Dec 1, 2020
Decluttering should be easy. We know at some level that less is more, and we may well have the time now to go through our things during the pandemic. Ultimately, we or someone else will have to dispose of all of our worldly goods, and we may not want to put that on someone else’s shoulders. So why not just do it?
It reminds me of the advice to lose weight. It’s simple – eat less and exercise more. But it’s hard to do, in part because our bodies have evolved to hoard food internally. That way we won’t starve to death if food were to get very scarce. We also hoard food in our cabinets, clothes, furniture, etc. so that we will have things handy if we need them later. We accumulate stuff faster than we use or dispose of it.
Nevertheless, it is possible to make progress in decluttering. My wife and I did this when we moved from our larger suburban home to a smaller downtown apartment a year and a half ago. Here is what we learned during that process.
We knew that our choices were to keep, sell, throw away, or give away our excess stuff. Our process was to ask ourselves – what don’t we really need? We also found ourselves asking – what is the best use of each item? Here are two examples of how those questions informed our actions.
My wife stored much of her art in the basement. She did not expect to display most of it for the foreseeable future. She could sell a small number of pieces, but that would take considerable time and energy. So, she invited friends and neighbors to an art giveaway. She gave away 300 pieces of art in 45 minutes on our back porch. Not only were friends excited to receive the art, but she also felt joyful afterwards knowing that her art would be appreciated by so many people in their own homes.
We disposed of extra clothes and household items through Goodwill. Also, since I knew that I would not need household tools in our new place where household maintenance was part of our rent, I donated them to Minnesota Tool Library where I knew that they would be used over and over again by others.
Every item to be evaluated was a thoughtful decision. Decluttering was exhausting. We found it easier to spread it out over time. Mornings worked well when we had more energy to make the decisions.
Now that we have moved and put our stuff away, we conclude that we were not tough enough. We are planning to do more decluttering this winter when we will not be able to go outdoors as much. We are also now more mindful and careful about what we accumulate so that we can manage better how much stuff we keep around.
How would your life be different if your home were more decluttered? Whom can you give joy to by giving stuff away?
Nov 17, 2020
I‘ve known since 8th grade what I would become. The career preference test I took then listed two occupations way above any other alternatives: accountant and professor. Plus one of my hobbies at that time was analyzing and charting stocks. It was clear to anybody that knew me that I was an analytical numbers guy, even then. I assumed that was what I was cut out to be.
Now, more than 65 years later, I am not so sure anymore.
With those 8th grade goals in mind, I proceeded on a straight-line path for at least a few decades. I went to school in the post-Sputnik years when science was a great career alternative. I liked chemistry right away. The introductory chemistry course seemed like a straightforward application of algebra, which was easy for me. Also, my favorite and much older cousin, who was a chemistry professor, inspired and mentored me.
I changed careers slightly after graduate school. First, I was an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Then I was a Systems Analyst in the computer area for a few years.
Then something unexpected happened. I decided to work in the financial area. I had a choice between being an investment analyst – analyzing the numbers for investment alternatives – or becoming a financial planner – working with individual clients to help them reach their goals. I chose the latter.
Somewhere along the way I had realized that I needed to be with and help other people. On those days when I had worked by myself the whole day, I became depressed by day’s end.
I have been basically self-employed for the last 35 years. It has been my choice what, when and where to do my work. I have gradually migrated from numbers to people.
In looking back, I am a little surprised about how my migration turned out. The transformation happened over many years.
I love what I do, especially when I have a positive impact on people’s lives. Although I am “semi- retired,” I have no intention of quitting anytime soon.
Have you become what you’re cut out to be?
Please let me know:
- Topics you would like me to write about.
- What I can do to help you.
Mark Fischer, Retirement Coach
Aug 11, 2020
Some of my friends ask me why I don’t have more leisure and am working so hard in my retirement. Here’s the story.
I retired last December. For 34 years I was a financial planner, advising my clients on their investments and their lives. When we discussed their non-investment challenges, our conversations focused on family, health and work issues. In fact, my book Serious About Retiring, includes those topics.
After I retired, I decided to learn more about the non-financial challenges of retirement. I read books on the subject, attended webinars, took courses, and talked with others. I have learned that many retirees are not fully engaged. They don’t have activities that provide a sense of purpose in their lives.
As I continued my research on this topic, I became more and more excited. Helping pre-retirees and new retirees has become a major focus of my own retirement life. It is my next vision.
My research has culminated in my developing a new course. The course will encourage my students to connect with their values, find their purpose, and move towards a Next Stage with engagement and fulfillment. I can’t wait to try out my ideas. But that will be another story.
Have you found absorbing activities during the pandemic?
