Managing Self Worth At The End Of Your "Official" Working Life.

When you hand in your company ID for the last time and ride off into the sunset everything is suppose to be rainbows and unicorns. For many that last day in the office can be the start of a very lonely journey.

Father time waits for no man or woman, and the speed in which we transit our working careers can often be under estimated by many.

Do you live to work, or do you work to live?

A question often asked, yet the very essence of that question is lost on so many, because a moment in time is reflected by what works best for you in that particular moment.

Many peoples identities are linked to what they do, versus to who they are.

It is in this very premise where the hurt, and damage can manifest itself. Having a title bestowed upon you by any company, can in some ways become the worst thing that has ever happened to you.

So how can we manage the transition away from a lengthy business career into the next chapter of your life, and how do we truly let go of the very thing that locked us in for so long.

I have never been one to admire the idea of retirement. Meandering around a golf course with a bunch of grumpy aging men was never a goal of mine :-), so I made sure pretty early on that I created enough hobbies that could become potential activities that I would pursue when I left the 9-5 behind.

Many people find moving away from the daily routine of the commute to the office where you have work colleagues around to chat with, and then the endless supply of business meetings, the occasional or often business trip, or even an annual conference somewhat hard to replace.

There is for many a deafening silence when the next chapter of your life starts.

I have put together a list of things below that may spark some ideas for when that day comes in your working life that you can start to research or do now on a part time basis.

It's never too late to start something new.

• Pursue some form of Philanthropic activity. Volunteer for a not for profit etc.
• Spend more quality time with your family on joint activities.
• Move house. Go and explore the world by living in a totally new environment, or if you are an Expat, go home.
• Increase the time you allocate to physical activities. Health, both mental and physical will always remain your number one asset. Look after it.
• Visit friends on a regular basis. There is plenty of evidence that shows that when we surround ourselves with the people who we truly like then we will be happier and live longer. (Remember when you worked in the office, most of you didn't choose your work mates)
• Write. A journal, a book, a movie script, a poem, a letter, just write.
• Limit your time on devices. During your business life you put in enough hours on computers and smartphones to serve you for ten lives. It's time to take a break now, and to truly learn how to smell the roses.
• Forgive people. During our working life we come across all types of people. Many of those people you will never ever see again, but there may be something about that association you had, that you need to let go. Make sure you that you let it go.
• Say hello to people. Unexpectedly greeting someone can change your day and theirs. Go out of your way to say good morning, good afternoon, or good evening to people.
• Use Your Brain. Do something new that will challenge your brain in a way it has never been challenged before.
• Listen. It may appear to be obvious, but when we are so busy in the business world we tend to not hear, or ignore the very important sounds of life. A musical instrument, a live performance, a speech, waves on a beach, horses as they trot past, the wind, the rain. The world is awash with beautiful sounds.
• Travel. You can still backpack when you are 65. Yet these days every level of travel experience is available to you, so allocate time every year to lock up and get away. See your own country first, many haven't, and then tick off those places on your bucket list.

Those are just a few ideas for you to start thinking about now while you are still in the busy grind of your working life. I am sure that you can think of many more things to do if you set your mind to it.

Remember this one thing. The day will come sooner than you think when you will need to engage the next chapter of your life, and it will be so much easier for you if you already have a plan. The great thing is, this plan is your's, you don't need anyone to sign it off or approve it.

By filling up your new life with self created pursuits it will empower you, and it will give you that sense of self belief and happiness that will help you find plenty of rewarding outcomes in all that you choose to take on.

Happy future.