In an ideal world, I believe it takes about five years to prepare for retirement – what’s next in life. One of my top ten tips for preparing for retirement is to use your time while you are still working wisely. Seek out role models, make connections, and explore options while you have a pay check. Living your best retired life is not about having lots of money or being smart. It is about making intentional decisions about how you spend your time and energy.
Using your time wisely can also include watching movies, reading books, and newsletters. I am sharing some of my favorite newsletters that I follow to keep me up on the resources, content, podcasts, and questions people are pondering as they face the significant life transition of leaving one’s career. Regardless if you are retired now or contemplating retirement in the next few years, these newsletters can help prepare you for the next stage of life.
Wisdom Well. Chip Conley, co-founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) and author of Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age, writes a daily blog post that comes straight to your inbox. I read it every day because he includes content that is valuable in thinking about how to navigate mid-life and beyond. Conley has an extensive library at MEA and integrates resources, quotes, and wisdom he has learned from his life experiences. He also invites guest posts to share the perspectives of others.
Next Avenue. This newsletter is a nonprofit journalism website and newsletter produced by Twin Cities PBS. The focus is on news and information for people over 50. Articles on segmented by five main categories: Health, Money & Policy, Work & Purpose, Living, and Caregiving. It is a great resource for all of the issues that can accompany retirement such as downsizing and decluttering. I find this newsletter full of valuable and practical tips for moving onto the next phase of life.
Curiosity Chronicle. If you are curious, this newsletter is for you. Curiosity is one of my favorite words, and Sahil Bloom, the author, is one of the smartest people I know. His tagline is: “actionable ideas to help you build a high-performing, healthy, wealthy life.” Regardless of your age or stage of life, his content is relevant. He writes about learning, growth, mindset, and life lessons. Curiosity is the secret ingredient for making the rest of life the best of life.
The Art of Noticing. I was fortunate to interview Rob Walker, author of this newsletter, for my podcast “Becoming a Sage.” As a journalist and designer, Rob’s newsletter is creative and enhances curiosity. He shares ideas on how to be present, to notice the small things that many people would ignore. He reminds us how important it is to pay attention, be alert, and start now. His ideas can encourage us to live a grateful life. These are characteristics that enhance our everyday small wins.
Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. This newsletter by Maria Shriver is called the “home for the deeply meaningful life.” Her focus is on love, aging, and service. In addition to her personal essays on these topics, she includes interviews with leading authorities talking about courage, curiosity, creativity, self-discipline, wisdom, and more. I value how she integrates poetry and quotes.
Greater Good Magazine. This newsletter is from The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. The Greater Good Science Center is known for studying the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being. The Center “teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.” Dacher Keltner is the founding director of the Center and the host of their podcast The Science of Happiness and the author of the book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. The Center is a wealth of information and resources for living a life with passion and on purpose.
While these newsletters are some of my favorites, there are numerous others to check out. To live a great life in retirement, my advice is to keep going and growing. In order to do this, keep reading, thinking, and talking with others. And remember: There is no right answer. One size does not fit all. Life is a process of discovery. Nike says it best: There is no finish line.