There’s no retirement from life

By Ryhaan Shah

Retirement is a time not for retreat from life but for an evolution into one where we now have the freedom to design our own schedule and spend our time exactly how we want without the intrusion of a work schedule.
It is a major life event and an important transition, and now that we are away from the stress of a daily work routine, our mental health should improve, and we can turn our thoughts to pursuing our passions and hobbies or even projects that make use of the knowledge we gained in our jobs and careers.
Professionals could become consultants, working at their own pace while also earning an income. Others could use their experience to start a small business or engage in volunteer work, which provides immense satisfaction and feelings of well-being.
Retirement is a concept that applies to many professionals and wage earners. The private sector and the state determine that at age 65, our productivity diminishes due to natural aging and, maybe, ill health. We retire and make way for the next generation. This is the established pattern in most countries, and both the government and the private sector provide pensions scaled to our respective salary when we retire.
For many of the self-employed, however, there is little or no such idea as retirement. Mr. Hemraj Kissoon is still at the helm of his business, as is Mr. Sattaur Gafoor at his. They are just two prominent members of our business community who remain engaged with what has been their lifelong and very satisfying work, and they will continue to be in charge for as long as their health permits.
Professionals such as accountants, medical doctors, and lawyers who manage their own offices or clinics also continue to work well into what is considered retirement age as long as they, too, enjoy good health.
While some welcome retirement, it’s not always a rosy picture for others. If you have not managed to save enough for retirement, there could be real challenges to living on a reduced or fixed income. And while some enjoy the freedom that comes with retirement, others can feel bored or irrelevant with the loss of the daily structure, camaraderie, and busyness that come with a work environment.
If the workplace was the main source of your social interaction, you might find it difficult to make new friendships or find new ways of making social or community connections. Feelings of isolation could translate to a loss of good mental and physical health. Perhaps you can look at retirement, instead, as a challenge and approach it as if it were simply a new job.
Giving some structure to your day could help with the transition, and finding new purpose can be a powerful motivator. Perhaps your work experience can translate into a small business or can lead to doing some volunteer work. Those who engage in volunteerism are said to have much higher levels of happiness and feelings of well-being.
It’s not just the altruism; it’s a hack for mental health, replacing the dopamine hit of “being needed” that work used to provide. For some, the purpose that volunteering provides leads them back into the workforce with an offer of part-time work. Volunteering to do the accounts for your church or temple, for instance, could lead to a job offer.
A few retirees even report the joy of doing absolutely nothing for lengths of time after decades of hard work and their daily commute, and many simply embrace the time they can now spend with family and, more especially, with grandchildren.
This can be enough compensation for some retirees for their loss of work, and here is where the family and community can help to make sure that the retired relative or neighbor feels included and cared for. The saying that retirement is retirement from work and not from life is a good reminder of the priorities we should keep in mind.
Many quotes about retirement celebrate this period as giving us a chance at a new beginning, to enjoy life on our own terms, and to relax after years of hard work. Writer H.G. Wells said, “Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to.”
Finally, there is time to focus on our own personal achievements and to embrace the journey ahead by living life fully and to see the years ahead as a chance to continue our journey with purpose and passion.
Now is our chance for self-discovery, for simplifying our lives, and adapting to a new, fulfilling chapter.