According to the analysis of Terry Mitchell, Honorary Professor of Social Psychology/Organization at the University of Washington (USA), the retirement journey is divided into three distinct stages, each stage brings its own challenges and opportunities.
Here are the reasons why many people will feel disappointed when retiring.
Goodbye to work
The retirement journey often begins long before you officially leave the company. When they know they are about to retire, many people start to not put much effort into important decisions at work. This is a sign of emotions starting to " retreat" from work.
Your daily habits change rapidly, such as: No more working hours, no more morning coffee with colleagues, no more regular meetings.
In addition, the titles that are often associated with your name during your working period will also disappear.
This loss can easily lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness and loss. This is a normal feeling that most retirees experience.
After retiring for a while, you enter the " honeymoon" stage. You have time to do everything you like: travel, read books, garden, visit relatives. You feel free and happy.
However, this joy often did not last long. When all the original plans were completed, disappointment began to appear.
Many people wake up and always ask themselves, "What will I do today?"
Re-defining yourself
Before retiring, just say the job name and everyone will know who you are. After retirement, that answer becomes the past.
This stage requires the greatest effort for you to redefine yourself. Many people are starting to find answers to the questions: What do I like to do? What do I want to spend my time for? How to make your life still meaningful?...
Experiment with new activities recommended by experts for retirees at this stage. Joining clubs, learning a new language, volunteering... will help you overcome the emptiness and regain your spirit.
Balancing married life
A major emotional challenge at this stage is the adjustment in the couple relationship.
When you are not at work, the space and living habits in the family change completely: Your wife/husband may still be at work or have just retired, your appearance 24/7 can disrupt the other person's habits.
You need to have a serious agreement with your partner about managing your time and space together. Speak frankly before and during the transition to avoid stress and help both find a new balance in their common life.
Retirement is a long journey. Proactively understanding psychological changes, preparing for disappointment and actively seeking new roles is the best way to turn the end of your life into a meaningful and happy time.
