Ageing and Retirement
What are the most important psychological aspects of ageing and having a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement?
- Good Physical Health
- Good Mental Health
- Good Emotional Health
- Good Financial Planning and
Investment for Retirement and Old Age
- Well developed Purpose for Living
- Good Relationships with Partner, Family and Friends
- Expression of Spiritual Values
Good Physical Health - involves a commitment to a healthy, nutritious diet and an
appropriate calorie intake as well as exercise and/or extensive physical activity on a daily basis.
A very informative website that provides excellent information about health, wellbeing and
longevity is - www.realage.com.
Good Mental Health - requires keeping the mind active and stimulated;
being aware of positive and negative thinking patterns and judgements and consciously
letting go of negativity; contributing to your community e.g. volunteering.
Good Emotional Health - involves talking about and/or expressing feelings
in meaningful ways; seeking and/or accepting the support and caring of others; fostering
at least one emotionally intimate relationship and being available to support others.
Good Financial Planning and Investment for Retirement and Old Age -
For most people a sense of financial security is important to their pychological wellbeing as they advance in age. Seeking the help of a licenced financial planner who specialises in retirement funding and investment is invaluable.
Working on key issues such as budgeting, investing, managing debt,
managing tax, superannuation, protection and social security entitlements
can all help to establish financial peace of mind.
See www.provident.amp.com.au for further advice.
Purpose for Living - developing or extending time given to hobbies; finding at
least one activity or interest you are passionate about and can devote time to; being
creative in some way e.g. writing, painting, ceramics, music.
Good Relationships with Partner, Family and Friends - by learning to deepen
and enrich your primary relationship; by spending quality time' with other relatives
and friends as often as possible; by cultivating new friendships with other retirees;
by being a mentor to the young.
Expression of Spiritual Values - by making time each day for your
spirituality to flourish. e.g. meditation, walks in the bush, being by the
ocean etc.; by accepting our mortality; enhancing awareness and enjoyment of each moment.
Counselling with retirees and the aged often includes a life review
including the expression of losses and disappointments. Perceived failures in
life and in relationships can also be explored and accepted along with any
current feelings of frustration, loneliness or boredom. Because our mental
attitude is the single most important factor in healthy psychological ageing,
counselling fosters the development or enhancement of a positive attitude to
life by exploring and reversing negative thinking patterns and by creating positive action.
Jonathan Kester specialises in ageing and retirement counselling. For more
information or to discuss concerns about ageing or retirement please contact
him on 9298 9915 or by e-mail at
jonakes@global.net.au
Click here to go to Jonathan Kester's page
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