Joys of retirement
When you retire, there’s much to look forward to. You won’t have to get up at the same (and maybe undesirable) time every day. You’ll have more time to spend with those you love. You’ll have more time to spend doing what you love.
Losses of retirement
All change comes with loss. If you haven’t considered this, think about when you left a job for a position with a better salary, more vacation time and improved working conditions. What could there be to lose in this scenario?
- Friends from your past job you won’t see as frequently or maybe ever again
- Comfort in knowing the job
- Comfort in knowing how, and how long it will take, to get to work
In my case, I retired and moved from the city and home I shared with my husband and parrot for more than 28 years. That was 2.5 years ago. While I’m grateful for my new community, new friends and the benefits listed above, I still grieve not being able to pop in regularly to see friends I’ve had for a lifetime. And I miss the perks of working for an organization that created opportunities for teamwork and fun social gatherings outside of the office.
While I was ready to retire from a demanding full-time career, I knew I wasn’t ready to live a life of leisure – and perhaps greater isolation – 24/7. Building a part-time business keeps me active and engaged.
Resources
If you’re struggling since losing or voluntarily leaving a job, please check out Grieve a job loss on the Services page. I designed this workshop to help you feel ready to move on to your next opportunity, which may be a fulfilling retirement. I can bring the workshop to you anytime!
It’s essential to plan for a mentally healthy retirement.
Finally, here’s an excellent and free resource from Workplace Strategies for Mental Health to help you plan for a mentally healthy retirement. Even if you’ve been retired for years, if you think you could be living with more joy, you may find the Retiring Well Questionnaire enlightening and helpful.