Get Your Train of Thought Back on Track
RECOVERY HACK
Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation, presentation, or debate, stringing together thoughts in a way you hope is coherent and insightful when — poof! — you lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating. You just want to make yourself understood, but your brain has other plans. What if there were a way to keep your train of thought on track? Well, the good news is that recovering your train of thought is easy with the following hacks in mind. Repeat, repeat, repeat yourself. Paraphrasing your last few thoughts out loud can help you remember where you were going. Think of it as retracing your steps: You go back to the last words you remember saying, and more often than not, you’ll find your direction again. Take a short pause. Pausing briefly is a great way to make recovering your train of thought seem natural. This hack works really well if you’re answering a question and you need time to think, and you also don’t want to be bogged down by a chorus of “ums” escaping from your mouth. Write it all down. This hack works well when you know beforehand that you’ll be speaking with someone or in front of people. Even if you never
refer to your notes while speaking, simply writing down a road map for your train of thought can help you recover from a detour and speak more confidently.
Remember your overall point.
The easiest way to drive your train of thought into the weeds is to forget your overall point — or not to have
an overriding point at all. Always have a short, overarching point you can use to recenter yourself and get back on track.
With these hacks, your brain will have to work a lot harder to make you lose your train of thought! Now you’ll be more prepared to tackle any subject matter, no matter how deep or technical, that comes your way.
Should I Retire at the Same Time as My Spouse?
Are you comfortable with your retirement savings?
As you approach a certain age, the thought of retiring becomes a greater possibility, and for many couples, the thought of spending endless days traveling, recreating, and fulfilling lifelong dreams together is exciting! It may even prompt a question: “Should we retire together?” For starters, there’s no “right” way to retire. As long as you have a retirement plan that has been stress-tested for your budget and needs, retirement is completely customizable. That being said, there are decisions you have to make before you and your spouse retire together. It’s possible to do so, but it can be difficult. So, consider these questions. Will you each qualify for Medicare by the time you retire? When you retire, there may be a change in benefits, including health insurance. Medicare is designed to fill that gap for those ages 65 and older. Depending on your
employer’s retirement benefits, you may have to purchase your own health care plan to cover the gap until you reach 65 years old. This can be expensive depending on your needs and medical history. It may be more advantageous for each of you to retire at age 65, rather than at the same time, if there’s an age difference. Are you prepared for the lifestyle change? Your retirement savings plan has been stress tested, catered to your goals, and tracked thoughtfully, but this planning process doesn’t make retirement less anxiety- inducing. Retirement is an adjustment, and no matter how financially prepared you are for it, you may not be emotionally and mentally ready for it. So, when you retire at the same time as your spouse, the stress of this major lifestyle change could be compounded and create a rocky start for this next chapter.
Perhaps a better question would be this: Do you feel confident in your ability to live the lifestyle you want with the income from your retirement savings? If the answer is no, you may want to consider staggering retirement with your spouse. Retiring at the same time shortens the lifespan of your retirement savings, whereas staggering your retirements can allow for improvement within your plan. You can retire together or you can space out your retirements — but your plan has to fit whatever you choose. A trusted financial advisor can help you and your spouse develop a plan that best supports your needs and goals. If you have questions, please contact McBeath Financial Group.
2 McBeathFinancialGroup.com
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