Think about retirement as “rewirement,” suggests senior life coach and columnist Marvin Weinbaum. Here’s how to embrace that new mindset.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
In every season of our lives, we face challenges. There are opportunities as well, but the challenges are what demand our attention. As children and adolescents, we need to make friends and fit in; as young adults we want to forge a career, perhaps begin a family. In middle age we seek to prosper and build the financial resources to live comfortably over the long haul. Moving into our senior years we want to be well thought of – perhaps even admired – closing out our careers and our parenting with something like “mission accomplished.”
And when we retire, work – one of the anchors of our life – comes to an abrupt end. We face the question, “Where do I go from here?”
With familiar boundaries and schedules removed, we face the freedom – and responsibility – to design our own days. We need to prepare ourselves emotionally for new beginnings.
How to achieve rewirement
If you are already retired or considering it, let me offer some suggestions:
Retirement is a change of identity
- We’ve always answered the question, “What do you do?” with our occupation. Retirement means building a new identity based upon our values, emerging priorities, and new activities rather than a job title.
- We must reinvent ourselves. We can travel, take classes, go to the gym, walk, meditate, do yoga. We can indulge our hobbies, care for our homes, see friends. Some of us – not me – play golf, pickleball, tennis. We have time to read, to write, to draw and paint.
- Contrary to commonly held fears about boredom in retirement, you might find that there are hardly enough hours in the day. That’s what I have found.
Stay curious
- The second half of life isn’t a sequel. It’s a new story with few boundaries; a new beginning. If you remain curious, you will find that “life can be a series of explorations from a sound base.”
- Retirement isn’t graduation from learning – the brain enjoys new challenges at every age – so take classes, go to museums, read non-fiction; let every new possibility fuel your curiosity.
Rewire your calendar
- Retirement gives us the freedom and responsibility to construct our own days based upon our newly emerging priorities.
- A blank calendar is liberating – fill it thoughtfully.
- Purposeful routines and achievable outcomes create the momentum to reach our goals.
Redefine achievement
- You don’t outgrow purpose and meaning —you simply outgrow old definitions of them.
- Ask: “Who can benefit from my experience? What knowledge do I have that shouldn’t retire with me?”
- Mentoring, volunteering, coaching, and helping family can provide deep satisfaction.
Invest in relationships
- Loneliness is one of retirement’s greatest risks; connection is one of its best remedies.
- Strengthen family ties, friendships, and your place within your community.
Accept that rewirement takes time
- Retirement is less a destination than an ongoing redesign.
- It’s normal to experiment. Some new activities won’t fit; others will surprise you.
- Be intentional. You are stronger and more creative than you think.
Retirement isn’t the end of productive living – it’s an invitation to rewire your talents, relationships, and sense of purpose.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” – Chinese proverb
