Retirement is a big step in a person’s life and can be difficult. After an individual has spent their whole adult life working, juggling responsibilities, and having a hectic schedule, when it comes time to rest, it can take a while to adjust to such a lifestyle change.
However, by understanding why adjusting to retirement can be difficult, older persons can better prepare for this transition ahead of time. Below, we’ll cover the five main stages of retirement and what they entail, along with tips for how to cope with this new change.
Many adults spend their working life looking forward to their retirement years. They tend to feel excited about travelling more, embracing new hobbies and interests, and spending more time with loved ones in their free time.
However, while transitioning to retirement appeals to most, the reality of no longer having a steady job, a busy schedule, or engaging with coworkers can quickly lose its appeal.
Some individuals may need more purpose after retirement. After many years of finding satisfaction and accomplishment from their work, losing their regular social connection with co-workers within a communal setting can be quite the blow. As such, retirees may need help adjusting to their new environments.
When learning how to transition to retirement, it’s essential to consider the adjustment process to prepare oneself properly.
Generally, older persons who retire go through a process called the five emotional stages of retirement, all of which have their own unique set of challenges.
Let’s examine these stages further below to get a better understanding of what they entail, along with how to deal with the changes each phase will bring:
The pre-retirement stage is when an individual begins to make retirement plans as their work and personal life slow down.
During this time, older people may carefully consider everything they’d like the freedom to do and see once they retire and may make arrangements to support them.
They may feel delighted at the prospect of settling down, but this can also be a time of anxiety for those who don’t know what to expect from retirement.
For instance, they may worry about the amount of money they’ll be able to live on and whether they’ll have enough set by to travel, move to a retirement home eventually, or pursue any other significant financial investment.
Therefore, those transitioning to retirement will often use this time to properly prepare for it by getting their finances in check, setting their long-term goals and plans, and choosing a specific time for when they plan to retire officially.
Not only will making such preparations better stabilize a person’s plans for retirement, but it will also help to ease their anxieties and concerns, knowing that they’ve planned as best they can.
The honeymoon stage can occur during the first few months after retirement, when everything feels fresh and exciting, as the newly retired individual lets go of the pressure and stress from their old working life.
Usually, this stage lasts for a few months to a year and often provides the feeling of being on a permanent vacation. During this stage, older persons should use this time to fully relax and embrace their newfound free time, and take some real time for themselves.
Of course, the joy one experiences during the honeymoon phase will eventually begin to wear. The previous joy and pleasure of being retired may turn into anxiety and a lack of direction, which usually leads to the disenchantment stage.
In the disenchantment stage, retirees feel burnt out from trying to fill their days with hobbies and passion projects. Many older persons start to feel unfulfilled, as they may find the activities they love don’t fill up enough time during the day.
In these moments, older adults may resort to meaningless tasks they don’t enjoy just as a way to fill the time, which can end up feeling like a time-waster.
Therefore, when retirees reach this stage, they need to take some time to self-analyze and set new goals that have more permanence in their day-to-day life. They should also focus on finding ways to shake up their routine to make things more interesting.
Joining a club, volunteering in the local community, or planning a trip are great ways to positively embrace the change that retirement brings and minimize the risk of boredom and discontentment.
Maintaining an active social circle can help prevent older individuals from feeling isolated during this tremendous personal change.
After enduring the disenchantment stage, retirees will eventually come to the reorientation stage, where they will settle more into their new life.
This is a great time for self-reflection and a chance to re-center the areas of life that older adults wish to prioritize more now that secular work is no longer a roadblock and they’ve begun adapting to their new circumstances.
Finally, after going through the ups and downs of the previous four stages, retirees will reach the stability stage, where they’ll eventually adjust to their new way of life and find their new routine.
To reach the stability stage successfully, older ones should prioritize their health and self-care, stay focused on meaningful activities, and strive for more personal growth, along with the other tips mentioned above.
They should also surround themselves with friends and family, who can help make the transition easier by offering moral support.
Retirement is an adjustment for older persons and will come with its own unique set of challenges. Still, considering the information we’ve provided for this transitional period, retirees will be well-equipped to adapt and adjust to their new normal.