That finding matters because it challenges one of the quiet assumptions many of us carry into adulthood: that brain aging is simply a long, unavoidable slide. The study suggests something more nuanced and more hopeful. Our brains change in chapters. Each chapter has strengths, vulnerabilities, and clues about how to support brain health with greater intention.

I am not a medical professional, and this article is not medical advice. My lens is life design, transition, and intentional action. From that perspective, the study offers a powerful invitation: what if we treat brain health not only as a medical topic, but also as a daily practice of living forward?

The Five Ages of the Brain, in Plain English

Childhood, from birth to around age 9, is a time of rapid growth and network consolidation. The brain is building, pruning, and strengthening the pathways that support learning and development.

Adolescence, from roughly age 9 to 32, is much longer than many of us might assume. During this era, the brain continues building more efficient long-distance connections, helping support maturing judgment, identity, emotional regulation, and complex thinking.

Adulthood, from roughly age 32 to 66, appears to be the brain’s longest and most stable structural era. This is a season where expertise, pattern recognition, executive function, and problem-solving can deepen. It is also a critical window for protecting the brain through the choices we make in midlife.

Early aging, from roughly age 66 to 83, marks a shift in brain architecture. Connections may become less globally integrated, and the body’s cumulative health patterns begin to matter even more. This is not a reason for fear. It is a reason to pay attention.

Late aging, around age 83 and beyond, may bring more localized brain communication and greater vulnerability. Yet even here, connection, movement, stimulation, and meaning still matter. The point is not to deny aging. The point is to participate more intentionally in how we age.

Why This Matters from Adulthood On

For me, the most inspiring part of this research is not the timeline itself. It is the reminder that adulthood is not a passive waiting room. Midlife can be a prevention and preparation window. Early aging can be a protection and strengthening window. Later aging can still support dignity, engagement, connection, and purpose.

That does not mean we can control everything. We cannot. Genetics, illness, environment, trauma, and access to healthcare all matter. But we are not powerless. Adult brain health is shaped by patterns over time: movement, learning, rest, relationships, food, stress, blood pressure, purpose, and use. In other words, the way we live becomes part of the environment our brain has to work with.

What We Can Influence

Protect cardiovascular health. What supports the heart often supports the brain. Managing blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and other health risks with professional guidance is one of the most practical ways adults can support long-term brain health.

Move regularly. Movement is not just about fitness. It supports circulation, balance, mood, energy, and confidence. A walk, a strength routine, a dance class, gardening, stretching, or cycling can become a practical brain-health habit.

Keep learning. The brain likes challenge. Learn a language. Take a class. Pick up an instrument. Explore technology. Read widely. Join a discussion group. New learning supports curiosity, confidence, and the sense that the next chapter is still being written.

Stay socially connected. Isolation can quietly shrink a life. Connection stretches it. Meaningful relationships, intergenerational friendships, community involvement, mentoring, volunteering, and shared projects all help keep us engaged with the world beyond ourselves.

Manage stress and protect sleep. Chronic stress and poor sleep can drain attention, mood, memory, and resilience. Evening rituals, reflection, boundaries, breathing practices, therapy, coaching, prayer, meditation, or quiet walks can all become part of a brain-supportive rhythm.

Reduce avoidable risks. Excess alcohol, prolonged inactivity, unmanaged health conditions, and repeated disengagement from meaningful activity can take a toll over time. Small course corrections matter because they compound.

Build purpose into the week. Purpose does not need to be grand to be protective. It can be mentoring one person, showing up for a grandchild, contributing to a cause, creating something beautiful, solving a problem, or being the steady presence others count on.

Your Brain-Forward Action Plan

If this research sparks anything, I hope it sparks one small next step. Not panic. Not perfection. Action.

Create a simple 30-day brain-forward action plan. Ask yourself:

· What is one health habit I will strengthen this month?

· What is one new learning challenge I will begin?

· What is one relationship I will invest in more intentionally?

· What is one stress pattern I need to interrupt?

· What is one purposeful contribution I want to keep making?

Then choose one small action this week. Schedule the walk. Make the appointment. Call the friend. Register for the class. Begin the sleep ritual. Name the contribution that still wants to come through you.

The brain’s changing structure is not a reason to retreat from life. It is a reason to live more deliberately. Your brain is not asking for perfection. It is asking for participation — one choice, one habit, one next step at a time.

P.S. If you enjoyed this week’s article, you may enjoy my program “Get a Taste of Retirement Life Design” on August 5^th. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-a-taste-of-retirement-life-design-tickets-1990803834861?aff=ebdsoporgprofile or “Chart Your Unique Path of Transition” on September 16^th https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chart-your-unique-path-of-transition-tickets-1990812505796?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Carol Bergeron – Drawing on 25+ years as coach, consultant, and author, Carol Bergeron helps leaders unlock their legacy through executive branding, succession planning, and retirement life design.

© Copyright 2026 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved. The content contained herein is provided for informational purposes only.

No alarm. No meetings. No deadlines. No one else deciding what your day should look like. And yes, that freedom is part of the appeal. But here is what many people discover after the first rush wears off:

Too much freedom can be surprisingly hard to live inside.

Not because freedom is bad. Because freedom without any structure gets fuzzy fast.

Days blur. Good intentions stay vague. You stay busy, but not especially grounded. Or you drift between errands, leisure, projects, and screen time without feeling like the day was really yours.

That is why freedom needs structure too. Not corporate structure. Not a color-coded calendar that turns retirement into another job. Just enough structure to make freedom usable.

The mistake is thinking there are only two choices:

· total freedom, where every day is wide open

· over-scheduling, where retirement becomes another productivity system

There is a better middle ground where the goal is not to control every hour. The goal is to create enough rhythm that your days have shape without losing spaciousness.

That might mean a few anchor points instead of a packed calendar: a morning walk, a workout class twice a week, lunch with a friend on Thursdays, volunteer time on Tuesdays, a creative block in the afternoon, or one standing day with the grandkids.

Those anchors matter more than they seem. Research on retirement transition keeps pointing to the value of life structure, activity engagement, and social connection. A 2025 article in Working, Aging and Retirement describes retirement as a shift in “life structure,” not just employment status. A 2025 longitudinal study in Frontiers in Psychology linked stronger social participation, partner support, and health with better well-being in retirement. And a 2023 study in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B found that retirement often increases time spent in physical, social, and self-development activities, though not equally for everyone.

In plain English: retirement goes better when people do not just have free time. It goes better when they have meaningful ways to use it.

What light structure does well

· It reduces drift. If nothing has shape, it is easy to lose a week without meaning to.

· It supports identity. Repeating a few meaningful patterns helps you become someone in retirement, not just someone who stopped working.

· It protects energy. Too many open choices can be oddly draining. A few defaults free up mental space.

· It makes room for what matters. Health, relationships, creativity, learning, and contribution happen more reliably when they have a place in the week.

What over-scheduling gets wrong

Of course, there is a trap on the other side too. Some people get uncomfortable with open space and solve for that discomfort by filling the calendar fast. They optimize retirement. They recreate the same overcommitted pattern they were hoping to leave behind. That can look productive from the outside, but it quietly defeats the point.

Retirement is not supposed to be empty. But it is also not supposed to become a full-time management exercise. If your schedule leaves no room for rest, spontaneity, reflection, or changing your mind, the structure may be working against the freedom you wanted.

A better question to ask

Instead of asking, How do I fill my time? ask: What kind of rhythm helps me feel most like myself?

That question leads somewhere more useful. Because the best retirement structure is not generic. It is personal. Some people need more social contact. Some need more solitude. Some need movement early in the day. Others need slower mornings and stronger afternoon plans. Some want two or three reliable anchors a week. Others do better with a daily rhythm and lots of open space around it.

You are not trying to build the perfect schedule. You are trying to notice the conditions under which you feel grounded, alive, and free.

A simple way to think about it

· Too little structure makes freedom slippery.

· Too much structure makes retirement feel crowded.

· The sweet spot is enough rhythm to support your life, with enough space to enjoy it.

And because retirement is a series of transitions, that rhythm may need to change over time. What fits in the first six months may not fit two years later. Health changes. Interests change. Relationships change. That is normal. It is one more reason to use a flexible framework rather than a fixed plan.

So, if you are nearing retirement, embrace structure. Just choose the kind that serves freedom instead of replacing it. Because the point is not to schedule your life to death. It is to create a life with enough shape to hold what matters.

A few reflection questions to consider:

· When do I feel most grounded and energized in a day or week?

· Where might too little structure lead me to drift?

· Where might too much structure crowd out freedom?

· What two or three weekly anchors would make retirement feel more like mine?

Next week, I’ll turn to another important shift in retirement: what happens when your title goes away, but your need for identity does not.

Sources:

· Crary, M., Hall, D. T., Kram, K. E., Amabile, T. M., & Bailyn, L. (2025). Transitioning Into Retirement: The Interplay of Self and Life Structure. Working, Aging and Retirement, 11(2), 175–196.

· Hsu, W.-C., Huang, N.-C., & Hu, S. C. (2025). Well-being Trajectories and Dynamic Resource Shifts in the Transitions of Retirement: A Longitudinal Study of Taiwanese Older Adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1449442

· Tunney, O., Henkens, K., & van Solinge, H. (2023). A Life of Leisure? Investigating the Differential Impact of Retirement on Leisure Activity. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 78(10), 1775–1784. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad097

© Copyright 2026 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

If you already know you want to relocate, consult part-time, volunteer in a specific way, travel for three months each year, or build your days around golf, grandkids, painting, or teaching, that clarity can be a real advantage. It gives you something many people do not have: direction.

But like most strengths in a major life transition, it has a shadow side. Knowing exactly what you want in retirement can be a gift. It can also become a trap if you hold it too tightly.

The upside of knowing exactly what you want

Let’s start with the obvious: clarity creates momentum.

When you know what you want, it is easier to make practical decisions before retirement begins. You can shape your finances around it. Test pieces of the lifestyle early. Have better conversations with a spouse or partner. Start building the routines, relationships, and commitments that will support the next chapter.

Clarity also reduces a certain kind of anxiety. Instead of staring into the abyss, you are moving toward something specific. That can make retirement feel less abstract and more real in a good way.

And emotionally, clear direction can soften the landing. If work has been a major source of structure and purpose, it helps to know what will be waiting for you on the other side. In short, knowing what you want can help you retire into something rather than simply away from work.

The downside of knowing exactly what you want

Here is where it gets tricky: what sounds like clarity can actually be over-attachment.

You may be picturing one ideal version of retirement so vividly that you leave little room for reality. Health changes. Energy changes. Relationships change. Interests evolve. A spouse may want something different. Aging parents may need more from you. Grandchildren may pull your time in unexpected directions. Or you may simply discover that what looked great from a distance does not feel as good from the inside.

This is one of the hidden risks of having a very fixed vision: you can mistake a plan for a promise. And retirement does not tend to cooperate with rigid scripts.

Research on retirement adjustment keeps pointing to the importance of adaptation, meaning, and activity engagement, not just pre-set plans. A 2025 review in The Gerontologist noted that meaningful retirement is not created by finances alone, and a 2025 retirement adjustment framework emphasized identity rebuilding, social interaction, independence, and active engagement as core parts of adapting well. That matters because even a well-designed retirement idea still has to be lived.

The consequences of too little clarity

Of course, the opposite has consequences too. If you have no real picture of what you want, retirement can feel shapeless. You may drift. Overuse travel, leisure, or house projects as placeholders. Stay busy without feeling grounded. Or assume clarity will appear after you stop working, only to find that too much freedom feels surprisingly hard to use well.

So, this is not an argument against clarity. It is an argument against rigidity.

The sweet spot: clear enough to move, flexible enough to adapt

The goal is not to know exactly what every day of retirement will look like. The goal is to know enough to move forward intelligently. That means having a strong sense of what you want more of and less of. What matters most. What kinds of activities, rhythms, relationships, and contributions feel most aligned. What you want to test early. What you are curious about. What you are not willing to build your next chapter around.

That kind of clarity is useful because it guides action without pretending to control the future.

That is one reason flexibility matters so much. Retirement usually unfolds as a series of transitions, not a single event. What fits at the beginning may need to be reworked later as interests, relationships, health, or circumstances change. That is why a good framework when designing your new lifestyle matters. It gives you a way to revisit and redesign your next chapter instead of treating retirement like a decision you make once.

Think of it this way:

· Too little clarity can lead to drift.

· Too much certainty can lead to disappointment.

· Grounded clarity plus flexibility gives you the best chance of building a retirement that actually fits.

That is especially important for high achievers. They are used to solving for the right answer. But retirement is not a single right answer problem. It is closer to an evolving design process.

You do not need a perfect vision. You do need a direction worth exploring.

A few reflection questions to consider:

· Do I have a clear retirement vision, or just a few appealing images?

· Where might clarity be helping me move forward?

· Where might I be holding too tightly to one version of how retirement should look?

· What do I want to test or explore before retirement begins?

Knowing exactly what you want can be a gift. Retirement usually goes better when that clarity stays paired with curiosity, humility, and room to adjust.

Next week, I’ll explore a related challenge: creating enough structure in retirement to feel grounded without turning your freedom into another over-managed schedule.

Sources:

· Wood, R. E., & Pachana, N. A. (2025). The Role of Meaning in the Retirement Transition: Scoping Review. The Gerontologist. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaf076

· Fadeeva, A., Simmons, J., Thomas, L. B., Baker, K., & Ling, F. C. M. (2025). Retirement Adjustment Framework: Understanding the Interplay Between Individual and Contextual Factors. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. DOI: 10.1177/26320770241279737

© Copyright 2026 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

June 8, 2026: The Drop

Today’s 3 Ingredients:

💼 Past Career: Leader in Supply Chain Management

🛑 Excellence in Problem Solving: Untangling messy logistics and cutting operational waste

⚡ Superpowers, Skills & Hobbies: Fluent Mandarin, Drone photography, Vertical farming

👇 Your Mission:

Invent a new “next chapter” role that remixes the above ingredients. It could be a consulting business, a local nonprofit, a passion project or hobby, or a volunteer venture. The format is flexible. The idea simply needs to be imaginative and viable.

Post your role and concept in the LinkedIn comments! Then read other entries, like your favs, and reply to peers with a “Yes, and…” to build on their ideas.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/carolbergeron_the-next-chapter-remix-a-collaboration-game-activity-7469731039599280128-775K/

Stay tuned for the Friday poll to place your vote!

On paper, they are ready. But in life? Not always.

Because financial readiness and life readiness are not the same thing.

· Financial readiness asks: Can I afford to stop working?

· Life readiness asks: Do I know what I am moving into when work stops?

That second question is where many smart, successful people get surprised. Why? Because work has been doing far more than funding life. It has also been giving life shape.

Work provides structure. Momentum. Challenge. Recognition. Relevance. Social contact. A reason to get moving. A built-in answer to the question, What do you do?

Yes, someone can be fully prepared financially and still feel untethered once retirement actually begins. That is not a planning failure. It is a category error. They prepared for the money side of retirement. They did not prepare as deeply for the life side of retirement. And the life side matters more than many people expect.

Research is beginning to say this more clearly. A 2025 review in The Gerontologist argues that retirement planning still leans heavily toward finances even though money alone does not create a meaningful retirement. A 2023 study in Psychology and Aging found that retirees do better when they maintain valued group memberships and build new ones after work ends. And a 2024 study in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology found that when people prepared for retirement by thinking about community, relationships, and how they would stay engaged, they felt at least as prepared as those who focused mainly on finances and often they felt more optimistic about retirement.

In other words: Money can make retirement possible. It cannot make retirement fulfilling by itself.

If you want retirement to feel good from the inside, life readiness deserves just as much attention as financial readiness.

That means preparing for questions like these:

· Identity: Who am I when my title is no longer my shorthand?

· Purpose: What will make this season feel meaningful?

· Structure: What kind of rhythm will keep me grounded?

· Belonging: Where will connection and contribution come from?

A spreadsheet will not answer those questions for you. It can support the life you want. It cannot design it. So, if you are nearing retirement, here is the reframe I would offer: Do the financial planning thoroughly. Then put equal seriousness behind preparing for the life you want to wake up to. Because retirement is not just about being able to leave work. It is about being ready to live well when you do.

A few reflection questions to sit with now:

· Do I have the financial fundamentals planned out and largely ready to go?

· If I knew I was financially ready, what would still need attention?

· Where might I be mistaking financial readiness for life readiness?

· What would help me strengthen my identity, purpose, structure, and belonging before my next chapter arrives?

Next week, I’ll explore the pros and cons of designing retirement when you know exactly what you want.

Sources:

· Wood, R. E., & Pachana, N. A. (2025). The Role of Meaning in the Retirement Transition: Scoping Review. The Gerontologist. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaf076

· Haslam, C., Lam, B. C. P., Ghafoori, E., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Bentley, S. V., Cruwys, T., & La Rue, C. J. (2023). A Longitudinal Examination of the Role of Social Identity in Supporting Health and Well-Being in Retirement. Psychology and Aging, 38(7), 615–626. DOI: 10.1037/pag0000757

· La Rue, C. J., Haslam, C., Bentley, S. V., Lam, B. C. P., Steffens, N. K., Branscombe, N. R., Haslam, S. A., & Cruwys, T. (2024). GROUPS 4 RETIREMENT: A New Intervention That Supports Well-Being in the Lead-Up to Retirement by Targeting Social Identity Management. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 97(1), 1–26. DOI: 10.1111/joop.12458

© Copyright 2026 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

These concerns are not signs of weakness. They are signs that retirement is not a simple event, but a deeply human transition. For many accomplished professionals, work has provided more than income. It has offered identity, purpose, rhythm, challenge, relevance, and relationships. So, when retirement approaches, hesitation may not be about poor planning at all. It may be a natural response to the uncertainty of loosening one’s grip on something that has mattered greatly. Retirement adjustment is shaped not only by finances, but also by meaning, social identity, and emotional adaptation.

Concern #1: If I stop working, who am I?
This may be one of the deepest undercurrents in the transition. Careers do not just occupy time; they become part of self-definition. Titles, responsibilities, expertise, and reputation create a familiar sense of self. As retirement nears, people may begin to sense that they are not just leaving a role, but stepping away from a version of themselves they have inhabited for decades. Recent work on post-retirement decisions points to the important role of social identity and meaning in shaping how people approach retirement.

Concern #2: What if I lose my sense of purpose and relevance?
For high achievers especially, work has often been the place where contribution is visible and measurable. Problems are solved. Decisions matter. People depend on them. Retirement can raise a quiet but unsettling question: Will I still matter in the same way when those structures are gone? That question is not trivial. Meaningful engagement is one of the strongest themes in retirement adjustment, and the absence of it can leave people feeling unmoored even when retirement was chosen willingly.

Concern #3: What if too much freedom feels worse, not better?
We often talk about freedom as retirement’s great reward. And it is. But freedom without any structure can also feel disorienting. Many professionals underestimate just how much work has been organizing their days, energy, priorities, and momentum. The loss of routine can leave a person feeling less liberated than untethered. This is one reason retirement life design matters: not to over-schedule life, but to create enough rhythm that freedom becomes usable.

Concern #4: What if I design the wrong next chapter?
Some people avoid retirement life design because planning feels like pressure. If they cannot name the perfect next chapter, they would rather avoid the exercise altogether. Underneath that avoidance is often a reluctance to get it wrong. But retirement is not a one-time irreversible decision. It is an unfolding season. The next chapter usually emerges through testing, adjusting, learning, and refining. Clarity is more often discovered in motion than in advance.

Concern #5: What if this changes my relationships more than I expect?
Retirement reshapes more than an individual calendar. It can alter couple dynamics, household rhythms, friendships, and a person’s connection to former colleagues. Some people avoid talking about retirement design because they suspect it will surface misalignment with a spouse or partner, or expose how much of their social world has revolved around work. That possibility deserves attention, not avoidance. Relationships often need to be redesigned alongside routines and purpose.

If any of these concerns feel familiar, the goal is not to push them away, but to listen to what they may be telling you. These reactions can be useful data. They point to what matters. They reveal where support, reflection, and intentional design may be needed most. And often, once a concern is named, it becomes far less powerful than when it remains vague and hidden.

A few reflection questions to consider:

· Which of these concerns feels most true for me right now?

· What concern about retirement am I most aware of right now?

· What forms of identity, meaning, structure, or connection might I want to rebuild intentionally?

· What is one conversation I need to have with myself, my partner, or a trusted guide before moving forward?

Next week, I’ll turn to another common misconception: why financial planning alone does not prepare people for retirement. It is essential, of course. But by itself, it does not answer the deeper questions of identity, purpose, daily life, and belonging that often shape whether retirement feels flat or fully lived.

I see this often, and not because people are careless or unimaginative. Quite the opposite. Many pre-retirees are thoughtful, responsible, and highly capable. They have spent decades building meaningful careers, leading teams and organizations, solving hard problems, and creating structure for others. So, when retirement life design enters the conversation, hesitation can show up quietly and in rational ways.

One reason is that financial readiness can create the illusion of total readiness. If the spreadsheets are solid and the retirement date is penciled in, it is easy to assume the rest will fall into place. Yet retirement is not just a financial event. It is also a transition of meaning, identity, and life structure. Work often provides more than income; it supplies rhythm, relevance, relationships, and a ready-made answer to the question, “What do you do?”

Another reason is that the word design can be misleading. To some, it sounds vague and full of fluff. To others, it sounds like pressure to produce a perfect vision on demand. And for many high achievers, it can sound suspiciously like one more project to manage after a career full of projects. If freedom is one of the things they are looking forward to most, the idea of “designing” retirement can feel like replacing one structure with another. In that sense, avoidance is not always about retirement itself. Sometimes it is simply a reaction to language that makes the process sound heavier or more rigid than it needs to be.

There is also a more personal layer to this. Thinking about retirement can make the transition feel more immediate. It may raise questions about identity, relevance, aging, and what comes next when the title that has organized so much of life begins to matter less. For some, that is also why the word retirement does not feel quite right. It can sound more final or limiting than the life they actually hope to create, especially if they imagine this next chapter including continued work, impact, or reinvention. That does not mean anything is wrong. It simply means this transition, whatever we call it, often asks for both practical planning and personal reflection.

Uncertainty also keeps people stuck. Many pre-retirees assume they should know exactly what they want before they begin. But that is not how most meaningful transitions work. Clarity rarely arrives fully formed. More often, it grows through reflection, experimentation, and small steps. Retirement life design is not a rigid blueprint. Think of it more as a working sketch of the kind of structure, meaning, and engagement you want to explore next, whether that includes full retirement, full or part-time work, consulting, volunteering, or some combination that fits you better than the traditional model.

So, if you have been avoiding retirement life design, I hope you will hear this with compassion: your hesitation may not be procrastination. It may be wisdom trying to tell you that this transition deserves more than a quick answer. It deserves room for thought. Room for emotion. Room for imagination. And yes, some light structure to help you cross the bridge rather than free-fall into the next chapter.

If this topic is landing close to home, here are a few questions to sit with:

· What part of retirement planning feels easiest for me, and what part am I quietly avoiding?

· What has work been giving me besides a paycheck: structure, identity, challenge, belonging, contribution, momentum?

· When I imagine retirement, or whatever I might prefer to call this next chapter, what am I most hoping to gain and what am I most reluctant to lose?

· What is one small conversation, reflection, or experiment I could begin now rather than waiting for full clarity?

This is the first in a short series on why pre-retirees avoid retirement life design. In the weeks ahead, I’ll unpack some of the hidden concerns underneath that hesitation, including why the word retirement itself does not always feel like the right fit, and offer practical ways to begin shaping what is next without overcomplicating it. Because retirement is more than leaving work. It is a transition into a new life structure, and transitions go better when we approach them with intention.

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That category was books. Not textbooks. Not “how to succeed” manuals. The kind of books you tuck into a backpack because you suspect you’re about to become someone new. As I read book descriptions and their reviews, I was reminded that graduation isn’t just a ceremony, it’s a threshold.

And thresholds come with a full spectrum of feelings: excitement of freedom and possibility, pride and proof that your efforts got you to where you are, sadness because good endings are still endings whether they be friendships or routines, and a little fear of the unknown as responsibility ramps up and the future becomes now. Add the surprisingly ungrounded feeling that can show up when structure disappears and choice multiplies.

Reading those graduation book summaries, I kept thinking: this is also the emotional weather of early retirement.

If you’ve recently retired, or you’re standing close to that transition, you may recognize the same mix: relief and anticipation, pride and loss, confidence and uncertainty. Yes, many retirees today are redefining retirement with purpose, continued impact, and a healthy mind-body-spirit focus. And still, even the most capable achievers can feel momentarily untethered when the familiar rhythm of meetings, milestones, and professional identity fades. That doesn’t mean you’re doing retirement wrong. It means you’re in a real transition, and transitions ask us to re-imagine who we are and how we want to live.

That’s why those “books for grads” felt like more than gift ideas. They’re inviting you to do three things that matter just as much in retirement as they do at 18: claim your agency, stay curious, and design your days with intention.

So, if you’re looking for a gentle reset or a spark, here are a few titles that showed up on graduation lists and may also be surprisingly timely companions for a new retiree. I haven’t read every one cover to cover, so think of these as a browse-and-pick-your-own-adventure list.

Carpe Every Diem by Robbie Rogue — bite-sized reminders to notice what matters and use your days on purpose.

How To Be You by Jeffrey Marsh — a compassionate nudge back to authenticity when you’re redefining identity beyond a title.

The Moth Presents: A Point of Beauty by The Moth — stories that help you spot meaning in the messy middle of change.

Becoming Me: A Work in Progress by Andrea Pippins — a creative prompt to choose who you want to be next and being more creative on the journey.

How To Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work (pending release) by Jodi Kantor — a practical lens on bringing your gifts to real needs, without forcing the answer too fast.

Atomic Habits by James Clear — a powerful reminder that small choices, repeated, become your new chapter.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy — simple, universal truths about friendship, love, courage, and home.

If you take one idea from the Class of 2026, let it be this: the next chapter doesn’t arrive fully formed. You author it. Not in one grand decision, but in small, brave choices that create momentum: a new morning routine, the call you’ve been meaning to make, the class you try, the volunteer role you test-drive, the walk you take even when you don’t feel like it.

A few questions to sit with:

· What do I want more of in this season: connection, creativity, contribution, learning, rest?

· Where am I hesitating? What’s one tiny move I can make this week to build momentum?

· If I could be known for one kind of impact in retirement, what would it be?

And because every good graduation speech ends with homework… here’s yours: share your best read. What book helped you navigate a transition (retirement or otherwise), the one you’d insist the rest of us pack in our backpack or beach bag? Bonus points if you drop a one‑liner on why it stuck.

And while you’re looking for the right gift for the graduate in your circle, life may be offering you one, too. The tassel they’re about to turn is visible. The one you’re turning in retirement is quieter but no less real. So, the next time you congratulate a member of the Class of 2026, ask them this… and then answer it for yourself: “In one year, what do you want to be true about you?”

If you’ve spent your career as a high achiever, leader, or executive, you’ve lived inside structure, often without realizing just how much of it you helped create. Strategic plans. Operating rhythms. Budgets. Risk scenarios. Pivots. Succession plans. Ninety-day goals. Performance reviews. These systems didn’t just keep the organization moving, they gave your days shape, momentum, and meaning. Whether you loved that structure or occasionally pushed against it, it quietly supported whom you collaborated with, how you made decisions, measured progress, and experienced impact.

Now pause for a moment and imagine stepping out of all of it. No calendar filled with meetings and purpose. No shared goals. No built-in rhythm. No obvious markers of progress.

At first, that kind of freedom can feel exhilarating. For many, it becomes surprisingly disorienting. This is where retirement transitions tend to diverge.

Two retirements. Two Very Different Experiences.

Josh’s story is common.

Like many accomplished professionals, Josh prepared financially for retirement but gave little attention to how life would actually feel once work ended. When retirement arrived, on his timeline or not, he felt confident he’d figure it out. After all, he’d navigated far bigger challenges.

He celebrated with a long-awaited trip. It was wonderful.

Then came the first Monday morning back. His body woke at 5:00 a.m., wired by decades of routine. He lingered over coffee, read the paper cover to cover, walked the dog, and began tackling a long-delayed basement cleanout.

A few weeks passed. Then a few months. He stayed busy with house projects, errands, and organizing. But something was missing. The work didn’t carry the same sense of purpose. His impact felt smaller. And one day, at a neighborhood gathering, he caught himself saying, “I’m the former CXO of…” an introduction he’d promised himself he’d never use.

Josh didn’t do anything wrong. He did what many high achievers do.

Lilly took a different path.

Like Josh, she didn’t have a fully formed vision of retirement life while she was still working. But she did create a 90-day retirement transition plan; nothing elaborate, just intentional.

She identified experiences she’d postponed for years. Thought about which relationships she wanted to rekindle. Paid attention to health, routines, and creative outlets that energized her. She even sketched out what her days and weeks might look like just enough to make the future tangible.

That clarity sparked excitement. So, six to twelve months before retiring, Lilly began laying the groundwork. She planned a capstone trip. Researched local walking and biking trails. Turned a spare bedroom into an art studio. When retirement arrived, she didn’t stall. Instead, she stepped into a life already in motion.

Most importantly, those first 90 days created space for deeper reflection. She began shaping a longer-term retirement life design which included exploring volunteer roles where her strengths could still make an impact, creating a sustainable plan for house and yard responsibilities, making more time for family and friends, and balancing productivity with joy.

Her days felt full, purposeful, and hers.

The Difference Isn’t Motivation. It’s Structure.

These two paths lead to very different outcomes, and the distinction comes down to this:

• In retirement, you are now responsible for creating the structure your career once provided.

• Absent a full retirement life design, a 90-day transition plan is the minimum viable structure for a strong start.

So, what’s in a 90-Day Plan? Common elements include: purpose & direction, daily & weekly rhythm, relationship & connection, health & energy, engagement & exploration, home / yard & projects, and reflection & adjustment.

Think of the 90-day plan as a bridge, not a permanent solution, but a thoughtful way to cross from one chapter into the next without losing your footing. Your first 90 days set the tone. They establish momentum. They prevent drift. And perhaps most importantly, they protect your sense of identity and impact during a transition of profound change. And transitions go best when they’re designed with intention.

If you’re within a year of retirement, what might your first 90 days look like if you designed them with the same care you once brought to your career?

Retirement rarely arrives exactly as planned. For many people, it’s a moment or shift resulting from a reorganization, a health nudge, or a change in family needs. That kind of change can suddenly accelerate retirement’s timeline. What once felt comfortably “a few years away” becomes immediate.

Consider this representative scenario.

At 61, Susan was fully engaged in her role as senior operations leader. Work gave her days structure, challenge, and a rhythm built around responsibility, problem‑solving, contribution, and impact. Retirement was on the horizon, but not urgent. There would be time to think about the details later.

Then a reorganization changed her timeline. Her position was eliminated, and suddenly retirement wasn’t a distant idea. It was happening now.

On paper, Susan was prepared. Financially, things were solid. Friends congratulated her. But internally, she felt unsettled. Without the familiar cadence of work, her days felt wide open in a way that was less liberating than disorienting.

What surprised her wasn’t boredom. It was how much meaning, structure, and identity her career had quietly been providing. This is where many transitions become difficult, not because something is wrong, but because something meaningful has ended, and there hasn’t been space to acknowledge it. What softened the landing in this scenario wasn’t a detailed plan. It was prior reflection and a roughed-out retirement life design.

Before the timeline shifted, Susan had already begun thinking about what she wanted her next chapter to feel like. She had reflected on what mattered, what gave her energy, how she wanted her days to be shaped, and what kinds of engagement would continue to feel purposeful. Not in a rigid or prescriptive way, but a thoughtful life design grounded in what mattered to her: health, contribution, connection, and personal growth.

So, when retirement arrived earlier than expected, Susan didn’t panic because she wasn’t starting from scratch.

She had a sense of who she was beyond her title. She had grounding routines that created rhythm in her days. She had a sense of direction, even as details were still emerging. She understood that fulfillment wouldn’t disappear with her role, it would simply need to be expressed differently. She approached the transition with curiosity rather than urgency. And she had begun to redesign her relationships and sense of belonging outside the workplace. That foundation grounded her. Instead of scrambling to replace what had ended, she allowed space for adjustment. That’s the quiet power of early reflection.

Transitions are rarely about having everything figured out. They’re about having enough clarity to keep your footing when certainty disappears. Even a light‑touch life design, a thoughtful outline rather than a fixed roadmap, can reduce friction and help you move forward with intention.

Retirement isn’t a single event. It’s a transition. And like all transitions, it tends to unfold more smoothly when you’ve taken time, even a little time, to reflect before you’re forced to react.

Challenge 1: The Great Chore Shuffle

When one person retires, the assumption is they’ll take on more chores. After all, they have “all that free time” right? (Cue the retired person’s eye roll and dramatic sigh.) But if the second person retires later, and the first is still stuck with the lion’s share of the chores, resentment can bubble up faster than a clogged drain.

Solution: Treat chore division like a fantasy football draft. Rules of the game? Everyone gets a say, everyone’s time is valuable, no one gets stuck with all the “bad chores” (looking at you laundry, weeding, cleaning the dog yard), and no one should feel like the unpaid intern. Open communication is key. Sit down, make a list, and negotiate. Bonus points for using rock-paper-scissors to settle disputes. And plan to renegotiate from time to time. After all, how many times can you take out the trash before it becomes unfulfilling?

Challenge 2: The Specialist Trap

Sometimes, one person is the “expert” in a chore. Maybe Dad’s a whiz in the kitchen, but only if recipes are written with fine detail; there’s no winging it. Maybe Mom’s the baking queen, but don’t ask her to mow the lawn. When retirement hits, these roles can get fuzzy, and suddenly, someone’s making lasagna with uncooked lasagna noodles.

Solution: Embrace cross-training! Swap recipes, share tips, and don’t be afraid to fail spectacularly. Keep on trying until there are no mistakes left to make. Remember, burnt cookies are just a new kind of snack. And if all else fails, there’s always takeout.

Challenge 3: Disputes Over Methods & Territory

Ah, the age-old debate: “That’s not how you fold towels!” or “You’re mowing the lawn in the wrong direction.” Retirement brings more time at home, which means more opportunities to notice and critique each other’s methods. Suddenly, the kitchen becomes a battleground and the yard a demilitarized zone.

Solution: Sometimes the best solution is to agree to disagree or let the dog make the final call. Well, sort of. Instead, focus on desired outcomes. Does the towel end up folded? Is the grass shorter than before? Then call it a win. If you must, declare certain areas as “sovereign territory” where the garage is Dad’s, the pantry is Mom’s, and the laundry room is neutral ground.

Challenge 4: The Least-Favored Activities

If we’re honest, housework and yardwork are rarely anyone’s idea of fun. In retirement, they can feel even more tedious. If chores aren’t divided fairly, someone’s going to start hiding behind the compost bin.

Solution: Gamify the chores! Set timers, race to finish tasks, or reward yourselves with something fun afterward. And remember, teamwork makes the dream work even if the dream is just a clean basement. Loser of the chore competition gets to pick the next movie flick to watch.

Challenge 5: Physical Limitations

As time marches on, so do the aches and pains. Suddenly, lifting full laundry baskets feels like weightlifting, and bending over to weed the garden is a yoga pose you never wanted to learn. Chores that were once easy can become daunting.

Solution: Adapt and conquer! Invest in gadgets that make chores easier. Think grabber tools, lightweight appliances, and raised garden beds. Divide tasks based on ability, not tradition. If one person can’t do heavy lifting, may they’re the master of the grill or CEO of the grocery list. And don’t be afraid to outsource: hiring help for the tough stuff isn’t cheating. Most importantly, be kind to yourself and each other. Your next chapter is about enjoying life, not winning the “Who can out clean the other?” contest.

Final Thought:
Retirement is a team sport, and so are housework and yardwork. The best approach? Communicate, renegotiate, and laugh about the inevitable mishaps. After all, if you can survive decades of work, you can definitely survive a chore chart and enjoy the process along the way.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

Exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

Retirement isn’t just a date on the calendar – it’s a whole festival, and if you approach it like Halloween, you’ll be ready for the tricks and treats that come your way.

• Anticipation: The Countdown Begins: Just as kids count down the days to Halloween, retirees count down to their last day at work. The anticipation is real: Will your retirement be a treat or a trick? Spoiler alert – it’s both but mostly treats if you plan well.

• Costume Planning = Retirement Vision: For Halloween, you dream up the perfect costume (“This year, I’m going as a glow-in-the-dark spreadsheet! Not”). In retirement, you dream up your ideal lifestyle. Will you be the world traveler, the pickleball champion, or the mysterious neighbor who finally learns to bake sourdough? Visioning is half the fun.

• Scouting for Candy = Scouting for Opportunities: Kids scan the neighborhood for the best candy haul. Retirees scan for opportunities: travel deals, volunteer gigs, new hobbies, or the elusive senior discount at the movies. Sometimes you get full-size Snickers (dream job), sometimes it’s a toothbrush (jury duty).

• Teamwork: Assemble Your Retirement Crew: No haunted house is built alone, and no one should tackle retirement solo. Gather your team: financial planner, family, friends, and that one cousin who knows how to fix anything. Tap into expertise like who makes the best travel plans, who’s gotten their arms around healthcare, and who’s got the tools to help ready your home for staying in place.

• Trick-or-Treating = Exploring New Adventures: Halloween night is all about knocking on doors and seeing what surprises await. Retirement is the same: try new things, visit new places, and don’t be afraid to knock on opportunity’s door (even if it’s a little spooky).

• Candy Trading = Negotiating Your Time: After the haul, it’s time to trade candy. In retirement, you negotiate your time: a little travel for a lot of grandkid time, who gets the guest room during family visits, and maybe swap a boring meeting for a round of golf. The best mix leads to the sweetest retirement.

Haunted Houses = Facing Retirement Fears: Haunted houses are scary, but you go in anyway for the thrill. Retirement has its own haunted rooms: “Will I be bored?” “What if I run out of money?” “Will my costume (err, identity) still fit?” Face those fears head-on, and you’ll find they’re mostly just rubber spiders.

Decorating = Personalizing Your Retirement: Halloween isn’t complete without decorations. Retirement isn’t complete without personal touches: set up your hobby space, decorate your calendar with fun plans, and maybe hang a “Gone Fishing” sign on your front door.

• Storytelling = Sharing Retirement Tales: At Halloween, everyone shares ghost stories. In retirement, you’ll swap tales of travel mishaps, pickleball victories, and the time you accidentally joined a ukulele band. These stories keep the spirit alive and inspire others to join the fun.

• Reflection: Savor the Sweetness: Just as you reminisce about epic Halloweens, take time to reflect on your retirement adventures. Savor the memories, share the laughs, and remember: the cycle continues – there’s always another chapter (and another bowl of candy or bag of Pirate Booty).

Haunted Retirement – oh, I mean – Haunted Halloween to you all!

Exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

Fascinating findings are surfacing from the inaugural 2025 Longevity Preparedness Index (LPI) – a joint study of the MIT AgeLab and the John Hancock Insurance Company. The study finds U.S. adults are largely unprepared for longer lives, scoring an average of 60 out of 100 in terms of preparedness. Yikes!

The study measured “how ready US adults are to thrive in older age across eight areas: health, finance, care, home, daily activities, social connection, community, and life transitions.” Let’s talk about what it really means to be ready for retirement – not just financially, but in all the ways the study measured for getting older.

• Care: Have you thought about who might need your help down the road? Or who might be helping you? It’s easy to put this off, but a little planning now can save a lot of stress later.

• Community: Look around your neighborhood. Is it set up for easy living as you age? Good healthcare, grocery stores, fun hangouts, and reliable transportation all matter? Feeling supported by your community makes a huge difference.

• Daily Activities: Retirement isn’t just about endless free time (although that’s very, very nice). It’s about filling our days, weeks, and years with things that bring us joy and purpose. What lights us up and keeps us engaged?

• Finance: Yes, money matters. Making sure you have a solid financial plan helps you feel secure and lets you focus on enjoying life, rather than worrying about bills.

• Health: Staying healthy – physically, mentally, and emotionally – helps make the most every day. What routines can we build now to keep feeling our best?

• Home: Is your home ready for aging in place? Staying independent longer may require minor tweaks such as adding grab bars or smart home tech. It could also require larger changes like moving the primary bed and bath to the first floor or installing an elevator. What about in-home service providers? Or maybe you’re dreaming of a new place altogether!

Cause4Pause: The study revealed that 88% of adults 50+ years of age believe it important to age in place yet home readiness has a long way to go.

• Life Transitions: Retirement brings big changes – leaving work, caring for loved ones, requiring care, coping with loss, and end of life. Planning ahead can make these transitions smoother and even open up new opportunities.

• Social Connection: Last but definitely not least, staying socially connected with people daily – whether it’s with family, friends, or your wider community – can make all the difference in how happy and fulfilled you feel.

Ready to take charge of your retirement journey? Grab a pen and journal (or open a new doc) and do your own retirement life preparedness check using the list above. Where are you feeling confident? Where could you use more preparation? Jot down your thoughts, swap ideas, and determine next steps for upping your preparedness. The best retirement is the one you design with intention – so let’s get proactive and make your next chapter truly amazing!

Carol Bergeron coaches people through major life transitions with a focus on self-reflection, visualization, and collaboration. She helps clients adapt to personal and professional changes, especially when shaping modern retirement lifestyles, which involve emotional, social, lifestyle, and health-related shifts converging all at once.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

Exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

I’ve had the privilege of leading small group conversations on creative retirement lifestyles, and let me tell you, people typically start off with one idea before the floodgates open. The possibilities are endless! “Where will you live in retirement?” quickly turns into “Where do you want to explore?” and suddenly, travel passions take center stage.

Here are some hybrid approaches and clever tips that have bubbled up in those brainstorm sessions. If you’ve got a twist of your own, I’d love to hear it! In fact, we’d all love to hear it!

• The Two-Home Tango: An oldie but a goodie! A second home is a perennial favorite, especially among snowbirds. Family proximity and outdoor hobbies drive this choice. For example, if you’re a Northeast native but crave southern sunshine in winter, consider places with easy access (nonstop flights, drivable roads) and plan your stays—commit to when you’ll be at each spot to keep your social life buzzing.

• Extended Stays: Know someone who rents a beach side apartment for the first quarter every year? Me too! They chase Caribbean sun, switch islands to experience new cultures, and avoid crowds and high prices. If you want an immersive escape, this is a winning formula.

• Home Swapping: Swap homes with someone in another corner of the world, whether for a couple of weeks or a few months. You’ll save on lodging, live like a local, and often make new friends who give insider tips. There are plenty of online platforms to connect you.

• House Sitting: Look after someone’s house (and maybe their pets) for a stint, and you’ll unlock stays in different cities or countries. This gives you a real taste of day-to-day life in a new place.

• Work Exchanges: Want to roll up your sleeves? Try a work exchange—help out on a farm, ranch, or join a volunteer program in exchange for housing. You’ll contribute a few hours a day and get to know the community firsthand.

• Mobile Living: From sleek motor-homes to tow-able campers and tiny houses on wheels, the open road awaits. Whether you’re touring national parks or just chasing the best weather, this lifestyle brings a sense of freedom and adventure.

• Co-Living Communities: Not quite ready to go solo? Try a co-living arrangement in a new city or country—think intentional communities or retirement co-ops. These setups offer built-in social circles and shared amenities, and many are located near travel hotspots. Bonus: some offer flexible leases, so you can hop from one location to another.

• Seasonal Resort Rentals: Some retirees split their time between resorts or furnished apartments in different locations—think summer in the mountains, winter on the coast. Many resorts and timeshare programs offer loyalty programs and perks.

• Volunteer Tourism: If you’re passionate about giving back, consider programs that combine travel and service—like rebuilding homes, educational outreach abroad, or eco-volunteer gigs. You’ll meet new people and make a difference while exploring the world.

The retirement journey is what you make it—a blend of nesting and exploring, comfort and curiosity. Whether you’re visiting family, swapping homes, or road-tripping in a camper, the key is to retire TO something, not just FROM something.

So, what’s your dream hybrid retirement lifestyle? Share your ideas as we’d love to hear how you’re reinventing where you hang your hat!

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

Exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection (our next program begins Oct 27th)

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

Why Is Phased Retirement Suddenly So Important

Here’s the reality: more people are retiring than ever before, and fewer new workers are entering the workforce to replace them. At the same time, people are living longer and many want to keep working, whether it’s for professional fulfillment, financial reasons, or simply because they love what they do. So, how do we bridge the gap between experienced employees who aren’t quite ready to say goodbye and organizations that need their expertise?

Enter phased retirement. A recent survey by the Transamerica Institute found that over a third of employers already offer phased retirement programs, and another 28% plan to roll them out soon. While it’s not everywhere yet, more companies – especially larger firms and public sector employers – are seeing the value.

What does phased retirement look like?

It’s flexible! Here’s what you might expect:

• Gradually reduced work hours – think part-time schedules or project-based work, sometimes even job sharing.

• Continued benefits – especially health insurance, which is a huge plus for many.

• Mentoring opportunities – passing on hard-earned knowledge to the next generation.

• Eligibility requirements – usually based on age and years of service.

• Education – covering everything from financial planning to lifestyle design via workshops, coaching, and resources.

Why should companies care?

If you’re an employer, phased retirement isn’t just a nice gesture – it’s a smart business move:

• Retain and transfer critical knowledge. When seasoned employees stick around a bit longer, you don’t lose their expertise overnight.

• Smooth out workforce transitions. Succession planning becomes easier when transitions happen gradually.

• Flex your payroll. Adjust staffing levels as needed, without abrupt changes.

• Show you care. Supporting employees at every career stage builds a positive, inclusive culture.

What’s in it for employees?

If you’re thinking about retirement, phased retirement can make the transition so much smoother:

• Keep earning. Your income doesn’t drop off a cliff, instead you can scale back gradually.

• Hold onto benefits. Health insurance and other perks can continue, easing worries about coverage.

• Stay connected. You keep your sense of purpose and community, which is vital for emotional, social and mental wellbeing.

• Ease into your next chapter. Instead of an abrupt stop, you get time to adjust, plan, and explore what’s next.

Bottom line: Phased retirement is the future of work. It’s flexible, it’s humane, and it benefits everyone. Companies keep their talent and knowledge, and employees gain a softer landing into retirement – financially, emotionally, and socially. Why not make the transition to retirement something everyone can look forward to?

Let’s hear from you:

• Have you tried phased retirement?

• Is your program formal or informal?

• What works well, and what do you wish it included?

Share your thoughts and experiences! Whether you’re planning your own transition or shaping your company’s future, your insights can help others make the most of this exciting new approach.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection (our next program begins Oct 27th)

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

Why Travel in Retirement?

Let’s face it: after decades of work, you’ve earned the freedom to set your own schedule. No more negotiating vacation days or squeezing trips into long weekends. Now, you can travel when you want, where you want, and for as long as you want. Want to spend a month in Tuscany learning to cook? Go for it! Always wanted to see the cherry blossoms in Japan? Now’s your chance.

Travel isn’t just about seeing new places. It’s about staying curious, keeping your mind sharp, and making memories that last a lifetime. Studies show that retirees who travel often report higher levels of happiness and wellbeing. It’s not just the change of scenery; it’s the thrill of new experiences, the joy of meeting new people from different backgrounds, and the satisfaction of exploring bucket-list destinations that all contribute to a vibrant, fulfilling retirement.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Retirement Travels

• Plan ahead, but stay flexible: Sure, it’s smart to budget for travel and research your destinations but leave room for spontaneity. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you stumble upon.

• Mix it up: Try a blend of longer journeys and quick getaways. Explore with guided tours, independent travel, or visits with friends or family.

• Expand your purpose: Make your trips even more meaningful by volunteering for a cause you care deeply about while immersing yourself in a new culture.

• Make it cost effective: Leverage travel & senior reward, discount and loyalty programs. Travel off season. Make your own arrangements to keep it within your budget.

• Travel light: Packing less means more freedom. Quick-dry clothes, comfortable shoes, and spirit of adventure are all you really need.

• Get connected: Join travel groups or clubs for inspiration, helpful advice, and a sense of camaraderie. You’ll have opportunities to form new friendships and practice speaking essential phrases in the local language, making your travel experiences even more rewarding.

• Prioritize health and comfort: Choose activities that fit your mobility and energy levels. Don’t forget travel insurance, especially for international trips.

• Share Your Adventures: When you return, host a gathering with family and friends to share highlights from your trip. You’ll enjoy reliving some wonderful moments and likely inspire others to share their trips.

Your Turn: Share Your Travel Dreams and Tips!

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What’s on your retirement travel bucket list? Have you discovered any hidden gems or travel hacks that make your journeys smoother? Maybe you’ve found the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, or you’ve learned how to stretch your travel budget further than you thought possible.

Share your stories, tips, and dreams in the comments or send them my way directly. Let’s inspire each other to make the most of this exciting chapter. After all, the world is wide, and there’s never been a better time to explore it.

So, where will your next adventure take you?

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection (our next program begins Oct 27th)

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

So, why is it so important to continue learning in retirement? After all, you’ve accomplished so much already. You have a wealth of life experience and wisdom to share. And if you’re not working much, what’s the point? Well, lifelong learning, particularly as it relates to brain health, is incredibly valuable.

You see, brain health has many aspects which are well articulated by the NIH: cognitive health (thinking, learning, remembering, problem solving, decision making), motor function (balance and control of body movement), emotional function (how you respond to all types of feelings), tactile function (responses to touch, pressure, pain, temperature), and sensory function (sight, hearing, taste, smell). The health of those functions can influence how long we live independently. True, genetic factors are at play but so are environmental and lifestyle factors which we control.

So, how can we support brain health over time?

1. Develop new knowledge and skills with intention

Whether researching approaches to refinish an end table, enrolling in a French class for the river cruise next year, or getting creative in the arts (think music, dance, theater, painting, and the like), there are plenty of inperson and online resources to stretch your mind and strengthen capabilities. Plus, you can learn from others by doing. Pursuing and applying new knowledge and skills can boost innovation and focus and you might even discover a new hobby in the process.

2. Dive deeply into reading and writing

Pick up a magazine or great mystery novel you never had time to read before. Find some like-minded individuals and form a book club to foster lively, engaging debate. Like reading, writing requires mental effort and concentration. So, write an article for the local paper, your memoirs, short stories, a novel, a children’s book, or a text on your professional expertise. Think of it as an opportunity to get your creative juices flowing and promote brain health while leaving a legacy.  

3. Get social and stay connected

Attend informal meetups or volunteer locally. For example, in Concord this past April, many locals volunteered for the series of events on Patriots Day. Help seniors get to their medical appointments or receive their daily meals. Or do something for a cause you feel passionate about, like the environment, by joining a beekeeping association. Whether your community involvement is inperson or virtual, the meaningful connections you make across the generations provide countless opportunities for mental stimulation, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.  

4. Prioritize your physical health

Research suggests a strong connection between physical and mental health. You know the drill: regular exercise, including those that promote balance to reduce the risk of falling, nutrition and diet, sleep, limited alcohol consumption, smoking cessation, getting preventive health screenings, and proactively managing chronic conditions and medications. They will energize you, improve strength and balance, prevent or slow disease, reduce stress, and improve your mood and mental outlook.

Back to my client, she had never envisioned herself as a website developer and children’s book author in retirement. Yet by tapping into a wide range of activities that promote brain health she found the meaning and joy it brought her and others to be intoxicating. So, keep that curiosity radar going to maintain mental sharpness!

Cause4Pause: Now take a few moments to think about your own retirement. What will you do to promote brain health?  

Answering this question will help you make lifestyle choices that may extend your independent living and promote longevity. Think it! Commit to it! Do it!

Carol Bergeron guides people through major life transitions with a focus on self-reflection, visualization, and collaboration. She helps clients adapt to personal and professional changes, especially when shaping modern retirement lifestyles, which involve emotional, social, lifestyle, and health-related shifts converging all at once.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

• exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection (our next program begins Oct 27th)

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

Many of you know that I work with folks on designing their retirement lifestyles. My 6-session coaching programs reveal the greatest retirement challenges. These challenges are gradually unpacked, explored at length for individual impact, and kept top of mind when designing. Frankly, it’s not unlike modular based strategic planning. Why modular? Because whether you are shaping a new strategic vision for an organization or your own retirement lifestyle, there is great value in using an iterative approach to help sharpen your vision and connect the dots.

There are starts and stops, the desire for more external information, the desire for more internal reflection, creative ideation, analyses of a range of options, isolation of the few key drivers, scenario planning, which lead to a solid mission, vision, values, goals, and overall approaches for their achievement. And one of the greatest values of the sessions is hearing, considering, and building on each other’s ideas.

So, how do I prepare team members for modular strategic thinking sessions? A few months in advance, I encourage participants to carry around a journal and make entries when inspired. Their inspiration may come from experiences, readings, news stories, conference presentations, conversations with people, visualization, and the like. Nothing is off limits when making journal entries, even if they are seemingly unrelated to the organization’s strategic plan. Why? Because the practice prompts open-minds, creativity, clarity, connection making, and deepens the sense of purpose. I may also give them a few questions to ponder, like those below, to get their thinking going.

• Why does your organization exist?

• What are your hopes for the organization in the future?

• Where would you like the organization to be in X years?

• What are the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats?

• What input is desired from key stakeholders?

• What forward focused options are worth exploring and why?

Applying these principles to designing your retirement lifestyle can be incredibly valuable. Carry an inspiration journal, paper or digital, and make entries. Daydream today, tomorrow, and the day after that about how you’ll spend your time and with whom, what gets you out of bed every morning, and who you’ll become. And enjoy the ride!

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

• exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection (our next program begins Oct 27th)

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

1. A negative outlook on retirement

Having a positive outlook on retirement, or any other life transition, can help improve mental and physical wellbeing. And who doesn’t want that? Today’s modern retirement isn’t your grandparents’ retirement. So, how do you shift from seeing the glass half empty to half full?

Tips: Avoid “all or nothing” thinking. Replace words like “always” and “never”. Ditch the “shoulds” and “justs” from your vocabulary. Identify the source of negative thought: whether it’s family, media, societal beliefs; recognizing the source can be a first step in reframing your mindset. Start a gratitude journal for daily bursts of positivity. Talk with others for inspiring experiences and terrific ideas.

2. Declining motivation at work extends into personal life   

If you’re well into your career and feeling less motivated at work, it might be time to put yourself first, which could be a new and empowering experience. It’s not selfish, it’s about charting a new path for your next chapter.

Tips: Prioritize yourself over your career. For instance, if you like adventures, focus on them. Train each day, even for a few minutes, to prepare for those bicycling, hiking, or creative adventures. A happier, healthier, energized you will show up wherever you are and help open your mind to the possibilities of life in your next chapter.  

3. Staying the course on career

Some people love what they do and want to keep working throughout retirement. Continuing their careers could be the best choice. The key word here is “choice” which implies that the decision to continue their career was made after considering other well-thought-out options.  

Let’s be honest, some individuals continue their careers without giving it much thought. This might be because it’s the most convenient option. It could also be due to fears such as inadequate savings, economic instability, or losing connections, structure, status, or the purpose that work provides. Without considering other options, this approach might leave some great lifestyle alternatives unexplored and unlived. 

Tips: Imagine multiple paths forward before settling on one. If career is high on your list, consider working part-time, mentoring, volunteering, or teaching your expertise in your retirement. Reflect and design your retirement in a small group for a broader range of ideas. And remember, envisioning a different path forward doesn’t mean you have to follow it. People like choices; it’s comforting, confidence-building, and empowering.

4. Planning retirement lifestyle feels too restrictive

I get it. Putting pen to paper can seem demanding, though it will help you navigate this complex life transition more smoothly.

Tips: Your retirement lifestyle is as unique as you are. Your initial design is just that – initial. Life has its twists and turns, and retirement life is no exception. Having an overarching vision and design, which serve as your north star, get you on the right track sooner rather than later. Plus, they provide a solid foundation from which to navigate those twists and turns.

Retirement is a journey, not just a destination. Having a compelling, meaningful, and fulfilling vision to move toward is key to waking up each morning with energy and purpose. By embracing retirement with a positive outlook and intentionality, you’ll find it can be one of the most rewarding chapters of your life, likely spanning 30+ years.

What barriers to designing your retirement lifestyle have you or people you know encountered? How were they overcome? Do you have other ideas or questions? If so, let’s chat.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions by:

• exploring upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6-session-retirement-life-design-program-registration-1458536615279?aff=odcleoeventsincollection (our next program begins Oct 27)

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.

I used to be the person who treated vacations like a sprint. I had to see everything, leaving no room for spontaneity. Frankly, it was exhausting! Here’s a funny story, after arriving at a vacation destination on a red-eye flight, I decided to make the most of my day. I took a bus tour to get the lay of the land, visited a museum, had lunch, and toured a botanical garden. By the time I got to a theatrical production of “Sunset Boulevard” in the evening, I was so tired that I started head bobbing during the show! Lesson learned – sometimes less is more.

Now, I break my vacation days into three chunks – morning, afternoon, and evening – each with a scheduled activity and wiggle room for the unexpected like engaging with new people, discovering things on the path less traveled, and enjoying the unexpected. This approach has been a game-changer, and I plan to carry its principles into my retirement when the time comes.

My plan for retirement is to build a morning routine to get each day off to a great start. Here are a few ideas for setting a positive tone for each day.

1. Wake up naturally. Ditch that pesky alarm clock and wake up to natural sunlight. I discovered this by accident years ago when replacing all the windows and slider doors in my townhouse. The window treatments were down for about one week. Waking up gradually to the sun made me more energized and in awe of the day ahead. I loved it so much that I tossed my old clock and replaced it with a sunrise alarm clock.

2. Enjoy a breakfast ritual. Make breakfast something you look forward to. Whether it’s grinding coffee beans for that perfect cup of joe, preparing a protein packed yogurt parfait, or leisurely reading the newspaper, find a simple, intentional, brief breakfast ritual that puts your day into play.

3. Get moving. I know firsthand that exercise often gets pushed aside when life gets busy, but it’s crucial for wellbeing. Get your body moving early – stretch, walk your dog, go for a run, or do a quick yoga session. Just twenty minutes can boost your energy, mood, and sense of accomplishment.  

   

4. Connect with someone. Retirement can change your social network, so make it a habit to reach out to someone every day. Call a family member, invite a friend for coffee or that neighborhood walk, write a letter, chat with a delivery person, or call that garden club about membership. Staying connected is a key to happiness.   

Grounding mornings with an enjoyable routine can make a huge difference in terms of leading the next chapter with intention and purpose, social connectivity, and movement – all contributors to wellbeing.

How do you envision your morning routine in retirement? What does it include? Would love to hear your ideas.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions; explore upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/bergeron-associates-13715940172#collections

© Copyright 2025 Bergeron Associates. All rights reserved.