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Too much time on your hands? |
We spend over half of our lifetime slogging it out in the workforce, so it's no surprise
that most of us dream of retirement and the chance to kick back, relax and enjoy some much earned 'me time'.
It's surprising then, that when retirement actually arrives, rather than spark feelings of freedom and joy, it can sometimes trigger sentiments of uncertainty, a loss of purpose, and can even lead to the onset of depression.
So what is it about retirement that can trigger these unpleasant feelings?
Professor Gordon Parker, Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute believes that experiencing unsettling feelings after retirement is a common problem.
"Many people make the mistake of jumping into retirement without giving themselves enough time to mentally prepare for it.
"This is especially true for the many people who have invested a lot in their careers, often at the expense of the
other areas of their lives. For these people retirement can lead to feelings of emptiness and despair.
"Also at risk are the people whose self-esteem and self-worth is dependent on the type of work they do," says Gordon.
"These people may feel like they've lost their purpose for living, or that they no longer have a role to play in society."
Not surprisingly, these feelings are most common among males who are still seen as society's primary breadwinner and for whom status is often influenced by income and success.
"The transition to retirement can be a difficult one," says Gordon. "While we might all look forward to the day when we can hang up our work boots, the reality can be much more daunting.
"It can be hard to slow down and begin a new phase in your life, especially if you haven't allowed yourself sufficient time to prepare for it."
Derek McMillan, Australian Unity's Group Executive – Retirement Living Services agrees. He believes that for some, the transition to retirement is smooth and welcomed, while for others it can be rough and less than ideal.
"Worrying about how you'll cope financially or how you'll spend your spare time isn't much fun, but the good news is that if you start planning early, there are things you can do to make your transition nice and smooth."
Plan ahead
"People adapt better to change if it happens gradually rather than all at once," says Gordon.
"If you're a workaholic it's unrealistic to expect that you can move from fifth gear straight to park without any problems. However if you drop down a few gears first and then ease into park, you'll find you're able to adapt better."
It's also a good idea to sit down and plan out how you'd like to spend your retirement. Travel, family, your health, contribution to your community and where and how you want to live are all factors you should consider when you start planning.
And for piece of mind, its worth having a chat to your financial planner to iron out any financial issues so you can spend your time enjoying your hard earned break rather than worrying about money.
Have a plan B
Most people have a mental picture of how they'll spend their retirement. This can be anything from living by the beach, to becoming a golf pro or travelling the world. If these plans don't live up to expectations, it can be lead to feelings
of depression.
"Many people have this ideal image of life after retirement and can be disappointed if the reality doesn't match their expectations," says Gordon.
"It's important not to pin all your hopes onto one activity or way of life. That way, if you find you can't stand living by the beach or your golf game is lacking, you can try something new without feeling too disappointed."
It's all about balance
Work-life balance is important for everyone, but it's especially relevant for pre-retirees. By cultivating interests outside of your working life, you'll have the opportunity to expand your social network and meet new people who share the same interests as you. And
if you find some activities that you really enjoy, you'll be able to devote more time to them once you retire.
Spend more time with your family …
With all your newfound time, now is the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with your family and spoil your grandkids rotten.
…and reacquaint yourself with old friends
The hustle and bustle of working life can take its toll on your personal relationships. Now that you've got more time, why not reacquaint yourself with those long-lost friends you've been meaning to get in contact with.
It's important to maintain close relationships with family and friends as these are the people who will offer the greatest support when you need it the most.
Volunteer
Just because you're retiring doesn't mean that your professional skills will become obsolete. If you're ready to slow down but still feel like you've got more to offer it might be worth your while to consider volunteering.
"There are so many community groups that benefit greatly from retirees devoting their time and skills," says Lynne Landy, Founding Patron of Greatconnections, an organisation that matches semi-retired and retired skilled volunteers with community groups.
"Some people think that once a person reaches a certain age, they're past it. But our volunteers are valued for the wealth of experience they have, which enables them to continue to play an important role in the community," says Lynne. "They provide support where it's needed most and are able to share their valuable experience and skills."
Volunteering your time and expertise has the added bonus of helping retirees feel needed and important. It also provides the volunteer with access to new and exciting networks.
"Contributing and achievement are important elements of personal wellbeing," says Derek.
"By volunteering, some retirees are able to recapture or even build upon that sense of purpose that they may have had when they were working full-time."
If volunteering isn't for you, you could try joining a local community group. This will keep you active and you'll have the opportunity to meet people who share the same interests.
Remember it's not always smooth sailing
If you do find that you're not enjoying your retired life, don't be afraid to admit it and make some changes.
"What you'll often find," says Gordon, "is that even though some people will admit to themselves that they are unhappy with their lives, they are less willing to speak to others out of fear, shame or embarrassment.
"But if something's not right, it's important to talk about it rather than sitting on the fence of discontentment.
"There's no shame in admitting you've made a mistake and working through your problems with those who care about you."
Interested in volunteering?
The Australian Government's Giving Australia 2005 report found that in 2004, 6.3 million adult Australian's were active
volunteers donating approximately 836 million hours to the community. Of these volunteers, the largest number of hours
were contributed by older Australians, who each donated on average 178 hours a year.
If you're no longer working full time but would still like to donate your skills and time back to the community, there are
a number of organisations that can help connect you with the groups most in need of your expertise.
Greatconnections
Greatconnections is a Melbourne based community organisation that connects experienced, professional volunteers with not-for-profit organisations in need of help.
For more information, contact:
GoVolunteer
Go Volunteer is an initiative of Volunteering Australia. It connects Australians of all ages and skill sets
with community organisations looking for volunteers.
For more information, contact:
Volunteering NSW
The Centre for Volunteering in New South Wales, offers a range of services to help people get involved in their communities. For more information, contact:
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