What should I do in my last month before retiring?

Hand over projects in writing, start HR paperwork early (pension elections and beneficiary forms take time), teach your 'only I know' tasks, and book your farewells in advance.

What should I bring on my last day of work?

Nothing new — the day is about returning things: badge, devices, keys. Bring your thank-yous and a plan for the goodbye email with your personal contact details.

What do I do with my first week of retirement?

Rest first — decompression is real. Then seed one small routine, a walk or a project, to give freedom a rhythm. And celebrate the first alarm-free Monday.

The Last Day of Work Checklist

Retirements are rarely undone by money — they're fumbled on logistics and goodbyes. This is the checklist for going out right: the last month, the last week, and the last day.

🗓️ The last month

Hand over every project you own — with a written status note for each (future-you, relaxing, will be glad past-you documented).
Start the official paperwork with HR: pension or plan elections, beneficiary forms, last-day confirmations. These take longer than anyone expects.
List the "only I know how" tasks and teach them — quietly, without drama.
Book the farewell coffee/lunch/cake now, not the day before.
If you're counting: check your remaining work days and pace yourself accordingly.

📅 The last week

Personal devices off company systems; personal files, photos and contacts off company devices (check the IT policy).
Export what you're entitled to keep and allowed to take — nothing more.
Say the real thank-yous: the people who covered for you, taught you, or made the bad weeks survivable.
Clean the desk while you still have the energy for it. Label the good pens.
Confirm the final paycheck date, PTO payout timing, and benefits end dates with HR — ask, don't assume.

🏁 The last day

Return everything: badge, laptop, parking pass, the good stapler you definitely didn't steal in 2011.
Send the goodbye email — short, warm, with personal contact details for the people who matter.
Take the last walk. The corridor, the parking lot, the coffee machine that knew your order. It sounds sentimental until you do it, and then it doesn't.
Ring the bell, honk the horn, or just close the door gently — your exit style is yours.
First toast: with family, alone, or in the car in the parking lot (parked, engine off). All are valid.

🌅 The first week of freedom

Do exactly nothing for at least three days. This is not laziness; it's decompression.
Then start one thing — a walk routine, a project, a weekday breakfast that isn't rushed. Momentum in freedom needs a seed.
Celebrate the first Monday without an alarm. Loudly.

Counting down to yours? The countdown is here — days, work days and paychecks, live.