Retirement is your opportunity to relax and enjoy your golden years. However, transitioning from the working years to a well-earned rest can be challenging for seniors who are used to an active lifestyle. Learn how to stay engaged after retirement to enjoy the relaxation you deserve.
Do You Know How to Stay Engaged After Retirement?
Have you ever heard of retirement depression? Most of us spend our working years looking forward to the time when we can put our feet up and enjoy a well-earned retirement. However, many seniors underestimate the psychological impact that retirement will have on their lives and can struggle with depression and anxiety as a result. Making a plan for how to stay engaged after retirement can keep you feeling optimistic and focused on making the most of your golden years.
Why Is Retirement Hard for Some Seniors?
Most people look forward to retirement because it can eliminate many stressors, like nasty co-workers or a long commute. While this is true, it’s also important to remember that our jobs bring a lot of positive things into our lives:
- A career is often an essential source of self-esteem, identity, and meaning in a person’s life. Leaving that career can cause a person to feel unmoored or suffer low self-esteem as a result.
- Most adults make friends and social connections through their work. Leaving a job can create gaps in your social network and even lead to isolation.
- Having a job introduces structure and routine into your life. When seniors go from full-time employment to retirement, the lack of structure can be hard to navigate.
In order to avoid these pitfalls, it’s essential to be aware of them and have a plan for how to stay engaged after retirement.
Make a Retirement Transition Plan
In order to make your retirement enjoyable, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Consider the items listed above and what you can do to help yourself avoid them:
- How can you plan ahead for the psychological effects of retirement? Any big change in life can lead to unrest, so consider ways to keep space for yourself to feel your feelings and take appropriate steps to protect your mental and emotional health.
- Retirement can lead to social isolation, so consider ways to stay in touch with friends and family as you adjust. It’s also a good idea to look for new social outlets, like community classes.
- If having a job is important to your sense of identity or routine, you don’t have to quit working altogether. You can donate your time to a worthy cause or even take a part-time job that appeals to you.
- Retirement is also a great opportunity to set some new life goals for yourself. Have you always wanted to learn a language, travel extensively, or try something completely new? Now is the time!
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Everyone’s retirement is different, so there’s no single correct way to prepare for it. However, if you know how to stay engaged after retirement, you’ll be off to a great start.
Are you looking for a community that provides a positive, healthy atmosphere where your loved one can enjoy their golden years? The Shores of Lake Phalen may be just the place. It’s an assisted living and memory care community in a quiet, peaceful environment in Maplewood, Minnesota. Surrounded by a gorgeous wooded setting between two lakes, our residence offers the accessibility of apartment-style housing with the atmosphere and elegance of a resort. We offer numerous health and safety amenities, fun events and activities, a friendly and accommodating staff, and much more. Schedule a tour of the community to explore our spacious apartments and more. We look forward to hearing from you!