Retirement is a significant life transition and it's natural to have mixed feelings about it. In fact, it’s fairly common for women who have spent decades in the workforce to be worried about what life will be like without the structure and meaning that work provides. Many women have built a significant part of their identity around their professional roles and work offers a sense of purpose and achievement. It's important to recognize these concerns as valid and address them thoughtfully by taking steps to ensure a fulfilling and purposeful transition into this new phase of life.

Retirement marks a significant life transition, and while financial planning is crucial, it's just one part of the equation. Planning for life in retirement increases the chance that yours will be a time filled with purpose, meaning, connection and joy. In this blog, I delve deeper into the advantages of being prepared for your retirement.

My last blog post introduced the PERMA model, developed by psychologist Martin Seligman, which is a framework for understanding the key elements that contribute to our well-being. Among these elements, positive emotions stand out as a powerful force that can shape our experiences and overall sense of wellbeing. In this blog post, I want to delve into the significance of positive emotions for women over fifty and explore how you can cultivate and embrace them to lead a truly flourishing life.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to live a truly fulfilling and flourishing life? Is there a secret formula or a roadmap that can guide us toward lasting happiness and well-being? These are the questions that many women ponder as they head north of 50. The short answer is yes: there is much known about the critical ingredients for a flourishing life. The most widely accepted and evidence-based model is the one that underpins my programs at Flourish After Fifty: the PERMA model.

A career or life makeover after fifty can be a time of excitement and exhilaration and it can also be a time of doubt and trepidation. I know this because I am in the middle of one myself. What holds me strong as I forge my new career path are the core beliefs that everything will be ok and that stumbles along the way are an opportunity for learning. This is where the notion of failing forward comes into things.

Using the Wheel of Life is a quick way to assess what needs to change in your life.

Women over fifty experience career transitions in much the same way as when they were younger. Whether you're looking to switch careers entirely or reduce your work commitments, going through a career transition can be a tough and overwhelming process. But, with the right support and guidance, it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. And that's where coaching comes in.

Volunteering has always been thought of as activity to benefit others. There is now strong and compelling evidence that volunteers also receive great benefit from their efforts.

My tip as you think about your life after fifty, is to create a fun and fulfilling life in which you are brave, enjoy experimenting and are happy to learn as you go. Let go of any expectation that there is one way and you must get it right and think of it as a process of creation and discovery.

Late career is a time of re-invention for professional women. After years of doing the heavy lifting at home whilst navigating a career, late career is a time when many women are freed up to focus more on themselves.

Retirement can look very different depending on your circumstances. We can learn a lot from reflecting on the experiences of women we have known.

By many official definitions I am old. This bothered me a lot.

When you know it’s time for a change, these three questions can help you gain clarity.