“I feel like I went from 95 to zero in a weekend!”
This is
how a 66-year-old friend describes his experience with retiring from an
engineering career. He went on to tell what it felt like the first Monday
morning without work.
“My wife got up and went to work. I was left home. Alone.
Not sure what to do with myself. The first two weeks were really rough. I’m
still trying to figure it out.”
When I think about going from 95 to zero, I imagine driving
a car and then suddenly slamming on the brakes to avoid hitting something. The
force of momentum sends everything flying forward—including my spine and
forehead. If I had advance warning, I’d brake gradually, slowly coming to a
stop. Nothing would be forced out of place. My body would comfortably adjust to
the change in speed. No shock to absorb.
Since most of us have advance warning of retirement, why do
some people go full speed, and then suddenly hit the brakes? Is there a way to
move over to the slower lane, even when everyone around us is still moving at
95? If we can’t literally slow down, is there a way to mentally tap the brakes
before being hit with retirement? I think so.
Begin now, even at 95 miles/hour, to get in touch with
interests you had before you got too busy with work. Did you play a
musical instrument in high school? If so, explore opportunities to play with a
community band, take lessons, or join a worship team at church. You might not remember
how much fun it is until you try. Plus you’ll be part of a community, which is
often missed in retirement.
Increase your physical activity. Investing in your health is
as important as investing in your workplace.
Talk to other people who have already retired, especially
friends who experienced something similar to your situation—being totally
absorbed in work and then nothing. Ask what's working and what's not? What lessons have they learned along the journey?
Consider gradual retirement instead of cold turkey. It’s not
that one leads to more happiness. What matters is for you to have a choice.
Use weekends and vacations to practice retirement. Purposely
leave your schedule open so you experience unstructured time. Use this time to
consider what matters to you—what will bring purpose and meaning to your life.
Also consider the idea that maybe you retired at the right
time, but stopped working too soon. Retirement and work are not mutually
exclusive. Instead, retirement makes you available to that next thing—and that
next thing might be work—just something different and for different reasons.
I’m warning you there
is something in the road around the bend—RETIREMENT. Begin now to tap your
brakes.
Copyright 2018. Patrice Jenkins. All Rights Reserved.
