Federal Retirement: You've Got the TSP Figured Out. Now What About Wednesday Morning?

Pop quiz: What's your FERS annuity going to be?

If you're a federal employee thinking about retirement or in the process of transitioning, you probably know that number down to the penny. You've run the TSP calculators approximately 47 times. You know exactly when your Social Security supplement kicks in. You've compared FEHB plans for retirement coverage like you're studying for a final exam.

Gold star for you. Seriously—that stuff matters.

But here's the question that keeps federal retirees up at night (the one OPM definitely doesn't ask): What are you actually going to DO on Wednesday morning when nobody needs you in a meeting and there's no email to check?

Hi, I'm Amy S Hamilton (ASH). I Took the FORK. Let's Talk About It.

Recently, I wrote about taking the FORK -the Fork in the Road- yes, that was really what they called it. The "Deferred Resignation Program" that didn't even have a proper acronym at first. Very on-brand for government efficiency, honestly.

After a year of uncertainty (shout-out to DOGE connecting servers without cybersecurity approval—good times), threats of RIFs, and the general chaos of 2025, I made a choice: take the buyout and prioritize my mental, emotional, and physical health in 2026.

The financial stuff? That's been pretty simple. But figuring out "who am I now that I'm not a federal employee"? Well, that's been quite the journey. Thankfully, I already had an LLC and have been teaching part-time at a university for years, which not everyone has the chance to do.

And if you took the FORK too, or you're planning a more traditional federal retirement, you probably know what I'm talking about. Because here's the thing nobody mentions at your retirement counseling session:

Losing your GS level is easy. Losing your sense of purpose? That's the hard part.

The Identity Crisis They Don't Warn You About

For decades, you had an easy answer to "What do you do?"

Your agency. Your role. Maybe your clearance level (even if you couldn't talk about the actual work). It was instant credibility. Instant context. Instant identity.

Then you retire.

And suddenly you're just... Steve? Who used to do something important but now mostly wonders if it's too early for lunch?

Listen, Steve is great. But Steve might need a minute to figure out who Steve actually is when nobody from OPM is defining it for him.

The Three Things Your TSP Can't Buy (But You Still Need)

Don't get me wrong—having your financial ducks in a row is huge. FERS annuity, TSP distributions, FEHB continuation, the whole nine yards. You need that foundation.

But you also need three other things if you want retirement to feel like freedom instead of just... a lot of unstructured time:

What's Your Mission?

1. Meaning (Or: What's Your Mission Now That You Don't Have THE Mission?)

Federal service gives you something special: the knowledge that your work matters. National security, public health, veterans services, whatever your agency's mission—you were part of something bigger than a paycheck.

That feeling doesn't retire when you do. You can't just turn off decades of "my work matters to the country" and replace it with "well, I'm really into pickleball now."

(Though pickleball is great. No shade to pickleball.)

The federal retirees who thrive? They find new ways to contribute. Maybe that's:

• Finally saying what they actually think about policy (hello, First Amendment!)

• Mentoring younger professionals

• Volunteering for causes they care about

• Writing that book they've been planning

• Consulting in their area of expertise

• Starting your own business

• Actually using their security clearance knowledge to help others navigate the system

The ones who struggle? They're waiting for retirement to feel meaningful instead of actively building meaning into it.

Motivation

2. Motivation (Or: Turns Out You Needed That Morning Meeting More Than You Thought)

Real talk: Remember how annoying your calendar was? All those mandatory trainings, budget meetings, status updates that could have been emails?

Yeah. That was also your structure. Your routine. Your reason to shower before noon.

Take away the external pressure of work, and a lot of federal retirees discover something surprising: they're not actually that motivated to do... anything. The project they were going to start "when they finally have time"? Still in the future. Always in the future.

Here's what I'm learning in my own transition: Motivation doesn't just happen. You have to build it intentionally. That means:

• Creating your own structure (even if it's just "Wednesday is writing day")

• Setting goals that actually excite you (not just "stay busy")

• Finding accountability that doesn't feel like work (supportive, not stressful)

• Giving yourself permission to experiment and change direction

Retirement isn't about being busy. It's about being purposeful. There's a difference.

Movement

3. Movement (Or: Your Body Also Retired From Sitting at a Desk All Day)

Let's be honest: Federal work in recent years has been stressful. The political chaos. The reorganizations. The budget drama. And for those of us who took the FORK? A whole year of "will I have a job next month?" stress.

That stress lives in your body. And when you retire—especially if you're leaving earlier than planned—your body needs help processing it.

Also? Federal work probably meant a lot of sitting. Maybe some walking to meetings. But mostly sitting. In retirement, you can accidentally sit even MORE if you're not careful. (Turns out "freedom" often looks like a couch and streaming services.)

Here's my 2026 commitment: prioritizing walking and fitness. Not because I'm training for anything fancy, but because:

• My nervous system needs to know the stress is actually over

• Movement is ridiculously good for mental health

• I'd like to actually enjoy this retirement I planned for

• Those FEHB premiums are expensive—might as well invest in prevention

You don't need to become a marathon runner (unless that sounds fun—you do you). You just need to move consistently. Walk. Swim. Garden. Dance in your kitchen. Whatever gets your body involved in your retirement, not just your bank account.

What Federal Retirement Actually Looks Like (The Real Version)

I'm nine months into my own transition, and here's what I've learned: The federal retirees who struggle aren't the ones with smaller TSP balances. They're the ones who planned for money but not for meaning.

I've talked to FORK-takers who are financially secure but emotionally adrift. I've talked to traditional retirees who have plenty of money and absolutely no idea what to do with their days.

The pattern is consistent: If you only plan for the financial side, you're planning for half a retirement.

The good news? The other half is totally figure-out-able. (Yes, that's a word. I'm retired; I make the rules now.)

Finding Fulfillment in Retirement

How I Can Help (Because I'm Living This Too)

Here's the thing: I'm not some retirement expert who's never worked a day in government and is now selling you a course about "finding your passion."

I'm a federal retiree who took the FORK, who's actively figuring out this transition, and who has professional experience helping people navigate major life changes. I understand the unique weirdness of federal retirement because I'm in it.

At Ash Coaching and Consulting, I have collaborated with business owners to maintain their motivation, assisted individuals in writing books, and supported Federal employees preparing for retirement by addressing topics not covered in their retirement counseling sessions.

Finding Your Post-Federal Purpose - What gave you meaning in federal service? How do you translate that into retirement? What do you actually want to do now that nobody's telling you what to do? Let's figure it out together.

Building Motivation That Sticks - Creating routines, setting goals, and establishing accountability that feels supportive (not like work). Because "I should probably do something today" isn't a great long-term strategy.

Making Movement Non-Negotiable - Developing a fitness approach that fits your life, helps process stress, and doesn't feel like punishment. Walking counts. Really.

Processing the Transition - Especially if you took the FORK or left federal service under less-than-ideal circumstances. There's grief in losing professional identity, even when retirement is financially comfortable. We can talk about it.

This isn't therapy. This isn't financial planning. (You've got OPM and TSP calculators for that.)

It's strategic support for building a retirement that actually feels good—not just one that looks good on paper.

Let's Talk About Your Wednesday Morning

You've spent decades serving your country. You've earned your FERS annuity. You've survived government reorganizations, political drama, and (for my FORK-taking friends) a particularly chaotic year that tested us in ways we didn't sign up for.

You deserve a retirement that's more than just "not working anymore."

If you're approaching federal retirement, already in it and feeling a bit lost, or processing your decision to take the FORK, let's chat. I offer a free 30-minute consultation where we'll talk about:

• What you're most concerned about (beyond the TSP math)

• What a meaningful retirement could look like for you specifically

• Whether coaching might help you build something you'll actually enjoy

No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a conversation between two people who understand what it's like to leave federal service and wonder "okay, now what?"

Ready to figure out your Wednesday mornings?

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Your retirement is more than your FERS calculation. Let's make sure the rest of it is just as well-planned.

—ASH

P.S. - To my fellow FORK-takers: I'm sending you all the positive vibes for 2026. We made it through. Now let's make something good out of what comes next.