Mindfulness to Relationships
This guide provides ideas on how to manage your overall wellbeing and transition to a different stage of life, only the start towards a bright retirement.
MINDFULNESS
Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities. It enhances your self-understanding and allows you to make positive choices based on your own values and motivations. Be mindful of how you think. Certain styles of thinking can stress you out. Things like perfectionism, all or nothing thinking and negative thinking. For example, if you’re a perfectionist, try to lower your expectations of yourself and others, and learn to accept things you can’t change. If you tend to think negatively, try to focus on the good, not the bad.
NATURE
Interacting with nature has been shown to have a positive effect on psychological wellbeing, and even to improve cognitive function. Whether you like the beach or the forest, try to incorporate some time in nature into your routine.
OPEN TO CHANGE
Stress builds up if you keep your feelings bottled inside. Talk to your friends and family and ask for support. If you don’t have a good support system, work to develop one. That way, you’ll have someone to talk to when you’re upset. Consider joining a support group. Some people keep a journal to record their thoughts and feelings.
PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY
To be purposeful, activities must extend beyond filling time and personal enjoyment. The dictionary definition of “purposeful” that applies in retirement is “full of significance or meaning”. To be purposeful, an activity should help someone, benefit society and/or make the world a better place.
QUESTS
Now is a time to consider all the things you have said “I have always wanted to….” You may want to visit particular countries or significant family sites, learn to sail, reduce your golf handicap, or write a book. This is a time of options and opportunity.
RELATIONSHIPS
Retirement is not only a major change to the person stopping work, but it may also change the dynamics of relationships with significant others. It is important to consider what the impact on both partners might be, and to make changes to ensure everyone can adapt.
