The Next Edit - Issue # 50
D is for "Design"
đ§ One Big Idea
Most people think about retirement in very binary terms.
You either:
keep working
orstop working
This is the vision of retirement that society continues to show us over and over. Gardening, walks on the beach, spending time with your grandchildren, golf/pickeball etcâŚ. all good things, if they are want you want.
But in truth, this vision of retirement is outdated.
Especially for people who have spent decades building careers, businesses, expertise, routines, and identities around work.
Because once you move past the fantasy version of retirement, many people discover something very uncomfortable.
They donât necessarily want to stop working (some of us, even love working ).
They want something to feel different.
Less pressure.
More freedom.
More meaning.
More control over their time.
More space for themselves.
Thatâs why one of the most important parts of the EDIT Method is Design.
Design is the intentional act of building. Putting pieces together that make a whole that is unique to you.
Because the question is no longer:
âShould I retire?â
The better question is:
âWhat kind of life do I actually want now?â
For some people (fewer than you think), the answer really is full retirement.
But for many others, the next chapter looks more like:
consulting
seasonal work
mentoring
volunteering
board work
passion projects
portfolio life
part-time work
entrepreneurship
The challenge is that many high achievers never pause long enough to intentionally design their next phase.
They react instead.
To burnout. Stress. Corporate politics. Exhaustion.
But reacting and designing are not the same thing.
đ ď¸Try This
Most people spend more time planning a vacation than they do designing the next 20 years of their lives.
Donât confuse escape with clarity. The goal of this phase of the Edit Method, is to intentionally Design what comes next.
Using this template, start by thinking about what a perfect day might look like for you.
Ask yourself:
What are your biorhythms and patterns? Are you a morning person or a night owl? How will this impact your daily schedule?
What are your non-negotiables? Things you just will not do without? Think about things like 8 hours of sleep, daily walks or workouts?
What daily, weekly, monthly commitments do you need to account for?
How might weekends look different than week days?
What plans do you already have in place for the coming weeks/months/year
How much time do you have âfreeâ?
How much of it do you want to fill?
What do you think youâd like to fill it with?
âď¸The Final Edit
Design what comes next requires asking:
What do I want more of?
What do I want less of?
What pace fits me now?
What still matters?
What no longer does?
What kind of days do I actually want to live?
Because retirement is no longer simply about leaving work.
Itâs about building a life that fits the person you are becoming now.
See you in âthe next editâ
Andrea
