Retirement can be a period of deep meaning, purpose, and connection. Many of us will have decades long retirements, but beyond financial planning, there are few resources, services, or supports to help us figure out how to create the retirement we would like. Without knowing how to navigate this transition, we may end up feeling disconnected or directionless.

This course is for those who would like to learn how to design and build a meaningful, enriching, and engaging retirement. In this step-by-step, experiential course you will learn to apply the principles, strategies, and tools of design thinking to address the question of ‘what comes next’ and gain a clear sense of direction.

This course is a good fit for you if you are:

· thinking about or nearing retirement

· navigating the transition to retirement

· finding that retirement is not living up to your expectations

· curious about how to build a more joyful and meaningful retirement

Together with a small group, this experiential, practical, and interactive course will guide and support you to figure out what a good retirement looks like to you, and actively begin building it. Please join me for our next Design Your Retirement course beginning in March 2026, in Victoria, British Columbia. We will meet for 90 minutes, once a week for six weeks.

To begin, let’s have a chat to answer your questions and see if this course is a good fit for your needs. Please reach out to: heather@heatherlhopkins.com

HOW THIS COURSE WORKS

You will be working alongside a small and supportive group as you gain a clear sense of direction, and begin designing and building a meaningful and engaging retirement, whatever that looks like to you!

COURSE OVERVIEW

STEP 1: START WHERE YOU ARE

You will begin by creating a clear picture of where you are currently and how things are going.

You will be creating a snapshot of your life at present using a constructive approach to identifying what’s 'on your plate’. This will give you a picture of how things are going in each of the main areas of your life.

STEP 2: YOUR NORTH STAR

Your will begin by identifying your core and enduring values ~ those things that are most important and meaningful to you. Like a north star, values provide a stable directional guide as you work toward designing and creating a retirement that will be meaningful to you.

When your core values are consistent with who you are and what you do, you will have a sense of meaning and purpose ~ there will be a ‘good fit’.

STEP 3: YOUR GUIDING QUESTION

To design and build a meaningful retirement, you need to know what you are working toward.

This question will guide you as you progress through the course. Your guiding question will ensure you are focusing on the ‘right’ question (i.e. one that will lead you in the direction you’d like to go), and be framed in a way that is specific, measureable, and actionable.  

STEP 4: GENERATING IDEAS

Generating ideas is a great way to get ‘unstuck’, and gain mastery of finding solutions.

You will learn several innovative approaches to generating a range of new and interesting ideas while quieting the voice of judgement and exploring the edges of your ideas and imagination.

STEP 5: SMALL AND SLOW SOLUTIONS

Making meaningful change is often dependent on trying things, observing, and iterating as needed. A slow, incremental approach allows small steps to be taken, and time for learning.

Prototyping and iterating are small and slow approaches to gathering information and insights that can help to guide and inform you. You will be using two approaches to prototyping: fact-finding conversations, and real-world experiences. 

Prototyping is also a great way to build confidence when experiencing imposter syndrome and confidence gaps.

STEP 6: BUILDING SUPPORTS/NEXT STEPS

Systems, structures and practices of support are essential to a joyful and meaningful retirement.

Allies, partners, and collaborators are critical aspects of a regenerative retirement, as are routines and principles that support resilience and encourage the mindful use of resources, time, and energy.

Getting started

To get started, let’s have a chat to find out if this course is a good fit for your needs, and to answer any questions you have. Please reach out to heather@heatherlhopkins.com.