Have you ever talked to someone who was thinking of retiring? Some people act like retirement is like accepting a death sentence. For some people, the work ethic is so strong that the idea of not working is frightening and causes a lot of stress. This article delves into some strategies to help you in coping with retirement transition.
The reason for retirement can be a natural end to a long and gratifying career. It may be premature with the athlete forced out through injury, de-selection or financial reasons. Whatever the reason, there is a transition the athlete needs to go through to adjust to a new way of life. It took me three times to finally retire from the sport.
Each athlete will have their reasons for retiring, returning or even staying in the sport. It's important for an individual to consider their motivation for either wisely - is it positive and towards something they want to do, or is it motivated by pain, moving away from an undesired situation e. G., lack of success outside of sport. Having a positive direction to move towards is inevitably a more empowering motivation that produces results.
Retiring due to the natural way is deemed to be more acceptable. You need to understand that our body endurance is limited. Besides, isn't it nice to look back to those achievements and honor you gathered during your active days? Such a feeling will help you to ease up the pain of leaving your hectic environment.
Many athletes agree that having a new goal or focus makes the transition easier. Confusion with both the decision to retire and with what to do next impedes the process. The circumstances of the individual determine the response to retirement. Everybody seems to go through a state of confusion and need to accept that as a necessary part of the process. Even those who are prepared still hit a slump. The transition does not happen quickly, and this can come as a shock to athletes, and they may need coaching through the process.
Another way to cope with this shock is to ease into it slowly. Continue to work in your profession, but at a reduced pace. It may be possible to work part-time or do some consulting that may make your transition out of the work force a success. Years ago, I had a friend who retired, but continued to come to work as if he was still part of the company.
Make a plan to travel (even if it is only locally) and spend more time with family and friends or doing whatever you want. You can enjoy getting to know your grandchildren better and maybe being a kid with them for an afternoon as well. The idea is to get out of the house and start doing something. If you are looking for work, set aside some time to plan for your life after retiring.
Support is essential in moving forward. This support may come from family and friends, or it may come from professional help -counseling, career guidance or even a coach. Athletes are used to having coaches in their sport so why not continue to have a coach in life to help keep them on track, motivated and working towards new goals.
The reason for retirement can be a natural end to a long and gratifying career. It may be premature with the athlete forced out through injury, de-selection or financial reasons. Whatever the reason, there is a transition the athlete needs to go through to adjust to a new way of life. It took me three times to finally retire from the sport.
Each athlete will have their reasons for retiring, returning or even staying in the sport. It's important for an individual to consider their motivation for either wisely - is it positive and towards something they want to do, or is it motivated by pain, moving away from an undesired situation e. G., lack of success outside of sport. Having a positive direction to move towards is inevitably a more empowering motivation that produces results.
Retiring due to the natural way is deemed to be more acceptable. You need to understand that our body endurance is limited. Besides, isn't it nice to look back to those achievements and honor you gathered during your active days? Such a feeling will help you to ease up the pain of leaving your hectic environment.
Many athletes agree that having a new goal or focus makes the transition easier. Confusion with both the decision to retire and with what to do next impedes the process. The circumstances of the individual determine the response to retirement. Everybody seems to go through a state of confusion and need to accept that as a necessary part of the process. Even those who are prepared still hit a slump. The transition does not happen quickly, and this can come as a shock to athletes, and they may need coaching through the process.
Another way to cope with this shock is to ease into it slowly. Continue to work in your profession, but at a reduced pace. It may be possible to work part-time or do some consulting that may make your transition out of the work force a success. Years ago, I had a friend who retired, but continued to come to work as if he was still part of the company.
Make a plan to travel (even if it is only locally) and spend more time with family and friends or doing whatever you want. You can enjoy getting to know your grandchildren better and maybe being a kid with them for an afternoon as well. The idea is to get out of the house and start doing something. If you are looking for work, set aside some time to plan for your life after retiring.
Support is essential in moving forward. This support may come from family and friends, or it may come from professional help -counseling, career guidance or even a coach. Athletes are used to having coaches in their sport so why not continue to have a coach in life to help keep them on track, motivated and working towards new goals.
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Get great advice for coping with retirement transition anxiety and more information about the Reflect on Retirement blog at http://www.reflectonretirement.com/category/at-retirement today.
