Could retirement coaching be of value to YOU?
Retirement arrives to each person as a major transition in life. Certainly retirement is about money and health, but it’s also about a whole lot more: which is to find meaning and purpose in retirement. The question is: who might benefit from engaging a retirement coach to help them find their personal meaning in retirement?
Let’s admit at the outset that some people retire from work with a pre-defined sense of meaning (e.g. Golf, Gardening, Grandparenting) and off they go. Good luck to them. For the purposes of this article we can ignore that group.
However, there are two other groups:
1. Those who seek help from a retirement coach. They get it: that finding meaning in retirement is critical to having a fulfilling retirement, and that it’s a good idea to get help on this new journey. Their coach will, through questioning and listening, guide them to locate their own meaning. Along the way issues such as:
· finding a routine in retirement,
· constructing a new identity,
· knowing how best to deal with all the free time,
· constructing a social life,
· giving back to society,
· learning new skills,
· creating something ,
will take the stage.
Moreover, because they made the discovery themselves (albeit with help) it will feel more genuine.
2. The second group is much harder to understand. These are the people who would not naturally seek a coach but, in fact, they might need one. It’s just that they don’t know it.
Here are some possible reasons to explain that reluctance:
· Lack of Information. The concept of retirement coaching is still new and not well understood in our culture. If retirees don’t know such help exists, they’re unlikely to seek it out (on the other hand, everyone who experiences a blocked drain in their house knows that there are plumbers to call).
· Stigma. Some might view the act of seeking help as an admission of weakness. If they successfully managed the challenges of their working life they may believe they have the natural skills to beat the challenges of their retirement and don’t need help. They may be wrong.
· Generational Attitudes. For previous generations, retirement was a milestone that came before a short span of retired life. This has changed, as we now live a lot longer. However these generational attitudes change at a slow pace.
These reasons, individually or taken together, may explain the inhibitions of the second group, but at what cost?
There are several that may arise.
· Declining Mental Health. There is research to suggest that a long period in retirement - in the absence of meaning and purpose - can lead to anxiety, cognitive decline and depression.
· Relationship Breakdown. Partners, family and friends may adopt a negative attitude to those failing to live their best retired life.
Conclusion
In summary, a poorly devised retirement strategy may cause you to waste the early, healthy years of your retirement. Wouldn’t it be smart to get help in order to construct a fulfilling and joyful retirement for yourself?
I’d love to know what you think.
Dr Jon Glass Retirement Coach
E: jon@64plus.com.au