all activity ideas for the weekend, then choose one you want to do and, therefore, plan/organise now.

That’s it.

Give it a try.

Next time you feel overwhelmed,

    • accept it as something normal (it’s just your human brain talking to you),
    • write down what is on your mind,
    • and choose one thing to focus on.
    • And do that thing.

IMPORTANT: Your brain is not stupid. It will only trust you if you prove to it that you are trustworthy.

Writing everything down is always helpful, but it’s not the whole solution here. You need to pick and do the next step. Otherwise, your brain will not trust you, it will not relax, and it will keep you overwhelmed.

Knowing and living your values in retirement: For more joy and fulfilment

Why it’s important to redefine your values in retirement

During your working years, your schedule was often shaped by external demands.

As you move into retirement, life can feel like a blank canvas. It’s the right time to make use of the new freedom and intentionally define how you want to live NOW and what truly matters to you NOW.

The key to a fulfilling retirement lies in understanding your core values and aligning your daily activities with them. By doing so, you create a life of purpose, stability, and joy.

A simple exercise to discover your values

To gain clarity about your values, take time to reflect on questions like these:

    • What’s really important to me in the different areas of my life?
    • Am I currently neglecting important values?
    • What do I want to achieve in my life, today and in the years ahead?
    • Where do I want to focus my time and energy right now?

Step-by-Step Guide

#1 – Identify Life Areas
Start by listing the key areas of your life. Your list might include:

    • Relationships (family, friends, community)
    • Health and fitness
    • Work, hobbies and interests
    • Home environment
    • Financial well-being
    • Personal growth

#2 – Define your values
For each area, write down what’s most important to you. For example:

    • In your home environment, you might value order, comfort, and a sense of sanctuary. Or is it spaciousness? Peace of mind?
    • For personal development, you may prioritise lifelong learning and curiosity. Or building new habits and routines. 

#3 – Evaluate alignment
Ask yourself: Are my current activities and priorities aligned with these values? If not, where can I make adjustments?

#4 – Take Action
With your insights, consider how to ‘value your values’ in daily life. Reflect on these questions:

    • How can I pay more attention to what’s important to me each day?
    • Is there a new project or hobby I can start that aligns with my values?
    • What small, consistent steps can I take to live in accordance with my values?

Living your best life

Knowing and honouring your values allows you to navigate retirement with intention and clarity. It helps you focus on what truly matters to you, ensuring your days are filled with meaning and purpose.

Take the time to explore your values and make adjustments to live in harmony with them. Retirement is your opportunity to create a life that reflects who you are NOW and what you cherish most NOW.

Finding clarity in retirement: How the Rule of 3 can help

The Rule of 3 is a super helpful tool we can apply whenever we are feeling overwhelmed by endless to-do lists or unsure about what to focus on next.

This simple yet powerful approach brings clarity and structure to our day, helping us direct our limited attention, time, and energy intentionally and efficiently.

The Rule of 3 is straightforward: it’s about prioritisation, focus, and action.

How to Use the Rule of 3 with the ADA Framework

You can apply the Rule of 3 by following these three simple steps, which I call the ADA Framework:

Step 1: A – Gain Awareness

Start your morning with five quiet minutes.

    • Take a moment to reflect: What do I want to accomplish today? What are my top priorities?
    • This is your opportunity to pause, lean back, and set your intentions for the day.

Step 2: D – Make Decisions

Next, make two crucial decisions:

    • Choose your top 3 priorities. Write them down—just three things. This forces you to focus on what truly matters.
    • Pick your No. 1 priority. From the three, choose the one task or goal that deserves your immediate attention.

Step 3: A – Take Action

Start working on your No. 1 priority while setting the other two aside. Focus solely on this task until it’s completed.

    • Once done, move on to the next item on your list.
    • Repeat the process until all three tasks are complete.

This method ensures you work with intention and avoid the trap of multitasking or distraction.

Broader Applications of the Rule of 3

The Rule of 3 isn’t just for managing daily tasks—it’s a versatile tool that can simplify any area of your life. Here are some ways you can use it:

Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly Goals:

    • What are three things you want to accomplish this week? This month? This year?

Relationship Improvement:

    • What three actions can you take to strengthen your relationship with someone?
      (Write them down, pick one to start with, and take action.)

Morning Routine:

    • What three habits or activities do you want to incorporate into your mornings?
      (Choose one to focus on first.)

Decluttering Your Home:

    • What three areas of your home need decluttering?
      (Write them down, pick one area, and start decluttering.)

Improving Your Health:

    • What three steps could improve your physical or mental well-being?
      (Decide on the three most promising changes, focus on one, and start implementing it.)

A Practical Way to Regain Control

The Rule of 3 is especially valuable when you feel stuck or overwhelmed. By narrowing your focus to just three priorities—and starting to work on one—you can regain control and make meaningful progress.

Ready to Try It?

Experiment with the Rule of 3 for a few days to organise your tasks and experience its benefits firsthand.

Or, apply it to a specific life area that currently feels confusing or frustrating.

Whenever you feel stuck, ask yourself:
“How could the Rule of 3 help me gain clarity and get moving?”

If you have any questions or want to discuss the planning, organisation, or management of your retirement life –

LET’S TALK.

You can easily book a free Zoom Meeting with me HERE.

5 reasons to spend more time planning your retirement than planning your next vacation

Picture this: you’ve just spent hours, maybe even weeks, researching the perfect destination for your next vacation. You know the best places to stay, eat, and explore, and you’re ready to make the most of your precious time off.

Now, imagine if you dedicated that same energy and excitement to planning for one of the most significant chapters of your life: your retirement.

Many people think of retirement planning primarily in terms of financial security.

And while finances are very important, a successful retirement goes beyond saving and investing. Just as you would plan for a memorable vacation by choosing locations, events, and activities that match your interests, retirement planning should be about intentionally designing all areas of your life, not just the finances.

5 reasons why retirement planning deserves (and needs!) more of your time, attention, and energy than your next vacation:

#1 – Retirement is a major life change, and careful planning can ease the transition.

A vacation changes your daily life just for a few weeks. The retirement transition changes the rest of your life.

It requires adjustments to your identity, purpose, relationships, and daily life structure. Taking the time to plan for these changes helps you manage them successfully.

#2 – Intentionally planning your retirement puts you in the driver’s seat.

Just like planning a successful vacation relies on managing all the details, achieving a fulfilling retirement requires you to take control of the important aspects of your life.

To be in command of your future, you need a solid plan.

#3 – Your retirement planning will greatly affect your future lifestyle and well-being.

Like selecting vacation activities that keep you happy and engaged, a well-planned retirement can impact your overall well-being and mental health.

Thoughtful planning for your future lifestyle enables you to honour your values, passions, and interests, allowing you to create and live the life you desire.

#4 – Creating a new life structure in retirement requires time and a clear plan for preparation.

Even on a vacation, you usually need some days to adapt to the changed flow of your days. When you enter retirement, the loss of the daily rhythm of work can cause confusion and a lack of direction and focus.

By planning your retirement thoughtfully, you can create a life structure (identity, purpose, connections) that keeps you engaged and excited about each day.

#5 – Planning involves envisioning your future, and you deserve a clear vision for your retirement.

Just as you envision the joy and relaxation of a vacation, give yourself the gift of envisioning your ideal retirement.

Take time to dream, brainstorm, and design the next chapter of your life so you can look forward to it with excitement.

Take some time to sit down and plan your ideal retirement future – you’ll thank yourself later.

If you have any questions or want to talk about the planning, organisation, or management of your retirement life –

LET’S TALK.

You can easily book a free Zoom Meeting with me HERE.

6 tips for setting new goals that help you achieve what you want in your retirement

Entering retirement offers the opportunity to set new, meaningful goals.

It doesn’t matter whether you already have concrete ideas of your retirement life in mind or not. Sitting down and intentionally setting goals will not only help you give your daily life structure and direction. It will also allow you to move forward with a fresh sense of purpose.

Here are six practical tips to help you create new goals that align with what you truly want in this next stage of life.

#1 – Choose a goal – even if you don’t have one.

Even if you don’t have a specific goal at the moment, the act of setting a goal can be a really powerful and useful exercise.

It gives your mind and life focus and direction; it strengthens your motivation to realise your personal potential; it helps you get what you want. So, think about the different areas in your life and pick one you don’t feel happy about.

Now, choose a goal to help you make positive changes in the chosen area.

#2 – Get specific, but don’t think about the how yet.

Be very specific about your goal.

Talk about your goal in the first person and the present tense. Decide on time-frames, deadlines, and other details. However, don’t think about how you will achieve the goal yet.

For now, you focus on the what and when.

#3 – Write the goal down.

Take your goal out of your imagination and make it real and tangible.

The best way to do this is to write it down. Writing down your goal on a piece of paper gets it out of your brain. You now can look at it, you can adjust it, you can carry it around, and you can (and should) read it again and again.

Your goal now acts like a GPS destination, indicating where you want to go.

#4 – Stretch yourself with the goal, and ‘welcome’ any negative feelings.

Offer yourself a real self-development opportunity – make sure that you push yourself beyond your current comfort zone with your goal.

If it seems easy to achieve, it’s not a real goal! You will know you have stretched yourself sufficiently if negative emotions such as fear, doubt, or shame arise. Don’t push these feelings away; accept them as normal parts of the process.

Honouring and managing these feelings will not only ensure that you achieve your goal but also allow you to become a more robust and better version of yourself.

#5 – Uncover any negative thoughts and question/replace them.

Search for the negative thoughts that cause uncomfortable feelings.

It might be something like ‘This is too hard to do’, or ‘I don’t know how to do this’, or ‘I don’t know if this is what I want’. Uncover all the thoughts behind your feelings of disbelief or doubtfulness or fear – and write them down.

Then, remind yourself that these thoughts are just choices. Your human brain is bringing them up to protect you – it wants you to avoid any risks by keeping everything as it is – but that doesn’t mean you have to believe these limiting thoughts. 

Tell your mind, ‘No worries – I’ll figure this out.’

#6 – Have a brainstorming session with your future self to design an action plan.

When you are ready to start working on your action plan, you can ask your future self for help.

Imagine yourself at the place in the future when your goal has been completed. From that place, look back to where you are now, and you tell your present self the how – all the steps you took to accomplish the goal and what you did to overcome the obstacles on your way. Write these steps down; they build your action plan.

Now, you are ready to take the first action and work on achieving your goal!

With these tips, you can set new goals for your retirement life that will help you start moving and creating the life you want to live in retirement.

If you have any questions or want to talk about the planning, organisation, or management of your retirement life –

LET’S TALK.

You can easily book a free Zoom Meeting with me HERE.

Start Your Retirement Journey by Decluttering Your Closet in 7 simple steps

Entering retirement is one of life’s biggest transitions.

After years of working, managing responsibilities, and keeping a structured routine, the shift into this new chapter can feel overwhelming. It’s not just about adjusting your daily schedule—it’s about redefining your identity, your purpose, and the way you live your life.

One of the hardest parts of this transition is letting go of the past.

We naturally hold onto belongings, routines, and even mindsets that served us well in our working lives. These things all served us well, but they can weigh us down as we step into retirement.

That’s where practical decluttering projects come in.

By letting go of physical items tied to your past, you not only create physical space in your home but also mental clarity and emotional freedom.

One powerful place to start is with your work-related clothes.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Decluttering Your Work Clothes

You can follow this simple step-by-step process in one day.

However, if you take the time to do it over a few days, you will get more insights from it.

Step 1: Take Inventory

    • Start by removing all your work-related clothes from the wardrobe – suits, shirts, blazers, dresses, shoes, etc.
    • Lay everything out where you can see it and sort your clothes into categories (e.g., all shirts in one pile, all jackets in another).
    • Write down how many items you have in each category.
    • While sorting, take a moment to write down any thoughts or emotions that come up. Do you (still) feel attached to these clothes? Do they (still) feel like parts of your identity?

Step 2: Assess Future Needs

    • Review the list you made. 
    • Ask yourself how many items from each category you realistically need to keep for future occasions. This could be for personal events, volunteering, or other post-retirement activities.
    • Write down your chosen numbers for each category – how many suits, shirts, or pairs of shoes do you want to keep? 

Step 3: Pick Your Favorites

    • Now, sort through the piles/categories again and pick only the favourite pieces that fit your chosen numbers. These should be clothes you feel confident about keeping.
    • Gather them all together in one area of your wardrobe.
    • Notice how you feel as you select these pieces. Do they still feel relevant to who you are now? Do they align with the person you want to be in retirement? Do you look forward to wearing them again? How do you feel about keeping these clothes and giving the rest away?

Step 4: Let Go

    • Take all the clothes and shoes you’ve decided not to keep and place them in donation bags or boxes. Put these in your car, ready to be donated to a charity or someone who could use them.
    • Observe how it feels to remove these items from your home physically. (You’re not just clearing space – you’re releasing old versions of yourself that no longer serve your future!)
    • How do you feel about letting go of these clothes? Are you excited, nostalgic, or maybe a bit relieved?

Step 5: Organise What’s Left

    • Now that your wardrobe is pared down, take out the items you’ve chosen to keep.
    • Clean the wardrobe, put your clothes on nice hangers, and arrange them neatly.
    • This is a symbolic act of creating space for your new life. Enjoy the process of organising your wardrobe with fewer, carefully selected pieces.
    • How do you feel seeing your simplified, organised wardrobe? Does it give you a sense of clarity and calm?

Step 6: Drop Off Your Donations

    • Drive the bags of clothes to a charity shop or donation centre. Completing this step reinforces your commitment to moving forward.
    • The act of giving away your work clothes can be both a letting-go process and an act of generosity, helping others who need these items.
    • How does it feel to finally say goodbye to your old work clothes? What does this symbolise for your new stage of life?

Step 7: Celebrate

    • Take a moment to celebrate. Whether you share a photo of your now clutterfree wardrobe with friends or treat yourself to something special, acknowledge the work you’ve done.
    • This exercise is about more than decluttering—it’s about creating space for the future.
    • Reflect on the whole process. What have you learned about yourself? What new opportunities or possibilities do you feel are now open to you?

Final Thoughts:

Decluttering your work clothes is just one step, but it’s an important one.

Letting go of items tied to your old identity creates room for a new version of yourself. Every piece of clothing you release is a symbolic gesture, showing you are ready to embrace your new life in retirement.

Remember, decluttering doesn’t have to be done all at once. Take your time, reflect as you go, and appreciate the mental and emotional space you’re creating for your future.

Ready to start your decluttering journey?

Don’t focus too much on the goal. The desired outcome is more important.

What is the desired outcome behind your goal?

If you want to get/create what you want to have in your life, don’t focus too much on your goals; pay more intentional attention to the desired outcomes.

Don’t try to design an action plan directly after you’ve chosen a new goal.

First, find out what the reason behind your goal is – the desired outcome.

Because it’s the desired outcome and not the goal that will help you keep motivation and determination levels high while you are working on reaching your goal.

Doing the work is much easier if you are fully aware of the desired outcome.

Usually, the desired outcome is a feeling.

You find it by asking, ‘Why?’ Again and again.

Ask yourself why the goal is important to you. Or why it is a problem if everything stays as it currently is. And then question your answer with another ‘why’. And so on.

Tip: Do it in writing.

It’s difficult to get deep down the ‘why’ spiral and find the desired outcome if you try to do it in your head.

Have a look at this example to see what I mean:

Example:

My goal: I want my home office to be clutterfree and organised.

To reach this goal, I must take action and do some work: I need to get everything out, get it sorted, then declutter what I no longer need, and finally organise what I want to keep more efficiently.

I want to do the work as soon as possible and add it to my projects list.

But I don’t feel very excited about it. It’s a lot of work, and I don’t know how to start and proceed.

I decide to find out why I actually came up with this goal.

I want to find the desired outcome behind my goal – the more profound and significant reason.

So, I ask myself lots of ‘Why’-questions. And answer them.

    • Why do you want to declutter and reorganise your office? – Because I want it to be clutterfree and organised.
    • Why is it essential to make the office clutterfree and organised? – The room looks so full and overcrowded.
    • Why is that a problem? – Because it makes me feel nervous and pressured.
    • Why is it important not to feel nervous and pressured? – If I feel nervous/pressured, I can’t focus my attention.
    • Why is it important that you can focus your attention? – I need that to work effectively.
    • Why is it important to work effectively? – I want to be productive and create results.
    • Why do you want to be productive and create results? – Because that makes me feel satisfied with myself.
    • Why is it important to feel satisfied with yourself? – It makes it easier to enjoy myself and my life.
    • Why is it important to enjoy yourself and your life? – That’s one of my three life goals. It’s super important to me.

Now, my formerly isolated goal fits nicely into the big picture of my life goals!

The desired outcome – to enjoy myself and my life – is much more attractive and motivating than the goal ‘Clutterfree and organised office’.

Now, there is a clear intention behind the goal, and I like the purpose – it’s very important and valuable to me.

Now I can ask: How would my office look if it was easily enjoyable? What needs to change in my office so that I can easily enjoy myself? And my life?

Answering these questions – which are directly linked to my desired outcome – makes it so much easier to decide what I need to do, and why, and how. And to get started. And get going.

What about you?

Do you have a goal that feels reasonable and necessary – but not attractive and exciting?

Give it a try – move it through a series of ‘Why’ questions and see what you can discover about the desired outcome. And how that knowledge can help you get active and take the first steps toward your goal (and the desired outcome behind the goal).

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Take the first step in retirement planning by reflecting on these key topics

Entering ‘the 4th quarter of our life’ is a big move into unknown terrain.

That’s why I love learning about theories, strategies, and tools that can help us transition into retirement successfully.

And, yes, many external resources (books, blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc.) are available that offer information and advice for a smooth transition into retirement.

However, I suggest you start preparing for the next phase of your life with some internal research before you search for external ideas and recommendations.

Kickstart your retirement journey by reflecting on crucial questions.

Questions like these:

    • Your Identity: Who are you right now? What are the essential parts of your current identity? – Which of these parts will you take along into your retirement? What do you need/want to change about the person you are right now? What are the essential parts of your new identity?
    • Your Purpose: What are your current values, beliefs, and the things you stand and fight for? – What are the topics, goals, passions and interests you want to focus on in future? How do you want to (re-)define the meaning of (your) life?
    • Your Relationships: What does your social network look like just now? Who are the important people in your life? What do you appreciate in your relationships, and what frustrates you? – Who will naturally drop out of your contact list? Who do you want to add? Which relationships do you want to change or intensify?

What else could YOU ask yourself to move forward intentionally?

A real-life example of an optimised paperwork system

Finally! We start building the core element of your optimised paperwork system, the VIP Directory (Very Important Paperwork Directory)!

Example: My optimised paperwork system

As a first step, I want to introduce my own optimised paperwork system to you.

A real-life example will help you better understand why the VIP Directory is the centrepiece of this system and how everything works together.

Most of my clients have created a similar paperwork system.

However, all our systems and directories are still unique – because we are all unique. We have unique life circumstances and lifestyles, and our paperwork-related requirements, needs, and goals differ.

It would be so nice if you could sit here, next to my side, at my desk, and I could actually SHOW you my paperwork system.

That’s not possible, unfortunately, so I will try to describe it to you.

My optimised PHYSICAL paperwork system consists of

    • one binder that holds the VIP Directory (printout of a Word file) and its direct attachments (some tables, lists, and copies of documents),
    • and a set of 12 binders that contain some specific additional information (For example: The folder ‘Insurances’ contains the original contracts and the latest versions of the policies/insurance updates).

Twelve binders are still too many.

However, for now, I am satisfied with the current situation because we had 66 binders (!) before I installed the VIP Directory. So I have been quite successful at applying the radical optimisation approach, in my opinion.

My goal is to further minimise the physical system by reducing the number of the additional 12 binders. I am not there yet because I will have to do another round of decluttering, and then it will take time to scan all remaining documents before I can integrate them into the digital system.

You can click the link to see the table of contents of the main binder that contains the VIP Directory and its attachments:

​table of contents – main binder of my VIP Directory.pdf​

My optimised DIGITAL paperwork system has the same structure as the physical system:

One main folder (called ‘VIP Directory’) and a set of sub-folders.

These are screenshots of the digital folder structure, just to give you a broad idea.

The first screenshot shows our VIP Directory at the top of the list of our private folders in My Drive (Google Drive).

The second image shows the content of the VIP Directory folder. It includes the VIP Directory itself (the Word file ‘A – VIP Directory’) and the four subfolders B to F.

The other two screenshots present the subfolders within the folders ‘B – Attachments to VIP Directory’ and ‘C – Copies Important Documents G & M’.

What I love about my optimised paperwork system

I know – it’s definitely not perfect. I still need to improve it.

It’s also a constant work in progress. I have to make sure that I add new important information.

However,

Its clear and simple structure makes it easy for me to manage it in everyday life.

    • The subfolders under the main folder ’01 – VIP Directory’ contain ALL our very important information (besides the original documents in the twelve physical binders I talked about, which I still have to declutter and then scan).
    • This means that whatever information I need, I find it in the VIP Directory folder system.
    • And whenever new documents or information need to be organised (because I decided they are very important and need to be kept in my system), I know there is a ‘right’ place to store them within the folder system.

My optimised system is also straightforward enough for my husband to take over and find any information he needs – in case something happens to me.

Ready to start creating your own VIP Directory?

My article series, ‘Radical Paperwork Optimisation and the VIP Directory’, provides you with all the information and tools you need to start and complete the process successfully.

Continue reading HERE.