Transitions
Transitions – I’m passing through two of life’s major transitions moving home and separating from a partner. Both transitions can lead to stress and overwhelm. The end of a relationship especially can lead to strong feelings sadness, guilt and more.
If I look back over the past months I haven’t stopped. There have been deep discussions, counselling sessions and the never-ending task of downsizing a home, along with finding somewhere new to live. There is the stress of will anything go wrong with the sale and purchase of a property, are you making the right choice, will the furniture fit!
Clutter clearing – weighed down by clutter
I want to share one of my biggest weaknesses I love gathering material and resources. Sounds like a good thing doesn’t it, lots of information but it can be done to excess.
I’m not like one of those people on compulsive hoarders on Channel 5 but my PC has masses of PDFs saved to read one day, and Outlook is bursting with emails I’m saving.
Online dating – when is the right time to start?
When to start online dating? My personal trainer, Emma, says right now.
She says I need to get my profile on one site, and to be proactive and send messages, she said that it’s a great feeling to see messages and start engaging. Other people are telling me to be more cautious and to look to meet people in real life, but isn’t online where most people meet nowadays?
Downsizing
Take your lifes possession and divide in half, and then again! That’s what my forthcoming move feels like.
With Downsizing I’m doing this while still active. Goodness knows how older people do this.
It’s not just the active side of going into the loft, emptying the shed but also the emotions as you look at the items you bought.
Retirement advice for workaholics
Whilst many people have a balanced life, others have focused on work. So here is some retirement advice for workaholics.
Some people enjoy their job, they get great feedback from colleagues and the job is very much intertwined with who they are. They tend to avoid any discussion on retirement with a plan to work till they drop. These people could be classed as workaholics people who find it hard to disengage from their work.
Minimising is better than organising
If organizing your stuff worked, wouldn’t you be done by now? Courtney Carver
I’m brilliant at sorting work files, systems, cupboards but now I’m thinking that organising has been my way of dealing with the objects and information that I have accumulated. Whilst I can be well organised I then get more stuff and must reorganise as I run out of space.
And so the cycle continues.
I’m now reflecting that organising has been a way of failing to address the underlying issue of why I need so much stuff.
A period of transition
My decluttering is going deeper, and I’m reviewing everything that doesn’t add to my life. Do I really need a Kindle and an iPad (with the kindle app)? I have taken so many things to the charity shops or sold them and with each item I feel a sense of lightness. Its a very good feeling. I’m comparing everything I have to my sister who has moved a few times recently, so she hasn’t had 14-15 years of possessions to go through. It would have been easier with less space, although there were still piles of books besides the bookcases.
Find Work at 50+
Written for the 50+ audience, the book is relevant to people of all ages. It brings all my knowledge of job search right up-to-date and my publisher has laid things out beautifully.
Access your free 20 page sample of Find Work at 50+ by signing up to my 50+ mailing list.
You will also get access to relevant tips and articles to help the prime job seeker by more successful.
Read a book review here – 50+ Book review and more on Amazon
Download the full contents list. 50+ Contents page or see below:
Downsizing
Downsizing focuses the mind on what possessions are important to you. What you want to keep and use, and what is better kept as a memory.
I’ve not been posting anything for a while. My focus has been on clearing out. I’m downsizing from a 4 bed home with loft space and outbuildings to a 2 bed flat. A move from the country to the town.
There is so much to do with downsizing – not just clothes and books, but business materials and general stuff. Today I’ve finally thrown out (Almost) all my Open University Course Materials – 8 years of part time study for my first degree and 5 years for my MBA. I was tempted to hold onto the year course in Research Methods, but it is 20 years old and best to start again. I tried to pass on but no one was interested.
Retirement hastens onset of dementia
The headline in The Times on 24 January reminds of the need to stay active (mind and body) in retirement. The lack of demands and stress can increase our risk of dementia.
A study which tracked 3,400 civil servants found that short-term memory declined nearly 40 per cent faster once they retired.
