How to Transition From Work Life to Retirement

It’s a major change in your life when you no longer have a significant priority filling your days, and it can manifest in a variety of ways. Find a support group through friends, family, and local professionals, as you may find that you’re:

• Grieving the loss of purpose or identity that comes with no longer holding those responsibilities.
• More stressed, anxious, or depressed trying to fill your days with meaningful duties or activities.
• Socially isolated as most of your interactions with people were easily provided by your vocation.

“I appreciate how Wesley Woods was able to accommodate and support my passion for the ham radio and let me bring it to the community. I have residents here interested in the ham radio who enjoy having access again here. I have fun talking to people all around the world, and it’s great that I can keep doing that.”

– Stan, Wesley Woods resident

Explore Your Lifestyle

There may be some current parts of your lifestyle that you can continue or devote more time to, and there may be some things you now have time to explore, including:

• Caring for or fostering pets
• Enhancing your knowledge through lifelong learning
• Exploring hobbies and interests and getting in tune with your creative side
• Traveling or leading a seasonal snowbird lifestyle

Manage New Structure

Without the structure from a vocation, you’ll have to revisit what a healthy routine looks like for you and how to maintain it:

• Creating nutritional dishes and planning meals
• Establishing a budget based on your personal finances, goals, and interests
• Exploring your wellness journey to be a healthier, well-rounded individual
• Taking time to engage, relax, and enjoy leisure activities

“I always liked writing and the theater and have been very involved in both throughout my life, so I love taking advantage of the artistic opportunities here. I’ve self-published before and might need to think about writing another book! A couple of my books are actually sitting in the library here at Twin Towers.”

-Karen, Twin Towers resident

Find New Meanings

The beautiful thing about retirement is you can find new meanings and reignite past passions with all the time you have available now:

• Advocating for causes and charities that are most important to you
• Continuing to work in a way that fits your new lifestyle
• Donating your time and resources through volunteering
• Mentoring younger generations with all your life experience

Explore a variety of ways to spend your time in retirement in our free ebook, Lifestyle Opportunities in Senior Living Communities!

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.