Retirement is one of life’s most significant and inevitable events for many working adults. It is a single term that encompasses other equally important life events within it, such as health issues, ageing processes, financial security, relationship changes and role modifications. It has also been found to be in the top ten of life’s most stressful events (Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale). A large amount of the stress emanates from how we perceive this significant life event.
There appears to be a particular discourse for each life stage we go through. Ageing and retirement receiving the short end of the stick. Teenage and young adult years are often seen as being as being the “best years” of a person’s life, with limitless opportunities, possibilities and the ability to just live. Middle aged life is about having settled, either in career, family or both and this can be around late forties to early sixties. From the mid- to late sixties onwards the stresses of retirement, health decline and isolation begin.
However this is not always the case for the different life stages. In fact each of them can be equally stressful or gratifying, depending on a range of factors. For instance the teenage to young adult years can be a stressful time where issues of identity and intimacy are concerned as posited by Erik Erikson in his theory of psychosocial stages; success with these can make the “best years” possible. In the same way, the mid- to late sixties onwards can either be challenging or great and retirement can be the best time of your life. The important thing is to plan for it, not just financially but holistically.
The IE Group offers coaching to explore different options one can consider for retirement regarding finances, health, mentoring, leisure and overall positive, meaningful living.
