Some people have always known what they wanted to be when they grew up. Even as a child, they were focused on becoming a doctor, a teacher, an astronaut, or a professional athlete. When it was time for college, they knew exactly what major to choose to get to their career goal. Not me! For me, and I suspect for most people, selecting a major in college and ultimately a career was a progression of self-awareness, exploration and discovery, and a process of elimination.
Now, at this point in our lives, baby boomers are contemplating retirement, perhaps have already left a job (voluntarily or involuntarily) and are trying to figure out what to do next. While some people may not have enough money to retire and need to continue working, others mainly want to stay engaged and continue to be productive and vital.
At first, sleeping in, eliminating the daily commute, escaping the office politics, and working out at the gym every day is a welcome relief. But, after a while, the need to be more purposeful and relevant with one’s time becomes apparent. After the initial ‘honeymoon’ period, many retirees realize that they want to apply their wisdom, skills, and experience in ways that are meaningful and personally fulfilling, yet still have flexibility and balance in their lives.
So how do you figure out what to do next? Do you go back to school to learn new skills? Do you look for a similar job like the one you just left? Do you start your own business? The answer to all three questions is ‘maybe.’ I have found that the same self-awareness, exploration and discovery, and process of elimination, that I used earlier in life, still applies now.
If you are trying to figure out the next chapter of your life, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- What are my strengths? What am I really good at? Often, we don’t recognize the qualities that we’re truly good at because they come so naturally, and we take them for granted. Playing to one’s strengths is key to finding satisfying and fulfilling opportunities.
- Looking back on your life, when have you performed at your best? What experience are you the proudest of? While it may be hard to replicate that point in time, what about the experience made it so memorable? Was it a particular person or group of people who supported you? Were you able to overcome unusually difficult obstacles? How can you find similar opportunities and apply your life’s lessons to a similar challenge?
- What do you value most? When we live our lives in alignment with our values, we find greater meaning and purpose. Think deeply about what really matters to you. Do you love learning? Do you love helping others learn? Do you value independence and freedom or do you value security and stability more? Identifying and acting in concert with your values can help provide greater clarity and focus.
- What are your unfulfilled hopes and dreams? Have you always wanted to run your own business, but the financial and personal responsibilities were too much of a deterrent? Have you always wanted an opportunity to travel? What would be the first step to investigating the possibilities? Is there some exploratory research you could do or make an inquiry to someone in the field that would jumpstart the process?
- How can you give back? Volunteering and serving others has proven to benefit one’s well-being and can be a wonderful way to apply a lifetime of acquired knowledge and skills. There are so many volunteer opportunities to explore; pick one that is important to you and try it.
- Who can else can help? There are resources around us who can act as sounding boards and provide helpful feedback. Is there a trusted friend or relative that can help you sort through your thoughts and figure out a path forward? Perhaps working with a professional coach can be a valuable resource as well.
- At a deeper level, who is your truly authentic self? We often go through life trying to please other people—our parents, our bosses, our spouses—and forcing a smile even when we don’t feel quite right inside. If you can, this may be the time to stop playing a ‘role’ and being authentic about how you want to live out the rest of your life. This self-reflection can be difficult but may lead to some personal insight and clearer direction.
Determining how to spend the next chapter of your life is an evolutionary process, and with patience and optimism, the right answer will emerge. Perfection is not the goal as there may be many right answers; however, through the process of reflection, exploration, reaching out for help—and some trial and error—the forward path can become clear.
