Many people build their identity around their career, so the idea of retiring may feel disorienting. Finding purpose in retirement requires more than keeping busy; it involves seeking new outlets that provide fulfillment as well as finding balance between self-care and connection with others.
First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge your emotions. If you are feeling angry, anxious, sad or grieve-stricken don’t be afraid to express them and talk through them with someone – such as close friends, counselors or even an online community such as HelpGuide’s Emotional Intelligence Toolkit – who may provide much-needed support during this transition phase.
As one way of finding purpose in retirement, volunteering can provide a fulfilling path. Volunteering allows you to pass along the skills developed during your professional career while simultaneously giving back to the community and expanding or maintaining social connections as well as maintaining or improving physical wellbeing.
As research demonstrates, striking a balance between self-care and connecting with others is key to finding purpose in retirement. Finally, although research has long considered purpose a relatively stable trait, evidence of its elasticity shows increasing signs of modification throughout one’s lifespan – including later age.