Life After Work: A Psychological Guide to a Healthy Retirement

Retirement is a comma in our lives, not a full stop. Life After Work looks at the psychological, emotional and wellbeing issues that surround this complex and important transition in life. This book suggests that retirement is a life stage over which we may have greater control than previously thought; it no longer has to be the case that retirement is a terminal point, a time where you became sedentary and inactive. Retirement is on one level a private, individual matter that affects one’s sense of self and purpose, physical and mental processes, as well as financial security or provision. On another level, retirement has an impact on relationships with loved ones, family and friends, as well as colleagues. It can strengthen or disrupt bonds, leading to new bonds being formed or to withdrawal. This book is written by successful authors and psychologists Robert Bor, Carina Eriksen and Lizzie Quarterman, each with many years’ experience of helping people cope with life stage changes and prepare for retirement. It contains illustrative case studies throughout, from which valuable lessons can be learned, and draws on the very latest psychological research and techniques to provide a blueprint for planning and living a wonderful retirement or life post-work. Planning for your future is crucial in enabling you to maximise the opportunities available. Following the book’s blueprint will help you prepare for this phase in your life, and the sooner you start the better. Life After Work will be of great interest to readers of all ages seeking guidance on retirement and will also appeal to psychologists of life stage changes.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Professor Brett Kahr Introduction Chapter 1: The changing face of retirement What is retirement? Why has retirement changed? Longevity Health advances Government encouragement to offset demographic change Higher standard of living Higher cost of living Identification Chapter 2: Psychological perspectives Why is psychology relevant? Assumptions Impact of thoughts Negative expectations Positive expectations Some of the things you may miss Thinking traps Fear of change How people react to change Psychological techniques to overcome fear How to avoid overreacting Factors that affect "healthy" adjustment Emotional instability Chapter 3: The maturing brain What happens to the mature mind? Mental processing as we age Dementia Keeping your brain fit Common "purposeful" activities Giving back Volunteering Become a trustee Mentoring Join an altruistic society, or become a fundraiser Pass on your skills The power of play Use it or lose it More tips for improving your mental health Chapter 4: Psychological approaches to challenging feelings and behaviours Fear, worry and anxiety: Thinking errors Strategies for coping with fear, worry and anxiety Low mood Strategies for dealing with low mood Loss, grief and bereavement Strategies for coping with loss Sleep problems Strategies for dealing with sleep problems Loneliness Strategies to help you deal with loneliness Addictions Strategies for coping with addictions Chapter 5: Retirement and emotions Loss Emotional stress Low mood Uncertainty Unhappiness Chapter 6: The impact on relationships The impact Overcoming relationship difficulties The impact of retirement on home life Relationship tips Develop separateness Gender, sex and problems Relationship breakdown and dealing with divorce Chapter 7: Life after work, or unretirement Leaving the workplace How to retire from self-employment How to retire from unemployment What next? Carry on working Setting up on your own Beware the traps The volunteering trap The failing to fly the nest trap The caring trap Chapter 8: Mind your health Quick fix for successful ageing Move Exercise Diminishing muscle mass So what’s the solution? Brain function Food Mediterranean diet Balance your blood sugar Nourish yourself Eat mindfully Track yourself Retirement as an opportunity to improve your health Chapter 9: Mind your money – financial planning for retirement How much income will you need? How much capital will you need? Annuities What return do you need? Tax relief and legislation Money in bricks Chapter 10: Bringing it all together – the blueprint for a psychologically sound unretirement Planning ahead Start saving Prepare for old age Your 20-point retirement blueprint Resources Further reading Organisations and links About the authors Professor Rob Bor Dr Carina Eriksen Lizzie Quarterman Contributors Steve Leonard Oliver Patrick

About the Author :
Professor Rob Bor is a Consultant Psychologist at the Royal Free Hospital and also in private practice as Dynamic Change Consultants as well as the Centre for Aviation Psychology. He works at Leaders in Oncology Care, The London Clinic, St Paul’s School, The Royal Ballet School, The Royal Air Force and several UK airlines. He divides his time between London and the Cotswolds, and has young twins and a cocker spaniel. Dr Carina Eriksen is a registered and chartered Consultant Counselling Psychologist. She runs a busy private practice in central London, Chelsea and the City. She is a fellow at the BPS, a BPS board committee member in aviation psychology and a BABCP accredited therapist. She is married with two young children. Lizzie Quarterman lives on a National Trust farm in Gloucestershire with her husband and several characterful cocker spaniels. She grows vegetables and paints landscapes and in professional life is an experienced writer and editor of business and psychology books and articles.