Love your job and worried about retiring? How to stay busy and avoid post-retirement blues

If you have been a self-proclaimed workaholic for most of your life, taking that final step away from your job can be a difficult decision to make.

At 81, US President Joe Biden has faced numerous questions about when he plans to step away from his political career, but is still adamant that he needs to “get the job done”.

Entering into retirement can be a daunting prospect for some people, especially if they love their job, enjoy being busy and have a sense of purpose.

So if someone is worried about retiring, how can they plan to stay busy and engaged? Experts share their thoughts.

Why can it be such a hard adjustment for some people?

Retiring is a major life event that people either look forward to or find daunting.

“Indeed, we found 84% of retirees find retirement at least somewhat enjoyable and mostly have the freedoms they expected,” Pete Glancy, head of pensions policy at Scottish Widows.

“However, for others, it can sometimes leave people feeling like they’ve lost their identity or role and purpose in life as the adjustment period of new social and financial realities set in.

“It’s important that the emotional side to preparing for later life is factored into holistic retirement planning so that once you’ve got a watertight plan for your finances and can effectively plan for where you’re going to live, whether you want to upsize, downsize or even move to a different country – you can also ensure you have a clear idea on how you’re going to spend your time and be comfortable in retirement.”

Work part time or flexible hours 

According to Glancy, one of the biggest changes for most people when they retire is how they spend their time. Time once spent at work is now available for leisure, family and exploring new