Are you struggling to adapt to retirement ?

Retirement is not just a state or stage; it is a complex process that requires planning, adjustment and acceptance not only from the retiree but from those around them.  For many who retire there is the initial phase of excitement and euphoria as dreams are pursued, new activities are undertaken and roles are re-invented but, once the reality sets in and the changes in roles and resources becomes more apparent, the psychological effects and retirement stress begin to affect the well-being of older adults in our society.

•    According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012), by 2056 the number of
retiring adults will outstrip the number of new workers

•    By 2050 the number of Australians over the age of 50 will have increased by 80%.

•    The lifespan of both men and women has increased over the last decade and people     are faced with longer periods of retirement

•    Retirement not only signals the end of a career but also the end of an identity that had power, money, status and meaning.

•    Retirement is a period of developmental crisis and is intensified by the ageism stigma.

Some of the challenges faced by those entering retirement include:
•    managing expectations and the expectations of those around you
•    adjusting to retirement lifestyle
•    creating a new identity
•    dealing with loss and grief
•    adapting to changes in activities
•    dealing with relationship conflicts and changes
•    health issues
•    re-assessing financial status
•    planning for longer retirement.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes” (Proust)

An individual’s identity is not limited to what they did in their working life or what they are currently doing but identity is an ever evolving process and it can be re-defined right up until the end of life.

So if you need help in your transition to retirement call a TLC Counsellor today.