Transitioning from work to retirement?

Anthony Chandler an accomplished Australia Sculptor says “I know too well it is a bumpy, troublesome time as we wrestle with questions of identity and rebuilding relationships”. Journalist, Dina Gerdeman, in an interview with Harvard Business School Professor Teresa Amabile has studied the effect of retirement, one man on the cusp of exiting his career spoke openly about how the transition was making him question his identity. “After I retire, I’m going to have to discover who I really am,” he said “the rocky self-reflection stage of retirement is the beginning for most and for many, that giddy glow starts to wear off within weeks or months, as they shuffle through a sometimes-tough adjustment period where they struggle with restructuring their lives and letting go of a big part of their identity as employed people”.

Professor Amabile found that although the initial excitement of freedom and flexibility, many retirees described unexpected feelings of being at loose ends, and it typically took from six months to two years (or more) for them to sort through their thoughts and feelings. People varied considerably in whether they saw the open space of time before them as a blank canvas they were excited to paint—or a dark, scary void.

Chandler was a very successful Creative Director in a Global Advertising organisation until eventually computer technology took over most of his hands on and handmade creative art work. His life changed almost overnight. As Amabile says “When you work, you are a kind of tenant in a really settled life structure, where you know where you’re going to be and what you’re going to be doing Monday through Friday. And you have a clear identity related to your work,” Amabile says. “You go from that to having to be an architect of a new life structure and, often, a new identity, where you need to build a new life and explore new activities, relationships, and ways of thinking about yourself.”

 Chandler a more purpose-driven individual was determined to find meaningful activities, like volunteering or becoming active in local civic organizations or getting a few part time contracts or even a part time job? “it was hard, and I need someone to guide me”

 Such things as deteriorating spousal relationships are a hazard as Amabile’s study found, some men whose wives had been homemakers said they drove their wives crazy soon after retirement by invading the kitchen and doing things like alphabetizing the spices. “Some people feel like their relationships deepen and they enjoy spending more time with a partner,” Amabile says. “But you have to negotiate new physical and psychological boundaries with your spouse, and people vary in how bumpy that transition is.”

 Bruce Gregory Associates know how difficult this time in your life can be but having been through it we are good people to have a chat with as it helps high achieving & inspirational executives and professionals to achieve greater satisfaction and regain control and get a much better outcome. www.bruceregoryassociates.com helps all levels, professions and industries. For a FREE assessments send a message or email your Resume to [email protected].

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