Explore ways your self-perception may differ from how others perceive you by using self-assessment tests or a career coach. This "external reality check" allows you to discover areas of emotional intelligence where you may be lacking, write Daniel Goleman and Michele Nevarez.

Rather than focusing retirement on a single number, focus on setting up a series of "retirement paychecks," suggests Steve Vernon, a retirement expert and actuary. These may include Social Security, pension, annuities and reverse mortgages.

Emanate confidence in social situations using simple strategies, such as maintaining good posture and using affirming language, suggests performance coach and author Susie Moore. Say "I can" or "I will" instead of "I'll try" or "I think," she writes.

A survey by Home Instead found that 53% of preretirees who plan to leave their job in the next five years anticipate going back to work at some point. The need to generate additional income was the most common reason given, but respondents also cited staving off boredom and keeping a sharp mind.

Keep an accomplishment journal and hang onto annual performance reviews so you can use the information to boost your resume with key achievements in your field, Julia Malacoff writes. Avoid describing your skills and experiences in a generic way on your resume, and minimize "keyword stuffing," she advises.

Return a counteroffer of 10% to 20% higher than initially offered, recommends negotiation coach and author Josh Doody. Be confident in knowing your market value and don't be apologetic in asking for a higher salary or better benefits, he advises.

Jobs and finances topped the list of stresses in a recent survey conducted by Fidelity, and these stressors corresponded to a higher number of days missed at work. "Employee financial wellness needs are not all the same, so the onus is on employers to ensure programs address a wide range of financial needs -- not just retirement," says Gao-Wen Shao of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Opportunity, a Mars rover with valuable images of the planet, hasn't been heard from since June and NASA engineers have attempted to wake it up by playing a new song every day since Aug. 4. The agency compiled a Spotify playlist with songs that have been or will be played to Opportunity, including Wham!'s "Wake Me up Before You Go-Go," David Bowie's "Life on Mars" and "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.