Archives: February 2009

While on holiday in Itacare, Bahia, Brazil I copied the footwear of the locals: flip flops. My feet unaccustomed to the new pressures of the flip flop's straps. My feet more used to being enclosed in socks and town shoes, have reacted to the flip flops with several blisters. However I know that in a few days the skin will heal and the skin will adapt to their new footwear.

Life after ( or even before) retirement can be like adapting to flip flops too. At first doing something different may feel strange and you may be tempted to stop as I almost decided to abandon my flip flops. However when you persist the scars heal and you adapt to the new situation. As you prepare to retire or adapt to the transition called retirement, there will be many opportunities to do something different. Be brave and go ahead. Take the opportunities which retirement brings to do something different, even if it seems at first as though you won't be able to adapt. Most things need repeating or doing 21 times to become automatic. So keep your goal in ind and don't give up too soon,

For more useful strategies to have a life after work read my book 'Get ready for retirement – how to have a life after work' available from LULU

The panic about New Year Resolutions is past so now it's time to decide on goals for the longer term. Exercise is definitely my number one priority. I did an interesting exercise (no pun intended) using the GROW model with Coach BobGriffiths http://www.bobgriffiths.com the other day.

I found it extremely interesting that going through the GROW model in relation to my wish to lose weight I found that what I need to do is more exercise. So with this in mind I went to a totally toning class at the local leisure centre http://www.leisurecentre.com/ and feel great though somewhat aching (just a bit, because of using some muscles which have been neglected for some time!)

So new intention to go to the leisure centre regularly and get the result I want!

Whatever you want, define your goal, be clear about your reality, look at your various options and then decide on your way forward…and doing something you have neglected or not done before may hurt a bit too at first but keep motivated, keep your goal in sight and keep going and you will succeed!