Five ways to find meaning in retired life

In 2018, Kitty Janas retired after decades of years working as a teacher and school administrator, but she didn’t consider her next stage a vacation.

Instead of helping students, Janas took care of her elderly parents and spent more time with her grandchildren. Meanwhile, she continued to develop her leadership skills by collaborating with Kids Impact Community, a Milwaukee-based organization that creates community service opportunities for families. Now that she doesn’t have to follow the school schedule, she and her husband can finally travel whenever they want, and they have already visited seven European countries.

“I miss the children and I loved my job when I did it, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything,” said Janas, 63.

It’s not always that easy. For many people, a career offers a sense of identity and purpose that can make the very thought of retirement unappealing.

“Some people find themselves in a situation where they don’t want to retire because they don’t want to lose everything their career brings them: money, prestige, attention, recognition and relationships,” says Karen Carr, a certified retirement and life coach based in Minneapolis.

However, experts say that those who find a way to give meaning to their retirement can make the most of this new stage of life.

Why is it a challenge?

According to a 2022 review of research on mental health during and after retirement, it is associated with numerous risk factors that may contribute to the development of depression in later life.

For some, this loss of meaning can have negative health consequences, such as increased mortality from all causes.

Studies highlight the factors that contribute to these difficulties and what can improve the chances of well-being after retirement. For example, longitudinal research conducted by Mo Wang, a professor at the University of Florida specializing in retirement management, revealed that around 20% of retirees take more than a year to adapt to this new stage of life.

“Many times, they never regain the level of overall well-being they had before they retired,” Wang said. Those who found satisfaction in retirement earlier, according to Wang, shared certain characteristics: They maintained a similar level of activity after retirement and engaged in activities they considered meaningful substitutes for their previous work.

How to make sense

Whatever the case, stopping work is an important change. But there’s a lot you can do before and during retirement to ease the transition.

Plan ahead

What you can do in retirement—and how much you enjoy it—depends in part on factors such as your financial resources and your general health, according to Eve Markowitz Preston, a clinical psychologist in New York who specializes in working with older adults. If you haven’t retired yet, prioritize habits that give you more options when you stop working.

It’s never too early to start thinking about what you want your retirement to look like. Preston recommends talking to other retirees to learn from their experiences and ask them, “How is retirement going for you and what would you have done differently?”

“Planning a break before you retire can broaden your perspective and help you plan what you would do if you had the time,” Carr said.

Incorporate your values

To forge a strong identity outside of work, you need to intentionally incorporate your values ​​into your daily life. Carr recommends spending time reflecting and writing down a list of your core values. If, for example, you choose family, nature, spirituality, community service, and creativity, you can prioritize these areas in your daily routine.

It may also be helpful to reflect on what you enjoyed most about your career or what attracted you to it in the first place. “The key thing is to identify the satisfying aspects of your work life and find ways to maintain them after retirement,” Preston said. “A lot of people don’t realize what they got out of the job beyond the money.”

For example, if you found helping others in your job, you could look for a volunteer opportunity that allows you to contribute to the community. If your job was particularly intellectually stimulating, you could use your free time to take a course online or at a community center.

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You can also explore passions or interests that you never had time to cultivate; Perhaps, like Janas, he always wanted to travel more, but work prevented him from doing so. Or perhaps you had a talent for art since childhood, but never found the time to hone your painting skills.

Keep your schedule structured

Free time is an attractive part of retirement, but too much of it can be detrimental, preventing you from engaging in activities that give meaning to your life. “Make sure you know what you will do each day,” Wang said. “You should have a good schedule instead of improvising.”

A predictable routine can also support mental health in retirement: Studies show that people with daily routines have lower levels of depression and anxiety compared to those who don’t.

If you’re planning for retirement or are already retired but want a better routine, Carr recommends creating an ideal two-week schedule, to the nearest half hour. In addition to regaining the structure you lost when you left work, reflecting on how you want to spend your time will help you use it effectively and profitably.

Learn new things

In addition to continuing to enjoy the activities you already enjoy, retirement is an ideal time to take up a new hobby. Learning something new can enrich your life after retirement, Wang said, and give you a sense of identity you’ll be proud of.

Plus, doing something new is a form of cognitive exercise that can benefit your mind as you age; Some studies suggest that learning in adulthood can protect memory and delay cognitive decline.

Don’t know where to start? If you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy, Preston suggests spending time gaining confidence: The internet offers many learning opportunities, from video tutorials to online courses.

“We can access the entire world through computers, so it’s critical to staying active as we age and lose the physical ability to do what we did before,” he said.

Reframe your way of thinking

Any major change requires a period of adaptation, and it is normal for it to be difficult to overcome at first. During difficult times, remember that your perspective on retirement greatly influences how you experience it. Each stage of your life so far has had its advantages and disadvantages. Preston recommends remembering the positive aspects of this stage.

“I look at retirement with optimism,” he said. “Not only am I leaving something behind, but I’m heading toward something new, and it’s an adventure. It’s going to be the best time of my life.”