Retirement as a state of mind

 People talk about seniors as if we were one age group with the same needs. There is the young senior's hose between 55 and 70, middle-aged seniors, between 71 and 80, and super seniors over 80. At a macro-level, each of these groups has different wants and needs. Just like there are stages of retirement there are different stages of ageing. Fellow blogger Caree Risover asked the following question in one of her blogs

“Does it actually matter when retirement is really a state of mind; a stage of evolution; a period of life when you apply your time as you seek?”

At what stage does retirement become a state of mind? Is it in the pre-retirement stage which involves imagining your new life and planning for it? Anywhere from 5 to 10 years, many people shift their focus from building their careers to focusing on the financial planning aspect of retirement.

This is important, but retirement is still not fully a state of mind, because in this early planning we don’t spend enough time on the emotional planning for retirement. Planning to make sure you find, fun and find purpose in this stage of your life. Making lifestyle decisions, such as downsizing to have more financial freedom and the ability to age in place, will help you plan for both your financial and emotional well-being. For many, this stage is a time of excitement and anticipation. But it can also be a time for worry and doubt, especially in the year or two before retirement.

Is retirement a state of mind, in stage two when you are fully retired?

For many, this phase includes feelings of excitement, relief, and freedom from the stress and responsibilities of your day-to-day working life. People in this stage are usually busy reconnecting with family, friends, and spouses, and spending time on hobbies, travelling, and starting new businesses.

Instead of taking a honeymoon vacation-like path in this stage, some people choose to settle into a routine immediately, waking up each morning with a plan in place, and often continuing activities that were part of their busy schedules during their working life. And others opt for rest and relaxation after years of working demanding jobs that drained all their energy.

For many retirement is a state of mind in this stage, but after a few years disillusionment sets in and once the emotional high of retiring has worn off, many feel a sense of disappointment and disillusionment. They have spent so much time looking forward to retirement, so once it sets in, it can feel less exciting than it was hyped up to be.

Because one has the freedom and a period of life when one can apply one’s time as they want, retirement as a state of mind at this stage can become a negative mindset. At this stage, some people feel boredom, loneliness, and feeling useless. If not addressed, it can be easy to slip into depression during this stage.

Is retirement a state of mind, in the next stage of retirement when we begin to evaluate our retirement experience? This stage may involve creating a new identity, and it can take some time and effort to accomplish. But created, you can gain a sense of closure from your working days and move on to enjoy retirement as it’s meant to be enjoyed. To avoid falling into a rut and depression, it’s crucial that you find something that gives you a sense of meaningful purpose later in life, such as pursuing a passion, volunteering, and adding new fun activities to your daily routine.

In the final stage of retirement, retirement is fully a state of mind, in this stage, retirees are settled into a fun and rewarding retirement lifestyle, doing things that make them feel fulfilled. They prioritize simplifying their lives and living relaxing lifestyles.

Health conditions may be more prevalent during this stage, so many of us focus on maintaining our health and independence. While not every person will experience each stage as intensely or for the same amount of time as others, most retirees will experience this process in some form once they stop working.

Like with any major transition in life, retirement comes with a whole array of emotions. But if you thoughtfully plan for your transition to take care of yourself both your financial and emotional health, you can help ease the emotions of life transition, and spend more time with retirement as a permanent state of mind.