Why Decisions Feel Harder After Retirement (And Why That Matters)
People are often surprised to find that retired life can feel unsettling, confusing or even empty during the first year; after the honeymoon phase. They might miss the structure of their worklife. There is a false assumption at play. What is it?
Many people assume that retirement will simplify life for them. That isn’t always the case, and here is an example. Surprisingly, many people discover that decision-making gets harder in retirement once they have left the environment of work. Without the deadlines, structure and hierarchy (the boss) of work, decisions can seem difficult. To put this differently: why do so many people feel lost as they enter retirement and, in particular why does decision-making feel so STRANGE when you retire?
But this article has good news! If looked at properly, decision-making can become simpler in retired life. But that requires thinking and that is where a retirement coach can help, and here are some free resources for you:
https://www.64plus.com.au/free-resources
Back to the essence of this blog.
Do you remember those difficult decision days in your work life? I feel sure you can recall them, but let me prompt your memory. Here are four ways that perhaps assisted you to make a decision:
1. Trial and error
2. Asking help from colleagues
3. Diligent research
4. Clarification of goals
All four are valid ways to progress, and they can even be useful in combination.
But here’s the rub, in order of one to four:
1. The boss may not like you doing that
2. You may suffer “dumb question syndrome” i.e. be too shy to ask
3. Research takes time, maybe time you didn’t have
4. Clarity is good, but sometimes the perfect can be the enemy of the good
At first glance, retirement seems to remove these obstacles, but it’s more complicated. Is there an answer to this complexity? Yes.
Here’s the good news. In retired life, when making decisions about the most fulfilling retired life for you, all those objections vanish as:
1. You don’t have a boss
2. You can ask ChatGPT; it will be kind
3. You have the time
4. You can go as deep as you choose.
But as retirement is unfamiliar territory you may suffer the opposite - which is difficulty in making decisions. Does this article help you understand why decisions may feel harder after retirement? Are you thinking about how YOU will make decisions concerning your retired life? If this resonates with you then reach out for further discussion to
https://www.64plus.com.au/contact.
To continue. A fulfilling retirement is more than a slogan. It requires understanding and development.
Many people discover that decisions in retirement feel strangely different from those in working life. Without the familiar structure of a job or career, even simple choices can become surprisingly difficult.
This is one of the areas where a retirement coach can help — by providing perspective, structure and templates for discussion to aid your own self-reflection. Many clients come to 64PLUS because they sense that retirement is not the simple formula that our society believes it to be.
If you would like to explore your retirement transition, you are welcome to contact me here:
https://www.64plus.com.au/contact
Moreover, if this idea resonates with you, feel free to email me jon@64plus.com.au:
I read every response. I look forward to hearing about your own plans for a re-imagined and fulfilling retirement.
This blog is part of a series on decision making in retirement. Here is the second instalment:
Jon Glass Retirement Coach