The Better Alternative to Retirement

What the media calls the “Gen X retirement crisis” misses the real problem. And that’s ageism in the workforce.

Employers think we’re too old and are pushing us out the door, and yet most of us can’t afford to retire and coast for 30 years without working.

Meanwhile, losing your job for an extended period of time further reduces your savings and stunts the amount of income you generate to eventually retire…. maybe?

Taking control of your income and working from where you want for how long you want is the only rational move. And just as this time in your life is the worst time to lose your job, it’s also the best time to start your own business.

It’s Time to Think Differently About Your Next Stage of Life

Keep going-

Brian Clark

P.S. This is the third article in a series. If you missed the first two, check them out here:

• Is Generation X Facing a Retirement Crisis?
• Here’s What “Unretirement Planning” Looks Like

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Generation Reinvention

A recent article in Kiplinger reads like a Further original from the last couple of years, making the case that Generation X will the group that reinvents retirement on its own terms. If you make the right moves, maybe it’s not a crisis after all.

Why Generation X Will Reinvent Retirement

Your Golden Ticket

You may have heard about Portugal’s highly popular golden visa program over the last few years. But did you know there are 30 countries in all that offer similar visas? I highlight 10 of the most attractive.

Location Independence Through Golden Visas

Direct Your Focus, Control Your Life

By Trudi Roth

Newsflash: We’re overwhelmed.

OK, that’s not news. You’ve probably had countless notifications urgently informing you about the rise of anxiety in adults, with more than 70% stating that current events and the economy are key stressors.

Said every Gen Xer ever: No duh.

But do we really need another book about how the attention economy is killing us (like this one)? Or a TikTok, YouTube rant, Facebook post… you get the picture. And if you don’t, here’s a reminder from modern Stoic and author Ryan Holiday:

There is almost nothing on the news or social media that is not intentionally designed to agitate and outrage… There are teams of designers, behavioral scientists, and engineers paid gobsmacking amounts of money to keep you watching and scrolling… posting and waiting for replies.

Meanwhile, you can’t afford to lose focus when you’ve got more pressing things to do, like planning your unretirement.

Time to ditch distractions and reclaim your precious attention.

Put It in Perspective

Sure, the 24/7 digital culture is unique to our times. But concern about information overload is ancient, as King Solomon cautioned in Ecclesiastes:

Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

Similarly, Socrates warned about overusing technology with the advent of writing, saying it would make people forgetful.

Those two examples are relatively recent; the 5,000-year-old practice of meditation, as described in the Bhagavad Gita, is identified as the ultimate way to transcend the ever-shifting perspectives that influence your thoughts and take constructive action.

In other, more modern words, Holiday’s advises:

If you want to make a positive difference in the world — or simply maintain your sanity — you need to step back. You need to learn how to be more philosophical — which means being more discerning about what you let into your mind and learning how to see the big picture, calmly and with perspective.

Does that mean tuning out completely? No. But it does mean consciously reviewing your information diet and taking steps to improve it.

Breaking Views

Reading material isn’t created equal. So, for starters, Holiday says to skip the doomscrolling and get into the habit of reading books. Preferably, you’ll choose an older book that provides historical context or a philosophical work that helps strengthen your belief system.

Then, consider whether your time is best spent consuming or contributing. Holiday recommends the latter:

The time spent scrolling or reacting on social media could be spent engaging with your community, voting, attending a city council meeting, teaching your children, making ethical decisions in your own business, or simply having a meaningful conversation.

Such simple steps will help you beat the brain barrage and clear the space to make productive moves for yourself and others. And that’s all the news that’s fit to print!

This Habit Is Making You Miserable (And Driving You Insane) (Ryan Holiday)