| According to a recent research report (January 2007) | | | | existence. If this is you, then you're not alone. Many |
| produced by a financial services company in the USA, | | | | people imagine that that they will have to wait until |
| 60% of Americans are planning a gradual transition | | | | retirement before they can have more leisure time. |
| into retirement by downshifting into part time | | | | Then, when full retirement is delayed for some |
| employment or a less demanding full time job. A | | | | reason, they assume that the new, more enjoyable |
| simple google search reveals that similar trends are | | | | way of life will have to be put on hold too. Yet most |
| also being reported in Europe, Australasia and Japan. | | | | people can achieve this simpler, less stressful form of |
| Some are choosing this route of voluntary simplicity | | | | existence at any time in their working lives simply by |
| in order to reap the benefits of a downshifted | | | | reassessing their goals in life and what's important to |
| lifestyle, while others feel forced into downshifting | | | | them. If you don't believe me, then do make a point |
| rather than complete retirement due to adverse | | | | of reading the guest articles that appear in this |
| financial circumstances. | | | | newsletter each month as they are inspiring examples |
| Those of you who have been subscribing to my | | | | of real life downshifting stories. |
| newsletter for a while will be well aware of the many | | | | The good news is that it is possible to do both i.e. |
| benefits of downshifting in terms of stress reduction | | | | slow down and simplify one's life, whilst at the same |
| and improved quality of life. What if downshifting fills | | | | time earning a living. This is what downshifting is all |
| you with dread because you were looking forward to | | | | about. |
| stopping work altogether and now you find you will | | | | Are you worried by financial difficulties? |
| have to carry on earning for a while? | | | | The prospect of living longer and not being able to |
| Did you have other plans? | | | | cover medical expenses, fuel bills, home maintenance |
| Maybe you're in a job you love and you can simply | | | | costs etc is a serious one. |
| reduce your weekly working hours as you near | | | | My previous article "How will I cope?: The financial |
| retirement. If you're in a job that you are desperate | | | | implications of downshifting" may well help you here. |
| to leave then just switching to part-time working is | | | | If you are seeking an alternative to your current |
| unlikely to fill you with enthusiasm. Now could be a | | | | employment in order to downshift, where are you |
| good time to consider other, more enjoyable and | | | | going to look? |
| fulfilling options. It will probably help you to look for | | | | Talk to others, whoever you can think of who will be |
| the positives in your situation. Keeping active, having | | | | knowledgeable in the arena in which you would prefer |
| a fulfilling vocation and focus can help to keep you | | | | to work and stay open to unusual opportunities |
| young and healthy. Perhaps this is your chance to | | | | emerging. It is worth searching on the internet too. |
| work at a less stressful, more meaningful job, maybe | | | | Employers and Government agencies are wising up to |
| hobby related? What would you be doing with your | | | | the fact that a combination of an ageing demographic |
| time if you knew you didn't have to earn money? | | | | with ageist practices could deprive companies of a |
| How can you turn that into an income generator? | | | | wealth of talent, experience and insight, so they are |
| Are you fit for work? | | | | keen to persuade companies of the benefits of |
| Perhaps you were looking forward to total | | | | recruiting mature employees. |
| retirement because you have an ongoing health | | | | What about opportunities for self-employment doing |
| problem and you believe that continued work will | | | | what you most love to do? If being self-employed |
| aggravate your condition. This is where it's even | | | | does not appeal to you because you do not want to |
| more important to use this opportunity as a way to | | | | shoulder that level of responsibility, are there friends |
| reduce the stress in your working life. In what way | | | | who you could team up with to run a joint venture? |
| does your current job threaten your health? If | | | | Maybe you could create a business that would be |
| reducing your working hours alone will not be | | | | worth selling in 5-10 years' time and that would |
| sufficient to alleviate this negative effect on your | | | | provide a supplement to your current pension or |
| health, in what ways would your job need to be | | | | other financial provision for retirement. |
| different in order for it to benefit your health? | | | | Whatever situation you are starting from when you |
| Are you ready to slow down? | | | | consider downshifting into retirement, the key to a |
| Perhaps your drive and ambition are changing; you | | | | happy, simpler and low stress lifestyle will be in giving |
| had envisaged that stopping work would enable you | | | | yourself time to re-evaluate your priorities in all areas |
| to slow down and lead a more leisurely, simple | | | | of your life and to act in accordance with them. |