The different stages of retirement

Retirement can be a bit like Marmite. Some people love it and others are not so keen. For some it can be a time where losing their work identity means that they struggle to find their sense of worth and direction for the future. It doesn’t have to be this way and some careful planning and acceptance of the new life that awaits you means that for most the transition can be a pleasant one. For some people this could mean a move to be nearer to family or perhaps to move into one of our Park Homes for sale, like the ones available on our new development in Gloucestershire.

There are five different stages that everyone goes through when it comes to retirement. Not everyone will experience them in the same way or for the same length of time.

Stage 1 : Pre-retirement

This is the period of time before your retirement where you plan what this new period of your life is going to look like. This can last anything from the last few years of your working life through to 10-15 years depending on how much you want to plan. It will involve looking at where you live, your finances and even planning your pensions and savings. For many people this is a period of time where they look forward to retirement as they are often planning their futures whilst holding down a job and navigating through family life.

Stage 2 : Full Retirement

This is the period of time when you have formally left your job and career and entered into retirement. This time is often full of excitement, relief and a sense of freedom where you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. People who are in this stage tend to spend time taking holidays and catching up with friends and family. It is thought that the initial excitement of full retirement can last for a couple of years depending on the type of person that you are and how you spend your new found free time.

Stage 3 : Disenchantment

Once the initial exciting of having time to yourself starts to wear off disenchantment can occur. This is where people start to feel disillusioned with the whole situation and can begin to feel like they are missing something in their loves. Boredom and loneliness can also occur. It is incredibly important that if you start to feel this way that you reach out to friends and fmaily and perhaps look at some groups in your local area that you can join where you can meet people who are in a similar situation to yours.

Stage 4 : Reorientation

One of the most challenging stages of retirement, this is when people can begin to feel a sense of loss. In some cases it can feel like a grieving process for your working life and everything that came with it. It is a time when closure is needed and one of the ways to do this is to look at the positives in retirement and the things that you can achieve that would never have been possible when you were working and bringing up a family.

Stage 5 : Reconciliation & Stability

The final stage of retirement is the time when people feel content in their new lifestyle and have worked through the closure that is needed. They have come to terms with how their life is going to look and have often settled into a routine of meeting with friends and family and have planned activities and holidays to enjoy.