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Retirement marks one of life\u2019s major transitions, often bringing a sense of freedom, new possibilities and the opportunity to slow down. Yet it can also lead to emotional challenges and uncertainty, which are rarely discussed.<\/p>\n
The loss of structure that comes with leaving working life can be a hard adjustment for many, and it\u2019s a pattern BACP senior accredited psychotherapist and counsellor Lina Mookerjee<\/a> of Praxis Therapy has often seen among her older clients.<\/p>\n \u201cOne<\/a> of the biggest things that I have observed is that we are fed an image of retirement, but it\u2019s not actually the same for everybody,\u201d reflects Mookerjee. \u201cThere\u2019s often assumptions about how wonderful it\u2019s going to be and I think that encountering the reality can sometimes be a shock.\u201d<\/p>\n However, with the right mindset and preparation, retirement can be a fulfilling and healthy chapter. Here, Mookerjee shares her top tips for navigating this life-changing period with confidence\u2026<\/p>\n Create a healthy routine<\/p>\n \u201cHaving routine and structure to your days means that you commit to not just the immediacy of the day, but also long-term health in your diet, exercise, social contact and rest,\u201d says Mookerjee. \u201cMaintaining health and wellbeing in older life becomes far more precarious and you have to be even more disciplined because things start to go wrong. A rhythm to your day also offers reassurance and comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n Find your purpose<\/p>\n \u201cGoing to work gives you a purpose. Often that purpose is to provide for your family, or the company\u2019s mission may help you feel like you\u2019re part of something,\u201d acknowledges Mookerjee. \u201cDuring retirement, it\u2019s then down to you as an individual to take that on. It\u2019s a time of major reevaluation and can cause an existential crisis about our own existence. A sense of confusion and chaos can ensue, so in terms of mental health, it can be very destabilising.\u201d<\/p>\n Mookerjee encourages individuals in this situation to consider what else is truly important to them and to explore what brings them happiness beyond work.<\/p>\n \u201cTake action and think about what you need to reevaluate,\u201d advises the psychotherapist. \u201cAsk yourself, what\u2019s important to me? Is it charity work? Is it giving to the homeless? It\u2019s about finding worth, as worth and purpose are connected.\u201d<\/p>\n Consider volunteering<\/p>\n \u201cI was in my local charity shop at the weekend and the women volunteering in there were in their late 80s and they were so busy,\u201d says Mookerjee. \u201cBut, they love it because it helps them feel wanted and needed. So, volunteering can be really powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n Make an effort to maintain existing connections<\/p>\n \u201cDuring retirement people often move from an office that\u2019s busy to then silence,\u201d highlights Mookerjee. \u201cAs humans, we exist more healthily with people, so it\u2019s all about making the effort and being your own personal assistant when it comes to social plans.<\/p>\n \u201cTry to get into a routine where you meet up with your former colleagues or mates on a weekly or monthly basis. Make a commitment to meet up at a social club or at a coffee shop, wherever is familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n Make new connections<\/p>\n \u201cMake attempts to make new contacts,\u201d recommends Mookerjee. \u201cJoin a new club, volunteer at a charity shop or join an activity in a library.<\/p>\n \u201cMy local library offers all sorts of activities such as backgammon, Scrabble<\/a>, Sudoku etc. It gets people out and about to meet, and it\u2019s familiar. It gives you something to look forward to, to get up and get dressed for.\u201d<\/p>\n Try gardening<\/p>\n