Have you made the transition from a busy working life into a retired one? Marijke discusses some of the common challenges people face and how to overcome them…
There is no doubt that the transition into retirement requires a number of changes. Examples are without doubt adapting to a reduced income, increased leisure time and less interaction with other people.
For some it may also be the downsizing of the family home, dealing with partners who are suddenly there all the time, the loss of purpose and being in demand – to name a few. The impact will be different for everybody depending on the type of life you had before retirement.
The real issue is not whatever changes in your life but how you adapt to those changes and their consequences. How you deal with them will ultimately determine your future happiness and contentment with this new phase of your life.
Nobody says change is easy
Adapting successfully is easier said than done because you may have no idea how to fill that enormous void that came into existence after you walked out of your office for the last time. You may not have a clue how to ‘not’ be in demand or needed and not have deadlines.
For men especially this void can create problems as their self-esteem and confidence are often linked to their professional life. Women without careers or those who work from home may have to learn to share their space with a partner who is suddenly going to be there all the time.
Whatever comes our way in life we approach it with our values and beliefs and consequently they determine the way we cope with change. A negative attitude, false expectations, fear and a closed mindset may lead to a negative perception of the new situation.
A positive outlook on the other hand may lead to a whole new world that opens up for you. A world full of possibilities where you finally have the time to do the things that were always in the back of your mind – things that so far had the label ‘One Day’!
Jim Rohn has a wonderful quote to illustrate this: “Today might well be the day that turns your life around”
You can take this either way, negative or positive. As with everything, it is in the eye of the beholder and you are in charge of the direction your boat sails. Change requires adaptation, a different attitude, an open mind and the ability to see opportunities.
Ageing gracefully
In the end the ageing process is a natural progression through life and retirement is part of it. Moving through the decades is a road to greater wisdom and better skills to deal with whatever life hands us. When we are young we tend to think that our looks, clothes, career – the so-called external things make or break us. When we get older we realise that our value has different sources.
Decade after decade we peel off layers and find more of our authentic self and we learn and dare to show it. Not always a comfortable process – it can be very painful and we may be confronted with unwanted truths. If our relationship with ourselves is not the best, other people and external factors in our lives can give us the biggest blows with situations that could end in divorce, abuse and even poverty.
Whatever comes our way though, we are the same person inside and can grow for the better. Such diversities can change our approach to life dramatically. We can permit our authentic selves to step out more and claim our space in life.
Retirement – a new chapter
As we age we need to allow ourselves to apply what we have learned, to be braver, bolder and wiser. We need to embrace how our body becomes, look after it with respect and admiration and help it face a couple of more decades with energy, a positive mindset and hope.
Transitioning into retirement is no different. It requires us to be creative, maybe live on a reduced budget or find a supplementary income but it is also a blank canvas where you are in charge of what you put on it. It can be a wonderful opportunity to soul search and finally follow that little inner voice that until then had no audience.
Good luck!
What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome when you retired? What made it easier? Share your stories in the comments below…