Goal-setting for growth-minded professionals is highly emphasized.

Studies are often quoted that show how much more successful we can be when we have written goals with timelines. Goals that are S.M.A.R.T. (cringe!) are touted as extra special (probably because they are retrofitted to a catchy acronym).

Yes, throughout our life goals are important and give us something to strive for. But they aren’t mentioned as often with respect to a phased or full retirement. Perhaps the notion of a ‘bucket list’ is the closest we get. More than likely though it’s thought of as a time for ‘coasting.’

But retirement – phased or otherwise – is a wonderful time to exercise our ability to set and achieve goals. For perhaps the first time in our lives, our goals are truly our own and not that of a company or other entity. Our goals won’t be reviewed and critiqued by anyone but ourselves!

Setting and achieving goals adds to our purpose and sense of fulfillment. And during a period of phased retirement we have the opportunity to fine-tune our goal crafting abilities. A phased retirement by definition has aspects of both our personal and professional lives, perhaps more blended than ever. We’re continuing with professional commitments while we expand goals for ourselves in a variety of other areas in life.

Without goals in a phased retirement we might squander the time we’ve freed up from ratcheting back on our professional workload. Concrete goals will ensure we’re taking full advantage of the additional time we have to pursue our other areas of interest.

More time for our health, for travel, for volunteer opportunities, etc. can be available to us but we’ll have to spend some time to envision what we want to do, plan out when we’ll do it, and then make specific arrangements. For example, setting up periodic time with a personal trainer for new workouts or travel planning with another couple for a particular destination will increase the likelihood of these happening.

Don’t go overboard with your calendar and book every hour! Be active and diverse in your endeavors, but allow yourself some free time and quiet time too. Those are the times when you can think and perhaps realize that your goals can be dynamic and you might want to shift them or explore some new ones entirely.