I will be retired by this summer. That’s a WOW statement for me. I’ve been planning and dreaming and saving for so long that it’s almost unthinkable to actually reach that “finish line” of retirement. Of course, just because you retire doesn’t mean you stop planning, saving and investing, but it certainly feels like an ending of one life and the beginning of another.
I’ve been pretty open with my coworkers and boss that I’ll be retiring soon, but I hadn’t set a date…until this week. And that meant announcing my retirement, which sounds pretty simple but felt really final. I put a lot of thought into how to word this announcement. After all, I’ve spent years with these people and with this company. We’ve spent hours talking, laughing, arguing, and solving problems. There have been some fairly intense situations and some strong emotions. These aren’t just people I come to work with every day, they’re my friends, and I wanted to do right by them.
Still, I wasn’t sure exactly what to say, so I took to the internet to look for ideas. I came across a couple that really stuck out, and I think I’ll share them. Hopefully, eventually we’ll all need to announce our retirement, and maybe these tips will help you with that as they’ve helped me.
First, I decided on a date—a very specific date. My last day will be Friday, July 1st. The theory is that by setting an actual date, and not just a general idea, I’m making a declaration. I’m not just thinking about retiring, I AM GOING TO RETIRE.
Second, I made a plan of action for what I will do for the next 6 months. Retirement is very different than a vacation, but most of us tend to do the same thing as we near a vacation, and it’s not work. When I leave my office on July 1st, it will be for the last time. I want to make sure that I’m not leaving anything unfinished, and I want to reassure my boss and coworkers that I won’t leave them hanging.
Third, I wrote some letters. This tip is my favorite one. I knew that I wouldn’t have the chance to talk to everyone I wanted to individually about what they’ve meant to me during my career, so I wrote a letter to them. I mailed them out the day before I announced my retirement. In the few days since then, so many people have called to tell me how much they appreciate the letters.
Finally, when I decided how to announce my retirement, I made sure to be positive and to mention that I hope to pursue a 2nd career in retirement. Obviously I don’t plan on having a full time job, but I do hope to do some consulting or coaching, and the people I’ve worked with for so long are an excellent source for referrals.
I know that the next few months will be some of the most emotional of my career as I say good-bye to this very big part of my life. It’s a frightening and amazing time, and I’m sure this isn’t the last I’ll write about it. But for now, I still have 6 months to go. I’m Retiring Tina, and I still have some work to do.