We all work hard so that one day, we can relax and enjoy the golden years. Most of us save enough money so that when we retire, we can enjoy the investments we made at a young age. Surprisingly, when it comes, the thought of not waking up to solving another issue at work leaves many people scared.
Retiring can come with lots of emotions that are mostly caused by fear of the unknown. Many people whether forced into early retirement or willingly leave are bound to become depressed from the transition. It is not easy to understand if you are still young and enjoying your years working at a dream job. Research reveals that women retirees are more affected than men. Over 80% of women who have retired don’t see the purpose in life anymore. What could be the problem and how can you cope with retirement?
What can make retiring frustrating?
Loss of identity
It is possible to question your identity after working all your life and finally, resting. With a busy schedule, you may not have had time to evaluate who you are and your purpose in life. Sometimes, we move with the wind to make ends meet without analyzing our principles and values. This can dawn on you when the time to retire comes.
Lack of a routine
Having spent your work life in a similar routine and suddenly transitioning to lots of free time can make you feel lost. Some retirees find themselves with no direction due to lack of a schedule that they can follow.
A change in relationships
When a couple is too busy working, they give each space and often find excuses to hide their problems in work. Retiring means that you are bound to spend more time at home with your significant other. It is possible for you to feel or even invade a partner’s personal space leading to conflicts in the household.
Fear of death
Most people retire in the sixties or seventies. The thought of death might cross one’s mind at this age. With so much free time, you might think a lot about mortality and get stressed over it. Retiring can trigger negative thinking in people who obsess over death.
Low self-esteem
This occurs to many people who have been forced to retire. You can feel that you were not good enough for your job and get depressed due to low self-esteem.
How can you cope with all these during retirement?
Take time to acknowledge the situation
Prevent yourself from living in denial by recognizing that your working years are no more. The transition may not be smooth, but accepting it can help you start enjoying retirement. This will keep you in good moods since you have come to term with the permanent change.
Deal with the identity crisis
Losing an identity during retirement can make you get lost in the sea of thoughts. Use this time to analyze who you are as well as what you want next. Reflect on your working years as you assess what you have gained over the years.
Look at your strengths and compare them with your weaknesses so that you can start improving on the areas that need your attention. Evaluate your goals and write down which you were able to achieve while young as well as where you failed. This will help you work on the remaining ambitions you had since it is not too late to meet them.
Come up with a routine
A routine is an effective mechanism to help you cope with free time. Come up with a daily schedule to keep yourself busy. Retiring does not mean idleness. Use your free time to develop a hobby you have always loved but never cultivated due to busy schedules. For instance, write that book that you have always wanted to write.
Maintain your friends
Being retired does not mean an end to friendships. Your younger colleagues may be busy going on with their daily working schedules, but you can still find friends who have retired. These are the people who you share similar problems from retirement to help you reduce stress. Connect with such friends so that you can find new activities to engage in together. It will also help you overcome loneliness.
Avoid unhealthy habits
Depression and low self-esteem lead some retirees into drug abuse. Many people, in this case, spend too much time obsessing over a loss of identity or inadequacy and seek comfort in drugs. South-Carolina drug and alcohol treatment resources will help you recover from substance abuse and give you the motivation to kick depression.
Explore
Keep your mind from a negative mentality by exploring new adventures. For instance, you can travel to a new place or make new friends. Teach yourself new skills or develop a new hobby. The purpose of exploring is to motivate you so that you can realize that retiring does not mean the end of life.
Give back
Reaching out to the people around you will make you feel useful. Use your wisdom to share what you have learned with a person that needs it. You can always contribute to charity organizations or pay fees for a child who can’t afford school expenses. It is the small deeds that you do for others that raise your confidence and give your purpose in life.
Meditation
This form of therapy will help you in dealing with mixed emotions that may come from retirement. Take time to connect with your spirit, as you search your soul. It will help you calm your nerves at difficult moments and know how to react to challenges.
Exercise
Prevent aging by working out regularly. A healthy lifestyle can help your body remain reenergized and motivated. Make jogging a habit as you bring along your favorite pet to raise your moods. It will also make you active and keep diseases away.
Final thoughts
Everybody including those who prepare for retirement may feel scared about the change. These feelings are normal but how you handle them is what makes the difference. Take the golden years with pride as you make your life constructive with healthy practices to cope with the feelings.
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