Category: Retirement Success Strategies – Newsletter

As we approach or embrace retirement, understanding who we truly are becomes more important than ever. Knowing our core personal qualities helps us make intentional decisions and live with purpose in this new phase of life.

This simple 5-step exercise will guide you in identifying the five qualities that define and inspire you the most:

The ‘Who am I?’ Exercise – Discover your 5 core qualities

The exercise is fun. It can also feel a bit challenging – and it can give you super-valuable insights.

(Source: The ‘Trolls Travels’ Exercise, The Coaching Tools Company)

Step 1: Make a list of 50 personal qualities – qualities that make up your personality.

List any qualities that come to your mind, including those that you think are ‘negative’ or ‘unimportant’. List anything that you believe contributes to making you the person you are.

Start now, write down quality after quality, in no particular order, and don’t stop until you have collected 50 qualities.

If you struggle to get started, you can google ‘personal qualities’ – but be careful to only include in your list what you truly believe is one of your qualities (not the qualities you ‘should’ have or would like to have).

Example list:

Honest, disciplined, moody, attentive, compassionate, curious, sometimes judgemental, animal lover, athletic, caring, quickly bored, engaged, determined, occasionally defensive, good cook, friendly neighbour, good listener, team player, courageous, self-critical, impatient, ocean swimmer, trustworthy, people-pleaser, hard worker, reliable friend, over-thinking, demanding, understanding, supportive, not good at housekeeping, …..

Step 2: Decluttering Round 1 – Declutter 30% (=15) of the qualities on your list.

• • What 15 qualities will you give away first? (The ones you think are part of who you are, but you don’t value them most.)
  • Go through your list and use a colour pen to strike through 15 qualities about yourself that you value least.

Step 3: Decluttering Round 2 – Declutter another 30% of the qualities on your list.

• • What 15 qualities will you give away next? (Again, you believe that they are part of you, but they are not your favourites.)
  • Go through your list and use another colour pen to cross out another 15 qualities.

Step 4: Decluttering Round 3 – Declutter the final 30% of the qualities on your list.

• • What final 15 qualities will you sort out? (Yes, you might value each of them a lot, but they don’t belong in the group of the top five.)
  • Go through your list for the last time and use another colour pen again to cross out the last 15 qualities.

The third decluttering round can be particularly hard. And it is crucial.

You will leave this round with the five qualities that you think are so important to you and your life that decluttering them is not an option.

Instead, you want to give your full attention to these qualities, and you want to practice them intensively and apply them in all areas of your life.

Step 5: Review the decluttering process and results.

Look at your list again and consider questions like these:

• • Which qualities were easiest to give up? Why?
  • Which qualities were hardest to give up? Why?
  • How do you feel about the remaining five qualities?
  • Are these qualities the ones you want to focus on in life?
  • If yes, how can you make sure to prioritise them in your daily life?
  • If not, why is that? And how can you find the qualities you want to have and focus on?
  • What have you learned about yourself during this exercise?

I completed this exercise some months ago and recall that I didn’t take it very seriously when I began. And then I was seriously impressed when I’d completed it. And quite surprised.

Because I realised that I actually didn’t like one of my 5 top qualities.

That didn’t feel comfortable. One of the five qualities that I thought described me best – and I didn’t like it?!

I decided to ‘declutter’ that quality, to give it up step by step.

And I chose another quality as part of ‘my top 5 team’, determined to strengthen this quality in my daily life, step by step. (I’m still working on this.)

Based on my experience, I recommend you take this exercise seriously – and do it now!

As we age, most of us begin to care less about how long we live and more about how well we live.

We want to continue doing what we love while staying fit for the additional activities we plan to pursue in our retirement.

I find it helpful to differentiate between lifespan and healthspan.

Lifespan vs. Healthspan

• • Lifespan is the total number of years we live.
  • Healthspan is the part of those years we’re well enough to enjoy life and do what matters to us.

Extending our healthspan – not just living longer, but living better – means taking actions today that help us protect and strengthen our present self AND our future self.

Why a healthspan goal matters

Setting a healthspan goal shifts our thinking.

It’s no longer just about avoiding disease; it’s about planning and preparing for a high-quality, enjoyable life – right up to the end.

• • It’s proactive. We don’t wait for problems to appear. We take ownership of our well-being.
  • It benefits our future self. What we do now shapes the life we’ll have years from now.
  • It benefits our present self. The choices we make today enhance our daily lives and contribute to our overall well-being – right now!
  • It’s possible. While we can’t control everything, research shows we can influence how long we stay healthy.

Practical inspiration: Healthspan heroes

I have several senior role models, people I admire because they lead an active and engaging life in old age.

I am sure you, too, have seen inspiring examples: people in their late 70s, 80s or 90s who travel the world, learn new things every day, teach or mentor the young, run businesses or community projects, etc. – and they all thoroughly enjoy each day.

These people didn’t get there by chance. They made consistent choices to stay active, engaged, and connected. We can do the same!

Tip:

If you personally know a healthspan hero – go and ask them to teach you how they got where they are now.

Simple exercise to help you expand your healthspan

As soon as we shift our focus from just treating illness to actively building wellness – physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially – we can start to think about the healthspan goal we want to tackle first.  

However, we must also consider the many areas that influence our healthspan, like movement, mindset, nutrition, sleep, stress management, social connection, spirituality, environment.

We need to understand how these areas relate to specific healthspan goals so we can start working on our ‘weak’ areas.

 

Here is a way to start, step by step:

Step 1 – Visualise your future self

Imagine you’re 90, mentally fit, physically able, and emotionally well.

What are you doing? What makes those years joyful and meaningful to you?

Step 2 – Choose your first healthspan goal.

Example:

I want to stay mentally sharp

Step 3 – Consider the areas that influence this goal.

Example:

a) Moving my body:  Regular aerobic exercise supports my brain health. Walk, dance, cycle – whatever keeps me moving.

b) Investing time and energy into something that matters to me keeps my mind active: Volunteering, taking a class, working on a passion project, …

c) …

Step 4 – Choose just one action goal

Example: From now on, I’ll walk for at least 30 minutes each day.

Step 5 – If the action goal feels too big, start smaller

Break it down into something easily doable for you.

Example:

For the next 4 weeks, I will walk at least 10 minutes each day. I start today.

 

Extending our healthspan is a gradual process.

We don’t need to overhaul our lives overnight. Expanding healthspan is about steady, thoughtful choices.

A small step today builds the foundation we can rely on tomorrow. 

So, start with ONE healthspan goal that is doable. Do it for a while. Then, when it has become a habit you can rely on, choose another healthspan goal and integrate the required behaviour/activity into your daily life. And so on.

Now it’s your turn!

Decide today to take care of your future self. (Your present self will benefit as well!)

What’s your (first) healthspan goal?

Today’s newsletter is a copy of an article published by retirement expert Bec Wilson (11.05.25, LinkedIn Newsletter ‘Epic Retirement’).

I decided to copy the article verbatim because, in my opinion, it 100 % captures the meaning and purpose of a fulfilling retirement life.

This is Bec’s article:

“Retirement doesn’t deliver purpose. You have to bring it with you.

There’s a quiet panic that hits a lot of people in their late 50s or 60s. It goes a little like this: ‘I’m nearly done with work… but what am I actually retiring to? Who am I going to be when work ends? What’s my purpose?’

We spend decades working, raising families, juggling… everything. And when the noise settles, what’s left that’s still there when the kids leave and we leave work? Plenty if you get it right. Or a gaping hole if you don’t.

This is where looking for and identifying what fires your sense of purpose becomes important—and it needs to be built before you walk out the door for the last time.

One of the world’s most thoughtful voices on this is American expert Richard Leider, who has spent decades studying the concept of “life’s purpose.” He boils it down to this:

“Growing and giving.”

That’s it. That’s what purpose is. And it doesn’t stop at 60 or 65.

Think about it. If you stop growing and you stop giving, you find yourself living a pretty small life.

And it’s worth chasing, because according to research from both Stanford’s Center on Longevity and the Modern Elder Academy, people with a strong sense of purpose:

• • Stay healthier and live longer
  • Transition more smoothly into retirement
  • Are less likely to experience depression or cognitive decline

And the big message I want you to hear is, the earlier you start building that purpose outside work, the better. Remember, growing and giving!

So if you’re in your 50s or early 60s, ask yourself:

• • What makes you feel most alive?
  • What could you keep doing or learning even if no one paid you?
  • Where are you still growing?
  • Where could you start (or continue) giving?

It doesn’t need to be grand. Teaching your grandkids to cook counts. Volunteering at the community garden counts. Mentoring, painting, writing, hiking, joining a men’s shed—it all counts.

Think about things that give you a sense of belonging, a feeling of wanting to get up and go, and the rush when time whooshes by.

This sense of purpose is yours to shape—and you’ve got more freedom than ever to do it your way. Make it epic!”

I love the concept of ‘growing and giving’!

It’s so simple, yet so powerful. Whenever we feel confused or frustrated, or struggle to make a big or difficult decision, we can simply ask ourselves: How can my general purpose – growing and giving – guide me in this situation?

What do you think about the ‘growing and giving’ concept?

Share your thoughts with me, send an email (margot@letgo-moveon.com.au).

There are various ways to enhance our self-awareness and make intentional life decisions, founded on a deep understanding and appreciation of our core beliefs, values, and priorities.

One powerful way is to ask ourselves 5 specific questions – and answer them honestly.

The five questions (from Brooke Castillo, The Life Coach School Podcast No. 457) are designed to create urgency by considering what we would stop, start, or change if we had only one year to live. The urgency then helps us focus on what truly matters.

Here is an exercise based on the five questions, with examples to help you understand how you can approach them and what type of answers they might generate:

Reflecting on your life – with the help of 5 questions

Premise: Consider that you have only one year left to live and answer the following questions to help you prioritise what is most important to you.

Question 1:

If I had one year to live, what would I stop doing?

This question encourages you to identify activities or habits that no longer serve you or that you are doing out of obligation rather than joy. It pushes you to eliminate what you find unnecessary and focus on what brings you true satisfaction.

Example Answer: “I would stop attending social events that I don’t genuinely enjoy and only go to because I feel obligated. I would also stop spending time on gardening work that I don’t like.”

​Question 2:

If I had one year to live, what would I start doing?

This question helps you identify activities you have always wanted to pursue but have been putting off. It also helps you focus on embracing opportunities for new experiences and fulfilling activities.

Example Answer: “I would start taking regular hiking trips to explore nature, something I’ve always dreamed about. I would also take that pottery class I always wanted to take.”

​Question 3:

If I had one year to live, what would I no longer care about?

This question helps you identify the things you spend time and energy worrying about that are actually not that important. It helps you release yourself from negative self-judgment and the opinions of others, allowing you to focus on what matters most to you.

Example Answer: “I would no longer care about what my neighbours think of my garden or what my friends think about how I spend my days. I would also stop worrying so much about my financial investments.”

​Question 4:

If I had one year to live, what would I care more about?

This question is about identifying what you want to focus your energy on, including the things you want to cultivate and strengthen, like relationships or your passions.

Example Answer: “I would care more about spending quality time with my family and my closest friends, nurturing those relationships. I would also take better care of myself – my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.”

​Question 5:

Why do my thoughts, feelings, and actions change if I give myself less time to live?

This question is designed to help you understand what values come to the surface when you believe your time is limited. It helps you recognise what is truly important to you, as well as the limiting beliefs you may have and how they impact your priorities.

Example Answer: “When I think about having only a year to live, I feel more confident and determined, I worry less about small things, and my dreams become more important, as my personal well-being and my relationships. It shows me that and how I can choose to make each day count.”

​Answering these questions can help you better understand what you truly value and what you want to do and experience in your life.

​Give it a try.

Take some time to go through all the questions. Or pick just one.

I am sure your answers will give you valuable insights.

I occasionally do this exercise when I feel stuck or unsatisfied, and I always come up with ideas on what I could change in my life to improve it. I pick one of those ideas and act on it – and immediately feel more in control – and better.

Why daily habits matter in retirement

Entering retirement means moving away from the routines and structured days of work.

While the freedom of a less structured life is exciting, it can also lead to a sense of disorganisation or feeling lost without a straightforward routine.

Building key habits into our daily lives can help us stay on track, keep our space organised, and give us a sense of purpose and direction.

In the newsletter article #5, I discussed the value of daily habits and why consistently applying just one new habit can transform our lives for the better.

Today, I want to offer

6 powerful organising habits that will help you keep your life simply organised and stress-free during retirement:

#1 – Start your day with a quick tidy-up

Begin each morning with a 10-minute tidying session. Clear surfaces, put items back in their place, and set up your environment for a productive and calm day.

This small action creates immediate mental clarity and helps you feel in control.

#2 – Prioritise your to-do list

It’s easy to feel like you have endless time in retirement, but without structure, the days can slip away. Create a short to-do list each morning with your top 3 priorities for the day.

Keeping the list short and manageable will help you stay focused and avoid overwhelm.

#3 – Establish a paperwork routine

Managing digital or physical paperwork can quickly spiral out of control. Set aside 15 minutes daily or weekly to sort through mail, bills, or important documents. Create simple filing systems and folders (physical or digital) for storage and organisation, and declutter them regularly.

#4 – Declutter one small space each week

Instead of tackling major decluttering projects all at once, commit to organising just one drawer, shelf, or corner each week.

This slow and steady approach helps you stay consistent and avoid burnout while making/keeping your space fresh and organised.

#5 – Review and adjust your daily routines

Your retirement lifestyle will likely change over time. It’s important to check in on your daily habits and routines regularly. Are they still serving your goals and helping you feel organised? If not, adjust them.

Flexibility is key to long-term success.

#6 – End the day with gratitude

At the end of each day, take a few moments to reflect on what went well. This doesn’t just help mentally – it also helps you see your progress in getting and staying organised.

Small wins add up, and recognising them motivates you to maintain good habits.

Consistency – taking small actions daily – creates big results over time.

Even a small new habit can help you stay organised and enjoy your daily life.

Which new organisational habit could be a good fit for you?

If you had to choose one option to start a new routine, which one would you select? Is it one of the six habits listed above? Or something else?

 

A personal note:

I firmly believe in the power of habits, especially the power of small, simple habits. My little ‘team’ of tiny habits helps me structure and successfully manage my daily life. Every day.

Yes, sometimes they get a bit on my nerves, but most of the time I appreciate the value they bring into my life.

If you want to have a conversation about your current or future daily habits, get in touch! (margot@letgo-moveon.com.au)

Grief is a natural human response to any perceived loss.

(I learned to appreciate and use this understanding of grief in my grief-coaching qualification with Krista St Germain.)

Grief may arise during the transition from professional life to retirement as you experience the loss of your professional role, daily routine, social connections, or sense of purpose.

This grief is not a sign that something is wrong, but rather an indicator of what you valued in your professional life.

By seeing grief as a compass, you can use it to guide you toward a meaningful and intentional retirement.

I recommend using my ADA approach to navigate this transition effectively. (I introduced the ADA framework in newsletter #4.)

The simple three-step framework will help you identify your values, align your future life with them, and take purposeful steps forward.

Here’s how it works:

Navigating grief in the transition to retirement: Using the ADA Approach

Step 1 – Awareness

The first step is to become aware of what you have lost and assess what you valued in your professional life.

This involves reflecting on the aspects of your career that brought you the most satisfaction and fulfilment.

Take a few moments to journal about these questions:

• • What did I value most about my work?
  • Was it the sense of accomplishment, the routine, the social interactions, or perhaps the opportunities to learn and grow? What else was important to me?
  • How did these aspects contribute to my sense of identity and purpose?

A former client, Mary, struggled to structure and enjoy her new life after she retired as a teacher. The exercise helped her recognise that she deeply valued her role in fostering learning and building connections with her students. She realised that her grief was tied to the loss of meaningful interactions and the joy of helping others grow.

Step 2 – Decision

Once you understand your past values, the next step is to decide what you want to prioritise in your future.

This involves designing a life that aligns with your chosen values and creating opportunities to carry them forward into retirement.

Ask yourself:

• • What values do I want to bring into my post-retirement life?
  • How can I incorporate these values into my daily routines and activities?
  • What new goals or projects could help me fulfil these values?

Using Mary’s example, after Step 1, she was determined to continue fostering learning and building connections in retirement. She decided to explore opportunities to volunteer as a tutor and to join a book club to stay engaged in intellectual discussions.

Step 3 – Action

The final step is to create a concrete action plan and implement it in small, manageable steps.

Adjustments may be necessary along the way, but the key is to begin taking action to align your life with your values.

Follow a plan:

• • Write down three small actions you can take this week to move closer to a values-driven retirement.
  • For each action, identify potential obstacles and plan how to overcome them.
  • Reflect on your progress regularly and adjust your plan as needed.

Mary’s first steps included researching local tutoring programs, contacting a nearby library about volunteer opportunities, and scheduling her first book club meeting. These small steps helped her start rebuilding a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Embracing grief as a compass

Grief is a sign that you cared deeply about your professional life and its associated values.

By using the ADA approach, you can transform this grief into a guiding compass, helping you design a retirement that is both meaningful and aligned with what truly matters to you. This transition is an opportunity to grow, redefine your purpose, and create a fulfilling new chapter in your life.

In article #7, I discussed the three reasons why a major decluttering project can help us create the retirement life we want.

Today, I want to continue to discuss the decluttering process and how it can help us define and design our lives. 

One of the many ways to help us navigate the process is to use my progression guideline, which combines practical decluttering exercises with reflective questions.

This 6-Phase Progression Guide is designed to help us take one step at a time, ensuring that we never feel overwhelmed by the process.

Starting with simple tasks, we build confidence as we declutter both our physical space and our inner world.

Each phase helps us transition smoothly into the next, allowing us to reflect on our identity and purpose in retirement without feeling rushed or pressured.

By the end of this journey, we not only have a clutter-free and more organised space but also a clearer sense of who we are and what we want from our retirement years.

The 6-Phase Progression Guide for your retirement decluttering journey:

Phase 1: Simple, practical beginnings

Start by decluttering one single area in your home that doesn’t carry much emotional weight – such as kitchen gadgets or old paperwork. This practical, low-stress task sets the stage for deeper work.

How does it feel to let go of items from this area? What emotions come up when you release things that are no longer useful?

Phase 2: Intensify the decluttering challenge

Move to a slightly more meaningful area, like your wardrobe. For instance, decluttering your old work clothes can help you let go of your professional identity and embrace the new phase of life.

What parts of your old identity do you still value, and which are you ready to let go of?

Phase 3: Letting go of sentimental items

Now you are ready to tackle sentimental belongings like photo collections or memorabilia. By this point, you’ve built the emotional strength and clarity to decide what you truly value and want to keep and what no longer serves you.

Do these items – collected in the past – still represent who you are now – or who you are becoming? What’s part of the legacy do you want to carry forward, and what are you ready to release?

Phase 4: Sorting through daily life routines and habits

Enter the next phase of the decluttering process and review your daily or weekly routines. Identify those tied to your past work life and evaluate if they still serve your current or future lifestyle.

Which routines, habits, and behaviours support your new identity, and which feel outdated or unnecessary?

Phase 5: Reorganising social connections

Take the next step: Think about the people you regularly interact with and reassess your social networks. Are there relationships that no longer bring value or new ones you want to develop in this next chapter?

Who do you want to spend more time with, and who might naturally drift away as you move forward in retirement?

Phase 6: Designing your life

Finally, you are ready to consider and craft a vision for your future. Write down what you found out about yourself and your values, aspirations, and priorities during phases 1 to 5.

Who is the new you? What is important to you now? What would an ideal life look like? Etc.

 

Ready to get started?

Begin with Phase 1 today and take the first step toward creating a retirement life that reflects who you truly are.

And if you have any questions or want some tips for your 6-step decluttering process – get in touch! (margot@letgo-moveon.com.au).

As we approach retirement or settle into it, we’re often told to slow down, wind things down, or just enjoy the quiet.

But what if this next phase of our lives is actually an opportunity to design an entirely new life – or even three?

Retirement isn’t just the end of our professional careers. It’s the beginning of a new phase filled with possibility.

Bill Burnett and Dave Evans introduced the concept of ‘Odyssey Planning’ in their book, ‘Designing Your Life’, which can be a powerful tool not just for young professionals but for anyone ready to reimagine what comes next.

Let’s adapt this concept to the design of our retirement life.

The key idea: There is no single “correct” path to a fulfilling and meaningful life.

We are all capable of living many different, meaningful lives. We are free to plan whatever we want, and if our current plan doesn’t work out as planned, we can change direction.

Retirement design isn’t about finding the perfect life or fixing something broken. It’s about exploring all the different, equally valid versions of our future.

The key?

Let’s stop trying to find the one “perfect” plan and start generating multiple good ones. Then, we can decide to explore one of them deeper.

Odyssey Planning for Retirement: How it works

Create three different versions of the next 5 years of your life. Each one represents a life you could actually live.

Life 1: Continue as Planned

This version is your current idea for retirement. Maybe you’ve started volunteering, joined some clubs, or plan to travel more. You’re building on what you already know or are already doing.

Life 2: Pivot

Now imagine that Life 1 is no longer an option. What would you do instead? What else could bring meaning, structure, or joy to your days?

Life 3: The dreamer’s life

This is your “if money and reputation didn’t matter” life. The one you secretly think about but haven’t dared explore. Maybe you’d start a creative project, open a small business, move somewhere unexpected, or dive into a long-delayed passion.

What to include in each of the 3 life plans plan:

1. 1. Headline
      Give each plan a title that captures its spirit. For example: “Helping others and learning new things daily.”
   2. Timeline
      A simple sketch of what happens year by year – include personal milestones, travel, learning, projects, and family events.
   3. Questions & Answers

Explore and rate each plan on these four scales:

• • • Resources: Do you have what you need?
    • Excitement: Does this plan light you up?
    • Confidence: Do you believe you could do this?
    • Coherence: Does it fit with your values?

CASE STUDY

Helen, 67, recently retired from a career in education. She wanted to feel valuable and engaged, but was unsure what her next step should be.

• • Life 1: “Teaching without the school bells”
    She tutors immigrant women in English, volunteers at her library, and travels locally with a friend group.
  • Life 2: “Home and garden immersion”
    She focuses on turning her backyard into a permaculture garden, joins a sustainability group, and hosts weekend gardening classes.
  • Life 3: “Adventure Granny”
    She buys a campervan and travels around Australia, documenting local histories and interviewing elders for a podcast.

Helen finally didn’t pick just one life. She blended parts of all three life plans and is now living a deeply satisfying post-retirement life.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Draw your three life plans. Give them titles, add timelines. Ask yourself bold questions. And answer them!

See what happens when you get curious instead of committed too quickly. Don’t worry about what’s realistic – worry about what’s energising.

Odyssey Planning is about opening doors in our minds –  and in our lives.

It’s a playful, powerful way to stay in charge of our lives – especially at a time when society often expects us to step back.

In the newsletter issue #4, I discussed the ADA Framework (Awareness/Decision/Action), which you can apply to help you set priorities and goals and create an action plan for your retirement.

The ‘ABCs of Meaning’ is another framework suitable for the preparation and design of your retirement life:

Bruce Feiler’s book Life Is in the Transitions (2020) offers a powerful approach to help you find balance and meaning in this new stage.

Based on his research and interviews with 225 people about their life transitions, Feiler sees life not as a straight line but as a series of smaller and bigger disruptions. He calls the bigger ones ‘lifequakes’.

On average, we go through three to five lifequakes over our lifetime.

Retirement is one such lifequake – a major transition where you are challenged to redefine your purpose and create a new balance of meaning.

The ABCs of meaning can guide you as you navigate your transition into retirement:

• • A – Agency: This refers to autonomy, freedom, creativity, and mastery. It’s the belief that you have the ability and power to design and live the life you want.
  • B – Belonging: This includes relationships, community, friends, and family. It’s about the people who support and nurture you – and whom you nurture.
  • C – Cause: This is a calling, a mission, a direction, a purpose, or a transcendent commitment beyond yourself that makes life worthwhile.

We all have all three of the ABCs of meaning within us, but we constantly weigh and reweigh these elements in response to life events.

Consider questions like the following to explore your ABCs:

• • Agency: How can you maintain a sense of independence and fulfilment now that you’re not working? Are there new skills or projects you’d like to pursue?
  • Belonging: What relationships can you deepen, and how might you cultivate new connections? Are there groups or communities you’re interested in joining?
  • Cause: What causes resonate with your values, and how can you contribute? Are there areas where you’d like to mentor, volunteer, or support a cause?

Your retirement journey is an opportunity to redefine and rebalance the ABCs to best suit your evolving needs.

The key is to find a balance of the ABCs – Agency, Belonging, and Cause – that works for you now.

Stay curious and open to experimenting and exploring. This is a dynamic and ongoing process.

In the following newsletter issue, I will share the concept of ‘Odyssey Planning’ to help you experiment and explore how you want to spend your time and energy in retirement.

Why is decluttering the perfect way to prepare for a retirement life you’ll love and enjoy?

If you plan to downsize or move, the answer is obvious: your first big project is to declutter your current home. You need to reduce the number of your belongings and adapt the type of furniture and items to the size and layout of your new space.

But even if you wish to stay where you are, your lifestyle will change in retirement. This next chapter of your life brings new priorities, needs, and routines; you’ll want your personal environment to reflect and support those changes.

So, whether you’re staying or moving, there will be practical reasons to declutter at the start of retirement.

However, there are also deeper, less obvious reasons why a major decluttering project can be one of the most powerful ways to prepare for a fulfilling retirement.

Here are 3 reasons why decluttering now will help you create the life you want—and avoid confusion, disappointment, and regret later:

1 – Understanding what you currently have helps you decide what you want to have in the future.

Most people are unaware of how much they’ve accumulated over time. Decluttering helps you take stock – and make thoughtful decisions.

Let’s take one example: work-related clothes.

Step 1 – Take everything out so you can see what you have.
Pull out all your business clothes. Every suit, shirt, dress, pair of shoes.

Step 2 – Sort everything into categories.
Perhaps you categorise them into suits, shirts, ties, shoes, and so on.

Step 3 –  Take each item in your hands and ask yourself: Do I still need this?
Will I wear this in the future? When? How often? Does it fit the life I want now?

Seeing what you have – and asking these questions – helps you get clear on what still matters and what no longer does.

2 – Identifying your values and priorities helps shape your future.

Taking inventory of your life gives you insight into what you truly value.

Even sorting through your work wardrobe can spark clarity:

• • “I never liked these dark suits. I want to wear brighter colours.”
  • “I love having the freedom to choose what to wear now. Where else could I invite more freedom?”
  • “The old dress code was easy, but I missed spontaneity. Maybe it’s time to experiment again.”

Simple observations like these can help you reconnect with forgotten parts of yourself and imagine new possibilities.

3 – Letting go of the past creates space and clarity for your future.

Once you know what matters now, you can let go of what no longer fits. That creates space—not just in your home, but in your mind and life.

Step 1 – Decide what you want to keep and why.
For example, you might decide to keep one black suit, two white shirts, two ties, and a pair of black shoes for formal occasions.

Step 2 – Remove what you no longer need.
Sort the rest into donation and rubbish bags – and get them out of the house.

Step 3 – Organise what’s left with care.
Place your chosen items in a clean, spacious wardrobe. Let the space reflect how you want to feel: clear, calm, and ready.

A major decluttering project at the start of retirement will help you create the life you want to live now.

Because when you’re done,

• • you’ll know yourself better,
  • you’ll have redefined your values and priorities, and
  • you’ll walk into your future with more clarity, lightness, and confidence.
  • And with more physical space and order in your home, of course. 😊

What do you think?

Are you ready to tackle a major decluttering project – so you can create space and openness for your new life?

Retirement is a significant transition.

After years of structure, responsibilities, and goals tied to work, many of us ask, “What now?”

The search for purpose can feel exciting – but it can also feel overwhelming.

We hear or read that a strong sense of purpose is linked to better health, longer life, and greater happiness.

But what exactly does the term ‘purpose’ mean? And how can we ‘find new purpose’ when we enter retirement?

From my clients and from my own experience, I know that searching for purpose can leave us feeling stressed, lost, or inadequate.

That’s why I got very excited when I found an article (Jordan Grumet, ‘The Purpose Paradox’, Psychology Today, 01-2025.) offering an overview of

The concepts of purpose anxiety, Big-P Purpose, and little-p purpose

After studying and applying the concepts, I still haven’t found a final definition of my personal purpose. But I am making progress, and I no longer feel anxious or stressed about the search.

I trust you will also find the concepts helpful.

Let’s break them down and see how they can help us ‘find’ purpose:

Purpose Anxiety: The struggle to “find” meaning

Purpose anxiety is the frustration, stress, or even sadness that comes from trying to “find” a grand, singular purpose. We may believe that retirement should come with a clear mission or that we must reinvent ourselves to stay relevant.

If you have ever thought, “I should be doing something more meaningful, but I don’t know what,” you have experienced purpose anxiety.

The good news?

There’s no single, perfect purpose waiting to be discovered!

Instead, we can redefine purpose more simply and practically by differentiating two types of purpose.

Big-P Purpose versus little-p purpose

• • Big-P Purpose refers to grand, goal-driven aspirations – writing a bestselling book, starting a nonprofit, or leaving a lasting legacy. While these goals can feel fulfilling, they can also feel daunting, especially if they seem out of reach. And they can be hard to ‘find’ and define.
  • Little-p purpose is different. It is about the small, meaningful activities that bring joy and fulfilment in everyday life. Teaching a grandchild how to cook, volunteering at a local shelter, exploring an unknown area of your town, or learning a new skill can all be sources of purpose.

Many of us have spent our careers chasing Big-P Purpose – working hard, building something significant, achieving milestones.

But retirement offers a chance to shift our focus to little-p purpose, where meaning comes from the process rather than the outcome.

Practical ways to find purpose in retirement

Instead of waiting for a grand revelation, we can create purpose in small, intentional ways.

Here are some suggestions:

#1 – Revisit what you enjoyed before work took over

Think back to activities that once brought you joy. Maybe it was painting, gardening, writing, reading, travelling, or hiking. Retirement is a chance to return to those interests without time pressure and with new energy and engagement.

#2 – Shift from achievement to engagement

Instead of asking, “What should I accomplish?” ask, “What do I enjoy doing? How do I want to spend the day?” You don’t need to build something big to make a difference – small, consistent actions matter just as much – if they matter to you.

#3 – Experiment without success expectation

Try new things without worrying about mastery or impact. Take a class, join a group, or explore a hobby. The goal could be not to be the best but to stay engaged and curious. And if you no longer enjoy the activity, try something else!

#4 – Invest in relationships that matter to you

Purpose doesn’t have to be tied to individual success. Helping others can be fun instead of a responsibility; mentoring younger people can also help you grow; simply strengthening existing friendships can bring deep fulfilment.

#5 – Give yourself permission to change your mind

Your sense of purpose will evolve. What excites you today may no longer feel exciting tomorrow, and that is okay. Decide to let go of the need to define it perfectly – just keep moving toward what feels meaningful to you right now.

Maybe purpose in retirement is not about chasing something grand or creating life-changing experiences.

Maybe it’s about finding joy in the present, engaging with what matters to us in this moment, and embracing the freedom to explore various interests and passions without pressure.

I suggest we empower ourselves to step away from purpose anxiety.

Instead of searching for one big thing, let’s celebrate the process of living and the small moments that make life meaningful to us. Because, in the end, purpose is not so much about what we achieve – it is much more about how we live.

What do YOU think?

About these concepts of purpose?

And about your purpose?

Today’s article offers a break from the more complex thought work required in the first four issues of the newsletter.

I suggest focusing on just one question this week: to think about it, answer it and then act on it.

The question comes from James Clear (3-2-1 Thursday newsletter, 06.03.25):

“1 Question for you

What single habit, if implemented consistently for the rest of this year, would transform your life the most?”

Here is a list of some examples of daily habits and the positive impact they could have on our lives.

Perhaps one of them is the perfect choice for you?

• • Daily movement – Commit to a daily walk, stretching, or strength training to maintain mobility, energy, and overall health.
  • Daily small-scale decluttering – Simplify life by letting go of physical and digital clutter, creating a more peaceful environment.
  • Daily morning reflection – Spend 5 or 10 minutes each morning journaling, meditating, or setting an intention for the day – for more mindfulness.
  • Daily learning – Engage in a new skill, hobby, or study subject each day to keep the mind sharp and curiosity alive.
  • Daily socialising – Call, message, or meet one person daily to nurture relationships and prevent isolation.
  • Daily gratefulness – End each day by writing down three things you are grateful for, cultivating a positive mindset.
  • Daily screen time limits – Set boundaries on TV, social media, and news consumption to stay present and engaged with real life.
  • Daily joyfulness – Do something fun or personally fulfilling every day – it doesn’t have to have a purpose or create a measurable result. But it must bring you joy.

Is there anything on the list that resonates?

If not –

You can use this simple exercise to find ‘your super habit’:

• • Pick 3 life areas you currently are not too happy about.
  • For each of them, choose one behaviour or activity that, if consistently done, would noticeably improve the situation in this area of ​​your life.
  • Now pick one of the three habit ideas and create an action plan: How will you reliably incorporate this one habit into your daily routine?

In my next article, I’ll discuss ways to redefine or ‘find’ purpose in retirement. It’s easier than I thought!