The Realities of Retirement
The realities of retirement, however, are often quite different from their expectations. After the parties, speeches, accolades, and presentation of the inscribed gold watch, many retirees find that their lives lack meaning. This often occurs regardless of whether they were very dedicated to their jobs, or just passing the time and paying the bills.
With some people, the problem lies in their identity having been so caught up in their work that once that’s gone, they feel that there’s nothing left to their lives. After the first few months of euphoria, they become depressed. We’ve all heard the stories of reasonably healthy people who’ve passed away within a few years of having retired.
Often, husbands who have worked outside of the home for decades retire, and are suddenly at home all of the time. They become restless and irritable or depressed, and start driving their wives—who’ve long since adjusted to managing their lives in a home-based setting—crazy! In worst-case scenarios, this has even led to divorce.
Part of the problem is that in many of these cases, people haven’t taken the time to cultivate a life and an identity that is apart from their work. It’s extremely important to think ahead of time about what life will look like after retirement, and how one will spend all those free hours.
It’s a good idea for new retirees to be aware that they need to take some time to “decompress” after retiring. They certainly ought to take the rewards and do those things they’ve really been wanting to do, but they need to be aware that after a certain period of time, the euphoria will wear off.
Physical activity is really important for general health and well-being, so setting aside some time for that is definitely a good idea. It’s also important to keep the brain active as well, doing things that are stimulating and meaningful. Too much of a sedentary lifestyle has been shown to lead to and exacerbate depression.
Many retirees have opted for getting back to work on a part-time basis. This provides something of a routine and a degree of stability. Now, no one’s saying to go back and try to find something that’s going to be 5 days a week again, but by all means, do something that will occupy you for at least a couple of days a week.
Another option for retirees is volunteer work. Many have found a great deal of happiness and joy in doing something that they feel is giving back—something that provides a sense of purpose. It could be an activity associated with a cause in which they’ve always been interested, but never had the time to consider when they were working. Most communities have a great deal of activities in which one can become involved, such as a local sports club.
Preparation for life after retirement takes some planning, but in the end, it really is thinking about what you can do to fill your day that’s going to make you feel good. Having the freedom to be able to do that is, of course, one of the benefits of retirement. You’re no longer on anyone else’s time table—you’re on your own!
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