Retirement is a milestone ...
...in many people's lives and often brings with it profound changes. For most, it is the transition from an active working life to a new phase full of opportunities, but also challenges. The whole of life as you knew it changes. For one thing, the circle of colleagues is no longer there. Be it for exchanging ideas about private or semi-private topics, or professional expertise. The status as a source of knowledge that you have built up among your colleagues suddenly disappears. Nobody comes to ask you for professional advice anymore. You are just a private person.
This phase is often accompanied by other aspects that also change your life - health problems, children moving out of the family home, perhaps a separation from your partner. Or you are already alone and your circle of colleagues was the only environment with social interaction. Leisure activities were often neglected, especially for people in management positions, so that they fall into a hole when they reach retirement. It is not uncommon for this to result in a delayed midlife crisis or depression. At the same time, many parents who see their children leave home experience the so-called empty nest syndrome. These two life events can influence each other and cause irrevocable changes in the rhythm of life and identity.
Empty nest syndrome describes the emotional reaction of parents when their children leave home. This phase can bring sadness, loneliness and a certain fear of loss, as the dynamics within the family change fundamentally. Many parents find that they not only lose their role as carer and protector, but also their daily routines and familiar interactions with their children.
Retirement is often seen as a time of freedom, self-realisation and relaxation:
People now have the opportunity to pursue their interests and hobbies more intensively, go travelling or get involved in voluntary work. Nevertheless, withdrawal from working life can also be associated with feelings of insecurity, loss of identity and a lack of purpose. Many people define themselves strongly through their job, and the loss of this identity can lead to a feeling of emptiness.
When people enter these two transition phases at the same time, the emotional impact can be amplified. Retirement often deepens the feeling of loneliness while the children are out of the house. The combination of the loss of professional commitment and everyday family life can trigger an existential crisis characterised by uncertainty and a search for new meaning in life.
5 coping strategies for the "retirement blues":
So how do you deal with the vacuum created by retirement, which frees up many hours a week that you have at your disposal? The most important thing here is not to fall into a hole and become inactive. Distract yourself! Develop strategies to make the most of these life transitions.
Set yourself new goals, for example by taking up a new hobby or doing things you never got round to in the past. Many people discover new talents at this stage, such as being good at painting, without realising that they have always had these skills but never had time to discover them.
Maintain social contacts - first and foremost, this means friends or acquaintances with whom you have had little contact in your stressful working life. Maintaining friendships is essential; meeting up with friends regularly and making new acquaintances in courses or clubs can provide emotional stability. Volunteering is also a good way to socialise with other like-minded people.
Take care of your health - who hasn't experienced the situation where you have so little time at work that you don't keep your check-up appointments. Now it's your turn to prioritise the house you live in (namely your body) and take care of relaxation and wellness. Exercise, meditation or healthy eating can help to positively influence your mood and revitalise your lifestyle.
Adjust your routines - you now have more flexibility and freedom to do all the things you want to do. You can do them all without rushing. It is important that you neither stress yourself out nor fall into inactivity.
Communicate: Talking openly about the mixed feelings in this phase can be a great help. Be it with your partner, friends or others in similar circumstances. You often realise that other people have similar thoughts and fears or know the worries because they have been in a life situation like this themselves.
Conclusion:
Retirement is the beginning of a new phase of life ...
... with many changes that bring both challenges and opportunities. By actively dealing with these changes, setting new goals and maintaining social contacts you can not only survive these transitional phases, but also use them as an opportunity for personal development. Each stage of life has its own challenges, but with the right attitude and strategies, the transition can lead to a fulfilling and enriching new phase of life.
Coaching can be very helpful here, as friends and family are often too close to the situation and often at their breaking point.
I regularly publish articles on the topics of ‘living abroad’, ‘retirement coaching’ and ‘expatriates’. If you would like to be coached on your individual path to make this phase in your life easier, please do not hesitate to contact me.
image / source: designed by freepik.com