wellness Archives – Unretirement Project

Organizations: Consider an Unretirement Employee Benefits Package

June 20, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I’d like to think that most of us have heard the statistics that people have the ability to live longer than ever. As a result, many employees want to stay in the workforce beyond the traditional retirement age.

But let’s face it, some employees aren’t prepared for retirement. Over the years, organizations have replaced pension plans with the 401(k). Those plans rely on employee contributions. And employees haven’t saved at levels commensurate with the loss of pension plans. So, some of the decision behind employees wanting to stay in the workforce longer is they need to stay in the workforce.

I recently ran across an article in Workforce Magazine titled, “Live to 100? Implications for Work, Employers, and Retirement”. The article goes into some details about why employees aren’t prepared for retirement, but it also suggests that organizations should consider providing resources to help workers transition into retirement.

As recruiting continues to be a challenge, it could make some business sense to create benefits programs for unretirement. Organizations want older workers to stay engaged and continue working. Employees want to contribute and save some additional resources for when they’re fully retired. The question becomes: What are the right benefits to offer? It can’t be things that jeopardize existing government programs. Here are a few things to consider (three of these you’ve probably considered plus one that might be a little ‘out of the box’):

Financial wellness programs: Organizations can make sure that workers are educated about their finances. They can prompt employers about extra savings opportunities under qualified plans and IRAs. Organizations can let employees sign up for automatic enrollment and savings plans. And offer financial counseling for employees approaching retirement.

Flexible scheduling: Employees like time off. Organizations can provide employees with part-time, seasonal, on-call, and contract positions. Older workers can reduce their hours gradually, which allows them to adjust their budgets accordingly. Organizations can use this planned reduced scheduling arrangement to create knowledge management programs and keep valuable historical and technical information.

Learning opportunities: Both employees and employers want this phased retirement strategy to work. Part of making it successful is keeping skills current. Just because an employee transitions to part-time doesn’t mean the company should stop making investments. The goal of this arrangement is for the company to benefit from the employee’s work and the employee to benefit by contributing longer. That happens when employees receive training.

Redesigned traditional benefits programs: There’s no reason that organizations can’t offer some sort of benefits package that is commensurate with the reduced hours that the employee is working. Sometimes we simply assume that only full-time employees are eligible for health care, wellness, disability, etc. Maybe it makes sense to include some of your organization’s unique perks like retail discounts or special services.

I’m hearing an increased number of organizations asking, “We have a lot of workers getting ready to retire. We need them to stay. We don’t have candidates to replace them. How do we do that?” The answer is start creating a benefit package for employees transitioning to unretirement. Talk with them. Find out what they want. This is exactly what organizations do to attract full-time employees.

Part-time positions are just as important as full-time work. It’s time to place some dedicated energy to creating unretirement jobs that can bring value to the organization.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby on the streets of San Francisco, CA

What We Are UP To in June 2018

June 13, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching| A Gap Year for Grown-Ups

> I had the pleasure of meeting Debbie Weil years ago and we’ve been able to stay in touch. She and her husband Samuel Harrington took a ‘gap year’ as part of their transition to unretirement. Now they’re starting a podcast. I love their gap year blog and can’t wait to hear more in June.

Reading| At Peace

> Speaking of Samuel Harrington, I just picked up a copy of his first book “At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life”. Let’s face it, at some point, we have to make some very adult decisions about aging and our health care. Dr. Harrington’s book helps us look at those topics. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Remembering| Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade

> There are no words for the sad loss of these two icons earlier in June. I remember reading “Kitchen Confidential” years ago and immediately becoming a fan. And I have always loved the fun yet professional designs of Kate Spade. I own several of her totes. In remembering their legacies, I hope we can also have a frank conversation about mental health.

Working On| One List a Day

> A while back, I did a little journaling experiment. I liked it, but the idea of writing journal essays just didn’t appeal to me. I loved the days my journaling prompt was to make a list. Well, I found the perfect list journal. Lisa Nola’s “Listography: One List a Day” allows me to journal in a fun but thought provoking way.

Feeling| Settled

> Every day we learn a little bit more about Gainesville, FL. While we enjoy cooking at home, Keith and I have decided to have a regular June ‘date night’ on the town so we can get to know a little more about the city. Some places are hits and others are misses, but that’s to be expected. It’s starting to feel like home.

Planning| Holidays

> I know! It seems so far away. But I’m a planner so I’m trying to figure out a nice Plan B in case we’re moving from the rental house into our new home during the holidays. If you’ve moved during the holidays, please drop us some suggestions in the comments. I’d love to hear your story about how you survived. 🙂

Loving| Sneakers

> I was never a big sneaker person growing up. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed an appreciation for sneakers. Especially for slip on styles from makers like Sperry and Vans. Super comfortable and they go with everything – shorts, pants, skirts, and sometimes even dresses.

Geeking|AloeBud

> I hate to admit it, but I need and want reminders for things like taking my vitamins. I found a self-care app called AloeBud (FREE in iTunes, with in-app purchases for premium features). I’m enjoying the ability to set regular reminders with custom messages. And it pushes notifications to my Apple Watch.

What’s UP with you in June?

Fitness Matters in Unretirement So Get Creative

March 21, 2018 by Keith Lauby Leave a Comment

Our pursuit of fitness changes over time. It’s not that we stop pursuing it – we can’t. But rather, how we do it and the tools we use to get there evolves as we age. And when you work for yourself, you may have to get creative where your fitness is concerned.

Please understand, I’m not a medical or fitness professional. But I am a business pro who is always looking for ways to keep healthy and fit. Ways that align with a hectic schedule. When I worked in corporate offices, some of my daily activity was walking to meetings, warehouses, and a variety of other workplaces. Now that I work in a home office, I’m looking for a different solution to help me keep active.

After reading that the Deskcise Pro from FlexiSpot won a 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Award, I jumped at the chance to give it a test drive. The Deskcise Pro combines a standing desk and exercise bike in one compact piece of equipment. It has a very small footprint, so it doesn’t get in the way in my small office and it easily rolls wherever I want it. But don’t worry, it won’t roll around as you’re using it because it has an innovative feature that locks the wheels when you’re pedaling.

I’ve always believed that accessibility was the key to consistent use of any exercise equipment. It becomes even more important as we age. After waking up one morning with a stiff neck, I just used a spring lever on the Deskcise Pro to raise up the desk so it’s a little more comfortable to read on my laptop. You can also move the desktop a little closer just as easily. When my legs a little sore from too much yardwork, a dial on the Deskcise Pro main console lets me dial in just the right amount of resistance. And a screen allows me to track speed, distance, calories, odometer and revolutions per minute (RPMs).

Even if you don’t want to pedal, you can still be active. A spring lever adjustment can quickly convert your bike into a standing desk. Let’s face it, you I won’t have an excuse not to keep active anymore! And that’s important to me when I’m working from a home office.

Working in unretirement can bring a few challenges and fitness can be one of them. If you’re looking to keep up your activity in a home office, but don’t want to invest in a lot of different equipment or lose work time at the gym, consider checking out the Deskcise Pro. It’s a simple but creative solution that offers a lot of flexibility.

How to Practice Self Care in Your #Unretirement

January 3, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I’m probably not alone in using the New Year as a way to re-evaluate the things that I do and setting resolutions to take better care of myself. I’m starting to hear more about the concept of self care which is exactly what you probably think. It’s the idea of taking care of yourself.

From what I’ve read, self care isn’t about pampering. Although you are certainly deserving of an occasional splurge. It’s also not about the basics like sleeping, eating, etc. Self care is about finding those activities that are unique to each of us and making sure we do them so we’re being our most productive. Here are a few examples:

Take inventory of your health insurance policies. I know, everyone should regularly review their insurance policies. The goal of the review is to make sure your insurance covers what you need and that you’re taking advantage of the wellness benefits it offers. An increasing number of insurance companies are promoting self care benefits because they understand the value it brings.

Find a fitness plan that works for you. It’s important to have some sort of physical activity in your day. We have a treadmill desk, under the desk elliptical called Cubii, and take Pilates classes a couple times a week. It took us a long time to find activities that we liked. That’s what works for us. I have a friend who loves to run marathons. That’s what works for her. The point is, keep trying new activities until you find the one that works for you.

Consider developing a morning routine. I’ve always said that my morning routine is important to me because I don’t always have control over the rest of my day. A good morning routine could be as short as having your favorite cuppa tea or reading the newspaper. Or maybe something longer that includes exercise, listening to a podcast, or watching an episode of your favorite TV show.

And an evening routine. Speaking of routines, it might make some sense to also have an evening routine. Maybe having a short nightly routine will help with relaxation and better sleep. It could involve not using technology devices after a certain hour, reading before bed, or listening to a bedtime story (I discovered this on the Calm app. Can’t wait to try Stephen Fry’s narrations.)

Learn about nutrition. As much as we don’t want to admit it, there are foods we love that don’t love us. And there are many foods that we’ve declared nasty that, if they’re prepared correctly, are absolutely wonderful. Nutrition isn’t about eating awful food. It is about discovering – what you like, what agrees with you, and how you like for it to be prepared.

Practice stress-reduction techniques. Each of us experiences stress at some point. Self care is about understand what creates stress and the activities we can do to reduce stress. It could be taking a 15-minute coloring break or practicing mindfulness each day. It might even involve some of the other things we’ve discussed like having a morning or evening routine. Or using exercise as a way to relieve stress.

Make ergonomics a priority. I’m defining ergonomics here as proper lighting, posture, temperature, etc. When we work in an office environment, someone else is often responsible for making sure we have equipment that is good for us. At home, we have to take on that role. In retirement and unretirement, proper ergonomics matters. It will help us feel good and be productive.

Use technology productively. I’ve mentioned technology a few times already. As much as I love my devices, I do set boundaries and occasionally declare time for a digital detox or vacation. Think about what works for you and your lifestyle. Use technology as a tool. Don’t let it control you. This is harder than it sounds and takes a tremendous amount of self-awareness.

While I’m talking about self care in the context of the New Year, it’s really a concept we should think about all year long. Taking care of ourselves is important to our well-being. And the better we feel, the more we can do in our unretirement.

A Letter to My (Much) Younger Self

November 15, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Dear 16-year old Sharlyn;

You are about to make the first of many bold moves in your life – leaving high school. Not because you hate school. Quite the contrary – you’re bored out of your (much) younger mind and want to learn more. Mom and Dad are a bit concerned that missing homecoming, prom, and graduation could scar you for life. Trust me, you’ll be fine.

But going to college at 16 will have some challenges. Take it from an older you, here are four things I wish I knew back then that might have made the transition, and life in general, a bit easier.

Everyone has an agenda. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Agendas can be viewed as life plans and we all need a life plan, right?! The hard part is understanding there are good agendas and not-so-good agendas. There are also open agendas as well as hidden ones. Remembering that everyone has an agenda is the start. Always ask yourself, “What’s their agenda?” Again, it doesn’t have to be bad…but try to understand what it is.

Money changes everything. You’re 16 years old and have no money. But someday you will be married, with a mortgage, and bills. Oh, and there’s this thing called retirement you will need to save for. At some time in your life, you must think about accumulating wealth. The way we make money defines us. And we will be judged on how we spend our money. People will change their behavior relative to the amount of money involved. Make no mistake, money is important. Everyone knows it even though it’s hard to admit.

Each person’s moral compass is calibrated differently. Remember how I just said we all have an agenda and money is important? Well, these two factors impact decision making. There will be times when you’re asked to do things that go against everything you’ve learned is right. That doesn’t mean other people won’t have an issue with doing them anyway (see #2). And the reverse is true – there could be times you’re willing to do something others wouldn’t do. Understanding your own ethics will help you realize how others perceive ethical and moral situations.

Sensationalism sells. (Remember this when MTV introduces a show called “Jersey Shore.”) Even to this day, I have to admit I bang my head against the wall on this one. There are people in this world who will drop the F-bomb just to get noticed. Or talk about drugs, sex and politics not because it’s their belief but also just to get attention. It’s easy to get sucked into drama and sensationalism. Try to always remember there’s flash and there’s substance. Some people use a lot of flash because they have very little substance.

This letter to my younger self might sound like a bit of a downer but it’s certainly not intended that way. None of these things are evil. They are what they are; and life becomes a bit easier when we’re keenly aware that not everyone is like us. They don’t think like us, make the same decisions, or want the same things out of life. In fact, it’s what makes life interesting.

You’ll also be pleased to know in the future, you are married to a terrific guy, are blessed with good health, live in a cozy little house, and own your own business. You also still dislike mayonnaise. But you have acquired a taste for good tea and tequila.

The future is a terrific, fascinating place. Enjoy the journey.

Cheers,

From a (much) not younger you.

Oh and P.S. When Mom and Dad tell you it’s okay to quit piano lessons, don’t do it. You’ll regret it later.

You Can’t Disrupt Aging Without a Little Planning – #DisruptAging

October 11, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Disrupt means to cause something to be unable to continue in the normal way. In business, it’s when a new product addresses a market that couldn’t be served. Some examples of disruption include the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and 3D printing.

Unfortunately, over the years, organizations have latched on to the word “disrupt” and attached it to every new product on the market, even if it isn’t disruptive.

I can’t say that I’m trying to disrupt retirement with this blog, but I do hope to share resources that will make the transition for many of us a little better. One person who is trying to genuinely disrupt our thinking is Jo Ann Jenkins, the current CEO of AARP. She recently released a book, aptly titled “Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age”. I received a copy of the book during this year’s BlogHer conference.

One of the things that I really liked about this book was the casual, conversational style that Jenkins talks about aging. The book is filled with stories and is well organized. It includes a resource section so, it’s a book that someone should think about reading before retirement. Then maybe pick it up every couple of years to see how your thoughts about aging and retirement are evolving. For me, there were three big takeaways from the book:

You must take care of you. I mean this in two ways. First, our physical health is important – eating right, exercise, sleep, etc. It doesn’t mean you can’t ever have a donut, but as we age, we have to think about how to maintain our health and well-being. Disrupting aging is about staying educated about wellness.

We must also find a way to carve out time for our passions. Maybe that’s learning how to play an instrument. Or photography. For me, it’s writing this blog. Taking care of ourselves includes being happy and content. We might not be able to do everything, but we need to find time for enjoyment.

Financial education is important. So often, the entire conversation about retirement is about money. And don’t get me wrong, saving money for retirement is important. But financial education is about more than stocks, annuities, and IRA accounts. To disrupt aging, we get educated and formulate a financial plan for the future.

It’s also about major financial decisions like where to live and whether to rent or buy. Do you want to retire in a walkable city and not own a car? Or live somewhere more remote and figure out how to get around when driving isn’t an option? Financial education is about saving and spending wisely.

Think about an encore. I’m reluctant to say encore career because maybe a second career isn’t what a person wants or needs. But I will say that people need to plan their departure from the workforce. Maybe your encore is moving from full-time to part-time then to full retirement.

It’s possible an encore could involve volunteerism. Or a hobby that turns into a full-time obligation like acting in community theater. Our encore is something that we can pour some energy into. When you get back 8+ hours a day, you probably want to do something with that time in your retirement life.

Efforts to disrupt aging isn’t going to happen overnight. In fact, I’d toss out there that each of us might disrupt aging in our own unique way. But to make the most of our retirement, we have to start thinking about – and planning for – our ability to disrupt aging.

8 Ways to Become a Lifelong Learner

August 23, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 1 Comment

As part of your unretirement, you might want to add some new skills. Learning is important. We must continuously learn to remain healthy and relevant.

I believe the term lifelong learner may have become a little stale. Some people have renamed it “self-learning”. Regardless of your age and what you call it, the concept is important. Becoming a lifelong learner takes planning and discipline. I tend to think of it as a practice, similar to mindfulness or an exercise program like Pilates. It’s something I’m constantly working on and getting a little better every day. If you’re looking for ways to create a personal learning practice, here are 8 things to consider:

Admit how you like to learn. There are three primary ways people learn something – auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. It’s important to know your preferred learning style. And that your style might be different at times. For example, when it comes to cooking, I’m a hands-on learner. But if it’s a theory, I prefer auditory or visual.

Realize there’s a difference between what you want to learn and what you need to learn. Just because you’re thinking about retirement doesn’t mean there aren’t things you need to learn. You might want to learn a software program so you can do your own taxes. Or a second language so you can spend part of the year in another country. There may be lots of things we want to know, but what are the new knowledge and skills that will help us accomplish our goals.

Create a learning bucket list. Speaking of wants and needs, find a process that you’re comfortable with for prioritizing learning. Even when you have all the time in the world, you don’t want to take on too many things at once. It will ultimately impact the thing you’re learning at the moment. Create your own list of skills that you want to learn.

Look for learning buddies. IMHO, over half of learning is enjoying the experience. There’s no rule that says self-learning must be done alone. Lifelong learners might find an occasional group meeting to share stories is helpful and valuable to the process. Find a club or a group that will support your learning goals.

Discover new and fun ways to learn things. Today’s technology allows us to learn in ways we could have never imagined. I just discovered that, if I wanted to take a cooking class with famous “shouty” Chef Gordon Ramsay, I can. Or I can learn how to code using Apple’s Swift Playgrounds app. Learning doesn’t have to be boring.

Connect with good sources for learning opportunities. The second thing that technology brings to the learning space is new sources. The good news is there are lots of smart, talented people we can learn from. The hard part is sifting through all of the noise to find them. Maybe our learning buddies (#4) can help.

Schedule time for learning. Block off time on your calendar for learning. Even when you don’t have a formal work schedule. I do not have to tell anyone what will happen if you postpone learning to when you have nothing else to do. Make learning a priority and it will happen. So, schedule an appointment with yourself to learn. You deserve it.

Regularly reflect on your takeaways. Learning should have a purpose. When you decided that you wanted to learn something, there was a reason. Reflect on your learning experience. Ask yourself, “Am I getting out of the learning experience what I hoped?” And if necessary, make adjustments.

Your age has nothing to do with being a lifelong learner. We will never know it all. The best way to manage learning is by developing a personal process of learning because you’re going to be doing it for a long time.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the 34th Street Graffiti Wall in Gainesville, FL