What ‘Type’ of Retirement Works Best for You
You have now completed the Profiling exercise and your results are provided below.
This information indicates your retirement lifestyle preferences – what works best for you, what brings you fulfilment, joy and connection.
This is the most important, and almost always missing, first step in building a retirement that works specifically for you, for your needs and preferences. Not a one size fits all solution but the retirement that you want. With this information you can design and live the ‘right’ retirement for you.
You can avoid activities and commitments that leave you unfulfilled, that waste your time and your money. Each day has focus and purpose. No drift.
SMART offers two indicators to help you better understand the type of retirement that may work best for you. These indicators have been generated based on your response to the Profiling you have just completed.
Indicator 1. Your Retirement Style
Within SMART we have identified ten Retirement Types. Your Type, shown below indicates the type of retirement that you prefer. When in retirement you can use your retirement type as a reference point.
Generally, activities that are most aligned to your retirement type are going to deliver to you the greatest benefits. And conversely if you are finding yourself doing lots of activities that do not align to your retirement type then they are probably detracting from your retirement.
The SMART approach to retirement is all about maintaining this alignment as much as possible. Keep your retirement type in mind when deciding how to fill your day.
Of course, our retirement preferences shift over time and shift even within the day or week so we need to be mindful that our retirement type is an indicator only. However within those real life limitations it is a highly valuable first step in terms of either building your retirement as a new retiree or keeping your retirement in top shape as an existing retiree.
[Primary style name will appear here]
[Primary style description will appear here]
This style reflects the conditions under which you are most likely to feel energised, settled and yourself in retirement.
It’s not about what you should do. It’s about recognising what naturally fits you.
Take a moment. Does this feel familiar?
Does it sound like a retirement you would enjoy building?
If so, keep this style firmly in mind as you build your retirement.
Indicator 2. Your SMART Balance
Your retirement style is one part of the picture.
Once you know your ‘Style’, your big picture preferences and type, you can then drill down into more detail as to how you wish to balance your days. You will feel happiest when this balance best suits you.
Like ‘Type’ our balance is unique to us. We all seek a different life balance.
This balance is a combination of five aspects – S.M.A.R.T.
Structure – Whether we want a retirement full of forward commitments, regular routines (high Structure), or wish to keep our diary open and flexible, (low Structure).
Movement– The degree of physical activity we prefer. From high intensity frequent activity to something more sedate.
Action – The extent to which we are interested in committing to ongoing projects and deliverables, such as work, outcome driven hobbies, mastering a craft etc.
Relate – How frequently we wish to ‘be’ with other people (high Relate), versus a retirement with large amounts of solo time (lower Relate)
Time-Out – Our desire for stimulation (out and about, keeping busy) vs our preference for quiet time.
Based on your Profiling responses, your preferred retirement balance is shown below.
Everyone has a unique combination. There is no perfect score. The goal is alignment, not intensity.
Next Step – Your Retirement Hub
Now you know what type of retirement you want, you can now start building it.
Your retirement Hub is your personal Retirement space.
Here you have all you need to keep your retirement at its best. No drift, no time wasting, no false starts; instead days that immediately deliver purpose and fulfilment.
In your Hub you can
- Find hundreds of great ideas and activities update monthly, curated for you – arts and theatre, travel, hobbies, volunteering, community projects, learning, dining, hobbies, sport and exercise and more.
- Create a short list of your preferred activities – add to them as you find new ones. Delete them when done, Keep your list current and fresh and updated regularly.
- Create diary reminders and prompts. Keep up to date on your activities. Book tickets, set arrangements, follow up.
- Strengthen and broaden friendships and connections. Invite others, share your activities and your interests and experiences.
- Create your own list of preferred activities
And if this sounds a little ‘work like’, it is not. Retirement is meant to be fun, But to get the best from your retirement we do need to follow through, lift these great ideas from the page and actually live them.
The Hub is here to help with exactly this.