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You have worked hard enough to get to where you are, and it’s also because of hard work that you have earned enough money which allows you to have a comfortable lifestyle. Now, after years of working for yourself and your family, it’s now time for you to retire.
It may sound so straightforward, but is actually not the case. With retirement being a major life event, there are also psychological issues that come with it. One particular issue is that of readjustment. So how do you deal with it?
You have to be emotionally prepared
Retirement triggers a number of unhealthy emotions: anticipation and apprehension, loneliness, and loss of identity. According to one research, many people experience loneliness and depression in old age. Loneliness in retirement often stems from a sense of detachment from the world and a resulting lack of purpose, which then leads to shutting oneself away.
Retirement can be expensive
Just because you are receiving a pension, don’t think that this will make things financially easier. Take for instance the cost of healthcare, which is already expensive for most households. As retirement nears, the outlook doesn’t get much better. Then there also hidden costs from retirement properties. Before buying a retirement property, you should weigh up the options – a retirement flat in Banbury Road in Oxford is one of the most expensive in the UK.
Retirement is a chance to rediscover yourself
Because you are no longer working, you have more chance to spend time with yourself. You can learn new hobbies, meet new people, or even move to a new place. One of the exciting benefits that retirement offers is the opportunity to choose where you want to live. You no longer need to be concerned about living close to where you work. Instead, you can choose to live in a place that offers the climate and surroundings that will enable you to enjoy your life to the fullest.
Volunteering is an ideal time to spend your retirement
Volunteering is not just good if you are at the retirement age – it’s good at any age. But now that you have the luxury of time, you also have the opportunity to use and develop your skills and talents further, while also serving those who are in need. Through volunteering you can feel a great sense of purpose.
You can still get physically active
For previous generations, retirement often meant a change of pace both in terms of lifestyle and levels of activity, but healthy seniors are finding they can remain healthy and vibrant for quite a while with a regular exercise routine.
Happy retiring!
We will not live forever – but it is up to us to optimise our happiness and experience. Whether moving to a new place, learning a new habit, or meeting new friends. You should look forward to this special stage of your life and embrace it. Times have changed: retirement is no longer about staying at home all day and looking after grandchildren. As a modern retiree you can be adventurous and find new ways to keep living life to the full.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg. He is also the editor-in-chief of Psychreg Journal Psychology, and writes a weekly column for Free Malaysia Today.
