In Mindful Living, MoneySaving, Women's Interest

Retirement Options

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on
Retirement Options

Do you ever think about your retirement? We do. We’ve been working so long that it becomes a puzzling question of what shall you do now for the rest of your life? Work gives us routine and something to aim for, but retirement seems to take all that away. That’s what it might seem like on the surface especially to people who haven’t done proper research into their options. Retiring for many people seems scary because it’s like a confirmation that they are heading into their twilight years. However, retiring from the workforce and living your own life without any worries of a 9 to 5 should be uplifting. Now you get to do all the things you never thought you could and really spoil yourself post retirement. 


 Using Your Senior Skills

Many people above the age of 70 still retain a lot of enthusiasm for their profession. In fact look around the world and you see many people in their 70s in the most senior positions of business and many other jobs. This is because they have a lot of experience, knowledge, and have made the right decisions to become a senior figure in their industry. If your parents are looking to retire and are one of these people or you believe that they have such great skills that they shouldn’t be wasted, speak to them about working for themselves as a consultant. Consultants are basically like freelancers, they offer their skills and expertise to anyone that is willing to listen and pay them.

You don’t have to do anything that is tiring or requires a lot of legwork. Your wisdom and words are the only thing people want. These people that would hire you would be entrepreneurs that want knowledge of special tactics, small business owners that want to grow and expand, and of course corporations that need cool and calm experienced heads in their boardroom. Many c-suites will use senior consultants as their personal advisors and these positions can easily fetch a cool six-figure salary. So if you have parents that are retiring from a busy office, tell them that if they still have passion for their industry, they might want to become a freelance consultant. 

 Low Stress High Reward

Much like the consultant work, there are teaching jobs you can take on to pass on your knowledge. If you are someone looking to retire from the workforce and just take each day as it comes and slowly relax into old age, you can still find pleasure in teaching. For example, if you are a professor in a university and you just want to stop marking coursework and exams, as well as teaching full classes but still love your work, then look towards tutoring. Why should you stop working just because your body is ageing? If your mind is fresh and loves your subject so much that you want to impart knowledge into the world, then look toward becoming a private tutor.

Firstly, it’s far less stressful as you’re only dealing with however many clients you wish. You pick the days you want to work and the hours you want to put in.  Since you’re dealing with clients on a one-on-one basis, you can take your time to explain the intricacies of your work and the things they need to understand. You can tutor at your home and have no need to meet up anywhere. It’s simple, it’s relaxed and it’s still mindfully engaging.

Retirement With Care

If you’re someone that is looking to retire but you would still like to enjoy the things in life you have now, then you have many options. Those that know they are physically unable to wander around and go see things they would like to, often find themselves in the house a lot. For that you have options for carers to come visit you at home and perform all sorts of tasks. Take a look and compare the live-in care options that you have regarding your own city. The website offers a directory to many services and then compares them to see which might be best for you. The feedback that each service receives is also taken into account so you can make the best choice from previous users. We’re not quite at this stage yet but it’s good tobe able to have such info to pass onto relatives.

Retirement is far from boring, not in this day and age. That old image of a gloomy few final years is but a stereotype that needs knocking on its head. Now you can still work, but absolutely to your own wishes and probably make more money as well. You can tutor privately, passing on knowledge to the next bright young minds. You may want to take up private consulting so you can help executives in their companies while playing a less stressful role.

 

In Parenting

Teaching Children About Different Cultures

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

different cultures

Our world is a rich and diverse one, full of hundreds of different cultures, faiths and belief systems. Childhood is the perfect time to learn more about the wider world. Learning about different countries, cultures and beliefs makes children more accepting and can prove highly beneficial as they move forwards through life. As regular readers will know, I have two children, aged 8 years and 12 years and for us teaching them about diversity forms an important part of our parenting.

Of course, school will play a big part in the development and education of our children, and the experiences they encounter while at school will probably go on to influence the rest of their life. Most school curriculums include variations on subjects such as Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics, and Citizenship; often starting with a basic foundation in primary school before giving students the opportunity to learn more at secondary school. My eldest has certainly been enjoying his RS lessons.  As parents  though, it is ultimately our responsibility to to teach diversity, to help them explore different cultures and more.

There are many ways to teach children about different cultures. Here are just a few:

Learn by Example

Young children often like to follow in the footsteps of their parents, mimicking their actions and copying phrases and speech patterns. Most children look up to their parents and want to be like them, which is why one of the best tools available to you is yourself.

Understanding Different Faiths

While younger children might prefer to follow your lead or learn through games and fun activities, older children will most likely be mature enough to start learning by taking in the world around them. Different faiths, cultures and beliefs will start to become more evident, whether it is in school, on social media or simply while out and about.

Religion can be a complex and controversial topic, which is why some people prefer to shy away from it to avoid complications. However, our children need to learn about the world around them, and simple discussions about faith can help youngsters understand why people believe the things they do. It can also help with questions around everyday occurrences like choosing to dress a certain way or eating (or avoiding) a particular type of food. Put simply, if children know the reasons behind these things, they are more likely to be accepting and tolerant.

Travel to Learn About Different Cultures

What better way could there be to learn about different cultures than to see them for yourself? Travelling may be a challenge with young children, but once they get a bit older it can be a brilliant way to open their eyes to the wider world and show them new countries, cultures and sights. This is something we would love to do.

different cultures

Make Learning Fun

Fun activities and exciting games are a perfect way to get children engaged and interested in learning – no matter what it is that you are trying to teach them. There are plenty of games, activity packs and resources available out there, so do a little research and see what you can find.

Whether it is learning about what a zakat calculator can be used for in Islam or trying out different recipes from around the world, there are plenty of creative ways in which you can incorporate learning into daily life.

Above all else, it is important to educate the next generation about the differences between people in our world and help them learn to embrace their uniqueness. Inclusivity and understanding are essential for creating a better, happier future for all, so why not do what you can today to shape a brighter tomorrow.

All original content on these pages is fingerprinted and certified by Digiprove