Hi Reader

My wife Diane and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary on Friday! We have decided that going forward we want to be more adventurous and spontaneous, so I booked for us to go do a Go-Ape tree-top adventure climb! (I know, I'm an old romantic!). It involved a Tarzan swing, several zip lines, cargo nets, and other tricky (and sometimes nerve-racking) obstacles to navigate.

It was a really complex maze of physical, mental and emotional challenges... eerily similar to retirement. You climb up thinking you’re strong and prepared, then halfway up the cargo net you start wondering: “Why am I even doing this?” That’s when you realise tree-top adventures, like retirement, isn’t about getting through the obstacles as quickly as possible, it’s about enjoying the wobbles, the views, and maybe laughing when you get stuck.

p.s Don't worry... We did go out for a lovely wine tasting 7 course meal that evening!

FEATURED ARTICLE

Say No to 95% of Things (and Yes to What Truly Matters)

Imagine for a second that your retirement calendar is a cake. For decades, other people got to slice it up for you, bosses, clients, kids, committees, obligations. You grabbed whatever sliver was left and called it “me time.”

Now, the cake is finally yours. And here’s the secret to enjoying it: learn to say no to about 95% of the things that come your way. Because every “no” is really a “yes” to something deeper.

Why “No” is the New Superpower

We often think retirement means unlimited time. But your time, energy, and attention are still finite resources. If you say yes to everything, every club, committee, lunch, and neighbor’s dog-sitting request, you’ll end up stretched, stressed, and shallow.

Here’s what the science says:

• Boundaries protect your well-being. Psychologists have shown that saying no reduces stress, improves self-esteem, and guards against resentment. In fact, people who struggle to say no are more likely to report burnout and poorer mental health.
• Fewer, deeper commitments lead to greater fulfillment. A recent study of retirees in China found that following through on a handful of meaningful plans boosted positive mental health and self-esteem. In other words, deliberate selectivity is good for your head and your heart.
• Your values shift in retirement. Surveys show that 81% of retirees see health as their top priority, and nearly 80% would choose independence over extra years of life. That means your “yes list” should reflect health, freedom, and meaning, not busyness for busyness’s sake.

Saying Yes to the Right Things

Saying no doesn’t mean turning into a grumpy recluse. It means curating your “yes.”

What might those yeses look like?

• Time with the people who matter most (family, close friends, grandchildren).
• One or two passion projects — volunteering, mentoring, writing, painting, gardening.
• Investing in your health — fitness, mindfulness, sleep, nutrition.
• Experiences that enrich your story — travel, learning, adventures.

Think of these as your “sacred yeses.” Once they’re clear, it’s easier to filter everything else.

How to Master the Gentle No

If you’ve spent your life people-pleasing, this might feel awkward at first. But like any skill, you can practice it.

• Keep it simple. “Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m not taking on anything new right now.”
• Be firm, not fuzzy. A clear no is kinder than a hesitant maybe that drags out.
• Protect your calendar. Block time for what matters most , and defend it as fiercely as you would a doctor’s appointment.
• Ask the filter question. “If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to instead?”

Why 95%?

Because life is full of invitations, distractions, and shiny opportunities. If you only say no to half of them, your calendar will still be overflowing. But if you say no to 95%, you create space for margin, rest, and unexpected joy.

This isn’t about scarcity. It’s about time affluence, the science-backed idea that feeling you have enough time is one of the biggest predictors of life satisfaction.

The Retirement Fix

The paradox is simple: the more you say no, the more fulfilled your yes becomes.

In retirement, your job isn’t to fill time. It’s to invest it — in the relationships, experiences, and pursuits that make this second half of life feel rich, joyful, and truly yours.

So, practice the art of the 95% no. You’ll be amazed how much bigger life feels when you shrink your commitments.

👉 Challenge for the week: Look at your calendar. Pick one thing you’ve said yes to that doesn’t align with your deepest values. Politely decline it, and notice the space it creates.

RETIREMENT RESOURCE

Time Management in Retirement

One of the greatest gifts of retirement isn’t money, it’s time. But unless you consciously design how you use it, time has a sneaky habit of slipping away. This week’s worksheet helps you take control by mapping out your days, identifying the activities and people that matter most, and creating a rhythm that actually feels good to live. Click below to download it and start shaping the weeks you want, not just the weeks that happen to you.

​Time Management Worksheet.pdf​

PODCAST

Ep 90 - Time isn't What You Think it is

Retirement isn’t about how much time you have; it’s about how much time you feel. In this episode, I dive into one of the most misunderstood aspects of life after work: time perception. From brain science to everyday challenges, I uncover why retirement can sometimes feel like a blur and how you can make the most of your time, stretch it, and truly enrich it. Listen in now ​​​​

SKETCH OF THE WEEK

Retirement's Psychological Battleground

This week’s sketch captures the invisible struggle many of us face in retirement: the tension between how we spend our time and how we spend our money. On their own, each is hard enough to master, but it’s in the overlap where things really get messy. Fear, guilt, doubt, uncertainty, even the need to grant ourselves permission, this is the battleground we step onto every day when deciding how to use our two most precious resources. Winning here isn’t about spreadsheets or timetables; it’s about courage, mindset, and recognising that the way we spend our money and our time ultimately shapes the retirement we live.

IN OTHER NEWS

What I've Read This Week

• Ideas Arise Through Action - More to That​
• The 'Ted Lasso' Effect: A Positive Outlook Really Can Strengthen Your Retirement Plan - Kiplinger​

Media Appearances

• I was a guest on The Financial Behaviour Thought Leaders Podcast, talking about the journey behind my book, how I use simple sketches to navigate complex retirement topics and why retirement is more of a human challenge than a maths one - Listen in here​