Who says slowing down means stopping? While your 60s used to signal retirement was on the way, more and more people are using this time as a launchpad for a new kind of freedom: semi-retirement. Whether dialing back your 9-to-5, chasing long-held dreams, or turning a passion project into a new hustle, semi-retirement allows you to remain connected and do what you love while providing financial security. Scaling back and continuing to work can give you a sense of flexibility and safety. Stretch Your Retirement Dollars One of the main perks of holding off from fully retiring is the money. Though you will earn less income working part time, what you make allows you to build a larger nest egg, and even delay when you collect your Social Security benefits. You can continue contributing to your retirement accounts and 401(k). Workers 50 or older also get additional contribution options, like catch-up contributions. Purpose Beyond the Paycheck You may still enjoy your job or love the social setting of your office. Scaling back your hours rather than retiring completely has numerous emotional and mental health benefits. It can be difficult to abruptly make a huge change in your routines or Make Room for Life Without Ditching Work Completely Not Done Yet? Try Semi-Retirement
The Science of Regret — and How to Make Peace With It In 1984, June Gardener received an acceptance letter from New York University — an invitation to fulfill her dream of living in New York City. However, the letter noted, the residence halls were full. It suggested off-campus housing instead. Intimidated by the prospect of finding housing, Gardener attended Michigan State University instead. She excelled academically and met her husband. But she has always regretted not seizing the opportunity to study in New York. Regret arises when we imagine how life might have unfolded differently. Neurologically, this feeling activates the amygdala and the medial orbitofrontal cortex — areas associated with decision- making and emotional processing. While regret can manifest physically through symptoms like muscle tension and headaches, it also catalyzes self-reflection and personal growth. Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, an internal medicine physician and host of the podcast Before We Go, has observed common themes in her patients' deathbed regrets: a fear of taking risks and an overemphasis on others' expectations. She highlights the importance of self-compassion instead, suggesting that individuals should acknowledge they made the best decisions they could with the information available at the time. This perspective can transform regret into a learning experience rather than a source of ongoing guilt. To mitigate the impact of regret, try focusing on the present and future, rather than dwelling on past decisions. Repeatedly ruminating on regrets can reinforce negative neural pathways, making it harder to break free from these thoughts. Instead, individuals can use their experiences to inform better choices moving forward. Gardener's story illustrates that while we cannot change the past, we can choose how we respond to it. By reframing our regrets and embracing the lessons they offer, we can foster personal development and find peace with our decisions. Remorse Code
suddenly lose the job-related identity you’ve possibly built over many years. Many people who opt for semi- retirement like the sense of purpose that continuing to work part time gives them. It allows you to continue fulfilling work and gives you a social outlet.
Factors to Consider Semi-retirement isn’t for everyone, and there are various factors to consider
when deciding whether to stay in the workforce. If you are thinking of going part time out of necessity, look over your finances to determine how much you need to earn to cover your savings gap. It could also be a solid strategy to build more savings so you have a buffer for the unexpected or big plans like travel in the future. If you simply enjoy your work or want to pursue another passion, like freelance writing or running a small home business, semi-retirement could give you a flexible schedule to work with as you plan this exciting new time.
2 • captrust.com
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