Why retirement is not a problem you can fix simply.

For those who read last week's blog, but felt the talk about blocked toilets was too much, I'd like to develop the same idea but in another direction.

I will now make a distinction between solving a technical problem and dealing with its near opposite: an adaptive problem. Technical problems, such as fixing that blocked toilet, will typically have a solution that is clear, and usually with an effective outcome.

The non-financial aspects of retirement is an adaptive problem. Adaptive problems typically mask some deeper emotional issues that need to be uncovered, then addressed.

As a simple example: when you work you have an identity defined by your work, but what will your identity be when you retire? Nobody can simply hand you a new identity. You have to discover what will make you feel useful and engaged after work ends.

That is not a technical problem. It’s adaptive. Here are three common features of adaptive problems.

·       There can be values that are in conflict

·       Certain assumptions are held, but not questioned

·       Some relevant matters aren’t talked about

Let’s apply these to retirement in the order above:

Some people hold as a key value that retirement is a place to shuck off the stress of work so as to enjoy life. That's fine, but my point is that retirement can last for 30 years; and perhaps fun can only take you so far in that journey. You may value feeling useful; then fun and useful will be in conflict.

Retirement can also expose a conflict between freedom and structure. In particular, as an assumption, some people believe that retirement can be a period of time where you wake up each day and work out what to do. In other words, with no routine and no structure. Is that right for you? What if that freedom quickly morphs into a feeling of aimlessness and boredom?

There are also matters about retirement that we seldom question. One is that a satisfying life will naturally emerge once work ends. Perhaps it will. But is that something you want to leave entirely to chance? This leads to a subject we rarely discuss. We talk openly about how much money someone needs to retire. We talk far less about what will make their ordinary days feel worthwhile.

That silence exists partly because these questions expose uncertainty, which cannot be easily undone. A fulfilling retirement has to be worked out through honest conversation and practical experimentation.

If you recognise yourself in this article, email me at jon@64plus.com.au to arrange a chat about your situation.

Jon Glass
Retirement Specialist and Coach
64PLUS