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What Will I Do All Day?: Wisdom to Get You Over Retirement and On With Living!
Patrice Jenkins wrote this book to rescue people who are trapped in their careers. These individuals have prepared financially for retirement but they stay in jobs/careers because they don't know what they would do if they weren't working. After conducting interviews and coaching individuals through the retirement transition process, she learned their resistance boils down to one looming question, What will I do all day?
This question isn't about keeping busy. There are always enough things to do, but who wants to wake up to a to-do list for the next 20-30 years? At the core of What will I do all day? is a deeper emotional question. What will I do all day that will be meaningful, provide direction for my life, keep me engaged in society, and still be fun and rewarding? That's a much harder question to answer than how will I keep busy?
To get over retirement and on with living, you need to understand the deeper issues of retirement. The issues a simple financial strategy or get-away vacation won't solve. What is rarely discussed is how you feel about retirement. In her book, Jenkins helps you identify these core feelings and address your unspoken fears if retirement feels like a long road to the end. You'll get to know what really matters to you, the things you want to build into your retirement plan. You'll learn from other people's experience with retirement what you need to do now to start preparing.
There is life after work, in fact this life probably includes work, but you'll need to get over retirement to start living and enjoying this next stage of life. This book will help you do that!
This question isn't about keeping busy. There are always enough things to do, but who wants to wake up to a to-do list for the next 20-30 years? At the core of What will I do all day? is a deeper emotional question. What will I do all day that will be meaningful, provide direction for my life, keep me engaged in society, and still be fun and rewarding? That's a much harder question to answer than how will I keep busy?
To get over retirement and on with living, you need to understand the deeper issues of retirement. The issues a simple financial strategy or get-away vacation won't solve. What is rarely discussed is how you feel about retirement. In her book, Jenkins helps you identify these core feelings and address your unspoken fears if retirement feels like a long road to the end. You'll get to know what really matters to you, the things you want to build into your retirement plan. You'll learn from other people's experience with retirement what you need to do now to start preparing.
There is life after work, in fact this life probably includes work, but you'll need to get over retirement to start living and enjoying this next stage of life. This book will help you do that!
146 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 27, 2026
This is a good book that has made me think about various things and important questions regarding retirement. Some questions would be best asked before leaving work for retirement.
August 29, 2021
Great, quick read for those considering retirement
Like many in my profession, there is a natural tendency for one's personal identity to become tied inextricably to titles and ranks over a 40+ year military career. Being able to visualize what life looks like without a highly organized work life is challenging. The stories the author uses are relatable and the chapter exercises very helpful for someone like me who's retirement concerns are more related to the psychology of retirement.
Like many in my profession, there is a natural tendency for one's personal identity to become tied inextricably to titles and ranks over a 40+ year military career. Being able to visualize what life looks like without a highly organized work life is challenging. The stories the author uses are relatable and the chapter exercises very helpful for someone like me who's retirement concerns are more related to the psychology of retirement.
July 16, 2024
I Read It Even Though I Am Nowhere Near Retirement
I am a twenty-something, a little bit lost in a dead end job. I am obviously not in a financial position to retire, but the question “What will I do all day?” is one that I have asked myself over and over again to design a life that I am excited to live. This book helped me realize the importance of work balanced with leisure and helped discover a couple hidden desires I have. Short and worthy read!
I am a twenty-something, a little bit lost in a dead end job. I am obviously not in a financial position to retire, but the question “What will I do all day?” is one that I have asked myself over and over again to design a life that I am excited to live. This book helped me realize the importance of work balanced with leisure and helped discover a couple hidden desires I have. Short and worthy read!
May 28, 2021
As I am nearing retirement in a few years I thought now is a good time to start planning. This is a good book and asks a lot of thought provoking questions. There are exercises in each chapter that help you answer the questions of what you will do all day and what will give your life purpose. I haven't done the exercises yet but plan to go through the book again and do so.
April 2, 2019
Simple answer to a difficult question.
Patrice nailed the solution to one of the biggest fears of retirement for many people. Follow her suggestions and you will succeed.
Patrice nailed the solution to one of the biggest fears of retirement for many people. Follow her suggestions and you will succeed.
November 21, 2020
Didn't learn anything new.
April 11, 2024
worth reading
Check it out. Short book but got gems hidden in the chapters. I am glad I found the book. Thank you!!
Check it out. Short book but got gems hidden in the chapters. I am glad I found the book. Thank you!!
August 15, 2018
Don't let the title fool you. This is not just tips about things to do when you have retired. It's a small book, but each chapter really gives you something to think about as you prepare to retire.
For me, chapter 4 was most important: How will I know for sure It's Time to Retire?
Answers that I high-lighted: "When you start asking the question, then it's time to retire."
also: "When you start feeling like you don't want to learn the new program or you don't have the interest or enthusiasm to adapt to new changes, then it may be time to move into the next stage of your life."
That helped me realize that YES, it is time to move onto something else. Maybe not full retirement,, but definitely into semi-retirement,, and new interests.
For me, chapter 4 was most important: How will I know for sure It's Time to Retire?
Answers that I high-lighted: "When you start asking the question, then it's time to retire."
also: "When you start feeling like you don't want to learn the new program or you don't have the interest or enthusiasm to adapt to new changes, then it may be time to move into the next stage of your life."
That helped me realize that YES, it is time to move onto something else. Maybe not full retirement,, but definitely into semi-retirement,, and new interests.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews