By Dr. AmyBeth Taublieb

Many people look forward to their retirement, often for months or even years, as the stage of life where they can finally enjoy life to its fullest. Many people have hopes, visions, and goals as to what their retirement will look like. For some, it is the anticipation of retiring that actually gets them through their work week. It is not uncommon for individuals to have a “countdown” sign hanging over their work areas with the exact number of days remaining until they can call themselves “retired.”

While many people find retirement to be everything they anticipated and more, there are many others who experience considerable emotional distress when that day finally arrives. Those in this latter group often speak of feeling anxious, empty, lost, having a lack of direction, and even actually feeling depressed. There are even those folks who express doubt as to why they ever retired in the first place. Commonly, these individuals tell me that they don’t want to return to work, but are not happy being retired either. They feel as if they don’t know where they “belong” anymore in the grand scheme of life.

These “retirement blues” that afflict many people make a great deal of sense when taking into consideration that most working people spend a large proportion of their waking hours at their place of employment. In fact, they spend as much time with their co-workers as they do with their actual family. Perhaps, most importantly, it is common for individuals in our society to define themselves in terms of their occupation or career. It is for this reason that retirement can represent a significant feeling of loss of one’s identity and sense of worth.

Does this mean that retirement should be avoided at all costs? Of course not! Nothing is ever all good or all bad. However, it is very important for individuals to understand that the retirement process represents a major life change. And, as with all major life changes, it is important to be prepared both emotionally and behaviorally. In order to accomplish this, it is important to know yourself and plan accordingly. To start, consider the role that work plays in your life and in your self-perception and confidence. How comfortable are you with unstructured time? Was this retirement planned by you intentionally, or were you forced to leave your employment? Finally, consider how you are going to spend your days. Do you have a plan? The more proactive and honest you are with yourself in exploring these issues, the greater the likelihood that your retirement will resemble your dream, rather than a nightmare!

Dr. AmyBeth Taublieb is a licensed Western New York psychologist who provides psychotherapy and assessment for individuals, couples, and families. She is also an author, media personality, and public speaker. If you are interested in exploring her services, contact Dr. Taublieb at 716-834-1505, or visit www.dramybeth.com. If you are interested in having her address topics that are important to you, contact us at info@buffalohealthyliving.com.