From Melancholy to Momentum: Embracing Intentional Retirement

Why is it that I’m thinking about retirement as a daunting 30-year block when I never thought about my work life as a 40-year block?

Why is there such a stark difference in how we view those timeframes?

Why shouldn’t I approach the next five years of retirement the same way I approached my first job—one step at a time?

Instead of sitting in melancholy, I’m choosing to embrace intentionality.

Back in college, my goals were simple: get a job, pass the CPA exam, and see what came next. That took care of my first three years out of school. I didn’t obsess over what I’d be doing for the next 40 years—it would’ve been overwhelming, and frankly, I had no idea what the future held.

Retirement should be the same. What will I do in the first five years? I’ll try out retirement. I’ll refine my health routines, learn how I want my days to unfold, and make time to have fun. I might continue with what I’m doing now or I might completely change it up. Either way, I’ll learn, adjust, and keep moving forward with intention.

One book that supports this mindset is Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff. Her premise is simple but powerful: treat your life like a lab. Run small, personal experiments to figure out what works for you. Don’t just copy what’s worked for others.

Choose something you want to try. Define what success looks like. Do it for a set time say, 30 days. Then reflect: Did it move you forward? Was it worth continuing? Whether it “works” or not, you’ll gain insight and clarity.

Maybe your experiment tells you to stop. Maybe it tells you to pivot. Or maybe it says, “This is working keep going.” All three are wins.

You don’t need to overhaul your life or commit to massive routines. Start small. Test. Learn. Adjust. It’s a more effective and sustainable approach than New Year’s resolutions.

Living with intentionality isn’t about constraint. It’s about freedom. You’re consciously choosing what matters most to you.

Want to relax by the pool for an hour a day? Great. Make that your tiny experiment: “I’ll sit by the pool for an hour a day for 30 days and track how it affects my stress.” You may love it. Or maybe you’ll realize by day 20 that you’re too fidgety and that’s valuable insight, too.

So don’t think of retirement, or life in 30-year or 40-year blocks. Think in chapters. Experiments. Intentional steps forward.

Your next chapter is just a tiny experiment away.