Seven months ago I retired from my full time career. I gave in my notice as we were emerging from the first lockdown of the pandemic. Little did we know that it would be the ‘first lockdown’. I retired as the second lockdown approached followed a month later by the third. Hopefully, the last.

Retirement during a pandemic has not been easy. No leaving do. Although there were virtual celebrations. But it’s not the same. No exotic holiday to kick off a more relaxed life. No visiting of far flung friends. Just seven months of restrictions.

But I’m fortunate. I could retire. After over forty years working with people I struggled with ‘screen’ life. Whilst lockdown did bring some advantages such as the demise of the 5am alarm and a more leisurely morning ritual not being able to walk into a building to speak to 3 dimensional colleagues was hard. And it got harder as the weeks passed. So I brought my retirement forward.

I don’t regret retiring. I feel sad that my work life has gone forever. But it probably would have done if I had stayed. Will life ever be the same again? Will we look back at this pandemic as merely a hiccup or has it changed life as we knew it forever?

And retirement does bring advantages. I can do what I want. I’m not bound by working hours. I’m not accountable to an organisation. When the restrictions are fully lifted I could decide to fly away in the time it takes to pack a bag.

But it’s not enough. When I started to plan my retirement it was always with a view to having an ‘encore’ career. A chance to indulge my passions. To that end I qualified as a Personal Trainer and more recently as a Professional Coach. Over the last two years I have helped clients gain the confidence to go for promotion, to move to part time working, to develop in their career and last but certainly not least improve their health and wellness. It is exciting and fulfilling. I remain amazed as to how powerful coaching can be.

I did have a bit of a wobble as to whether I wanted the career or was content to continue to offer my services for free. Did I want the commitment of self employment? But after some coaching myself I decided I did.

60 is the new 60 Coaching has been born. It is rather exciting. I’m business planning. The first time I’ve done such a thing. Although I have made numerous bids for government money during my working life. And there are a lot of similarities.

One thing I didn’t have to do much of in those bids was sell myself. But I’m going to have to do that. I need to sell my niche.

What I’m particularly interested in is the opportunities that are open to older people. The transition from employment into retirement. Moving from full time to part time work. Becoming self employed. And, of course, investing in improved health and wellness. There is a lot of life left. Life to be lived not wasted.

Seven months into retirement I have changed my Facebook status from retired to self employed. It feels right. Will I be successful? I can only give it my best shot.