Foreword by Professor Brett Kahr
Introduction
Chapter 1: The changing face of retirement
What is retirement?
Why has retirement changed?
Longevity
Health advances
Government encouragement to offset demographic change
Higher standard of living
Higher cost of living
Identification
Chapter 2: Psychological perspectives
Why is psychology relevant?
Assumptions
Impact of thoughts
Negative expectations
Positive expectations
Some of the things you may miss
Thinking traps
Fear of change
How people react to change
Psychological techniques to overcome fear
How to avoid overreacting
Factors that affect "healthy" adjustment
Emotional instability
Chapter 3: The maturing brain
What happens to the mature mind?
Mental processing as we age
Dementia
Keeping your brain fit
Common "purposeful" activities
Giving back
Volunteering
Become a trustee
Mentoring
Join an altruistic society, or become a fundraiser
Pass on your skills
The power of play
Use it or lose it
More tips for improving your mental health
Chapter 4: Psychological approaches to challenging feelings and behaviours
Fear, worry and anxiety: Thinking errors
Strategies for coping with fear, worry and anxiety
Low mood
Strategies for dealing with low mood
Loss, grief and bereavement
Strategies for coping with loss
Sleep problems
Strategies for dealing with sleep problems
Loneliness
Strategies to help you deal with loneliness
Addictions
Strategies for coping with addictions
Chapter 5: Retirement and emotions
Loss
Emotional stress
Low mood
Uncertainty
Unhappiness
Chapter 6: The impact on relationships
The impact
Overcoming relationship difficulties
The impact of retirement on home life
Relationship tips
Develop separateness
Gender, sex and problems
Relationship breakdown and dealing with divorce
Chapter 7: Life after work, or unretirement
Leaving the workplace
How to retire from self-employment
How to retire from unemployment
What next?
Carry on working
Setting up on your own
Beware the traps
The volunteering trap
The failing to fly the nest trap
The caring trap
Chapter 8: Mind your health
Quick fix for successful ageing
Move
Exercise
Diminishing muscle mass
So what's the solution?
Brain function
Food
Mediterranean diet
Balance your blood sugar
Nourish yourself
Eat mindfully
Track yourself
Retirement as an opportunity to improve your health
Chapter 9: Mind your money - financial planning for retirement
How much income will you need?
How much capital will you need?
Annuities
What return do you need?
Tax relief and legislation
Money in bricks
Chapter 10: Bringing it all together - the blueprint for a psychologically sound unretirement
Planning ahead
Start saving
Prepare for old age
Your 20-point retirement blueprint
Resources
Further reading
Organisations and links
About the authors
Professor Rob Bor
Dr Carina Eriksen
Lizzie Quarterman
Contributors
Steve Leonard
Oliver Patrick