After years of working planning for retirement can be exciting as well as stressful. There are many things to consider, which is the same for any transition in life. No one will have the same retirement experience, but most people will feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The feelings usually come in stages which may include:

Stage 1: Planning

Some start this early and others later, but we all plan for the day we can walk out the workplace and never look back. This takes time thinking about when you want to retire, how much money you need, where you want to live etc. It’s important to prepare yourself emotionally for this big change and to retire when you are ready if you can. By understanding the emotions that come with retiring you will be able to transition from one stage to the next more easily.

Stage 2: Excitement

Once retirement gets closer you’ll start to become more excited. It may be that the thought of not having to get up and go to work Monday morning seems like a dream. And as anticipation builds some will also experience uncertainty.   Who am I outside of my work? How will I spend my time? 

3: The Honeymoon

This stage is common during many life transitions and of course in retirement too. In the beginning many of your days will be just figuring out what to do with yourself. Learn a new hobby, travel to some exotic local, visit your new grandchild halfway across the country. There is no end to the possibilities. This is also a time to relax and enjoy.



Unfortunately, this stage does not last forever and even though you have worked hard for many years to get to here, eventually you may yearn for something deeper.

Stage 4: Disenchantment

At this point, retirement may not seem as fun and exciting as you thought it would be. After trying new hobbies and lots of trips, disenchantment sets in. For some depression and feelings of emptiness become part of their everyday lives. It is important to talk to someone and ask for help if you need it.

Perhaps just talking with family and friends may be all you need to find a sense of purpose again. Volunteering at a local organization, learning, or a more meaningful activity may help.

Stage 5: Reorientation and Stability

The final stage of retirement emotions is reorientation and stability. This is when you go back to your original retirement plan and reevaluate your goals and hopes you had for retirement. After the honeymoon stage is over and reality sets in, you can make some changes and begin to embrace this part of your life. It is all about balance. Doing the exciting experiences as well as the meaningful. Ask yourself some questions:

What do I still wish to accomplish? How can I achieve this? What makes me fulfilled?

As you begin to settle into retirement you will see the bigger picture and accept the stability that comes with it. Enjoy!