Retirement around the corner? Time to shape a rewarding future
Retirement is a transitional phase that shapes your future. But we need to look at it as not just a vague deciding point of whether one should work or not work. But rather as a phase that demands that we honestly review our options, ourselves and our choices.
Lima Sehgal
The retirement dream is about a holiday.
No more – alarm clocks, dealing with irritating bosses, reports, stressful meetings, chasing deadlines, traffic rush …. We have that dream of living happily ever after – relaxed and stress free…
But most of us do not have a game plan for retirement.
Apart from financial planning, along with a few ideas on what one wants to do thereafter, most of us are unprepared for the lifestyle changes that challenge us at retirement.
Most of us retire when we are at the peak of our professions. We have climbed the top rungs of the ladder, become good at what we do, and have collected our portfolio of hard won achievements along the journey.
Then to be told at the peak of one’s career ‘Thank you Buddy, now you have become old, time to go,” comes with a pinch of pain. Apart from being asked to go, the other factor that hurts most people is being labeled as old.
Manish, who recently retired from the Indian Army, told me “In spite of all these years of working in an organization which is so definitive about age, I was surprised at my reaction. I remember the day I retired on my birthday, I was depressed. I put up a jolly front, but inside my head I felt that I was now by definition, old.”
Retirement, especially for those who have experienced a sense of belonging in their organization brings a sense of isolation. “I loved the collage campus, where I lived and worked most of my life,” says Anita. I have shifted to my own house, it is big with a lovely garden, I always dreamed of living in a house like this. But I miss the campus. The cramped accommodation at the campus, my friends, my work …., if I had a choice, I will compromise willingly today.”
Our loves of life, come primarily from our lifestyles. Our careers define our lifestyles. We may wish for this and that, but who we are is, defined by our adjustments, trials and tribulations as much as our achievements. Our jobs over a lifetime is also who we really are.
Psychologists haven been studying retirement blues all along. The stress is real. Retirement can cause feelings of isolation, a disorientation caused by a total lifestyle change, loss of identity and sometimes a deep sense of loss.
But can retirement can be enjoyable and fulfilling? Yes it can.
But much before retirement, many years before, one has to begin working on the future. The mistake most people make is underplaying the change. The emotional reorientation is crucial.
You have to start dreaming again. This is your second adolescence, just like your first one, when you were planning on your career options. Transitional, but it determines your future path.
Ask yourself. You may have got the trappings of your work routines you may be actually even enjoying it, but honestly if you had a choice what would you like to do?
Dream, visualize and think…
Define your pictures- – Laze before the TV set most of the time- Live on the beach -Take another job in that new line that may interest you-. Start your own restaurant – Pursue your favourite hobby, or whatever …
Next picture yourself doing that all the time. – Will you get satisfaction? Remember satisfaction is different feeling from being occupied, busy or active. Will you get a sense of achievement?
Be honest with yourself. Are you afraid of trying out new things, new careers?Then your reasons for not inviting a change in life could be your fear of failure. Many people hold back from experimenting with their careers because they are concerned about upholding the financial commitments of their families. We all have our solid justifications, but the fact remains that be it now or later there will be a change in your career pattern. Would it not be better to actively ensure that it is a positive change rather than wait and watch and hope?
Understand that you now have to grow out of your career restrictions. You need to either develop a new identity or to expand your self .For example many senior people work as consultants in their specialized fields after retirement. Many people change their professions and have a full blown second innings of a new career, for the rest of their lives. If one has a choice of financial freedom, many decide to pursue non income activites, a dedicated hobby,volunteer services , community projects or social service and still continue to get satisfaction and a sense of purpose from it.
Being rigid does not help. Siddharth who worked in the Hotel Industry says “ I will always be a hotel chain manager. That’s who I am , and who I will always be. I can’t see myself running my own restaurant. Or being an armchair advisor.”
Not expecting problems and reorientation is another mistake people make. Things may not work out exactly the way you want it to. Anticipate problems but refuse to give up. The mistake most people make is underplaying the change. The emotional reorientation is necessary. You have to work on your mind sets, orientation and perceptions.
Compromises may not be necessarily bad in the long run. People seek the same sense of worth in a job they may take after retirement. Harsh, retired from the top position, in Indian Oil Corporation, says “I cannot expect myself to work to just keep myself occupied, I need something as good as I deserve. I have been excellent in my work performance, I know I will be valuable anywhere.” But he has not found anything as yet for the past two years, and is getting depressed about the fact that in spite of his contacts network, nothing has worked out. Some of his juniors have managed to work out career options while in service, which happens to be the best way of going about it, and have moved ahead.
Retirement is a transitional phase that shapes your future. But we need to look at it as not just a vague deciding point of whether one should work or not work. But rather as a phase that demands that we honestly review our options, ourselves and our choices.
Life is about change. Unless we work on handling change as opportunities for growth we may condem ourselves to continue in the constricting roles of old routines and career patterns. Retirement is not about an age number, but rather a clarion call to move ahead to new satisfactions, growth and renewal of life purpose.
Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 154
Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine
Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal, Articles from Jobnet Magazine, Articles on work,careers, Management Resources/ HR
