What Are the Five Stages of Retirement? Finding Purpose in Your “Golden Years”
You’ve probably heard of the “golden years.” The fun-filled, carefree time after you retire from
work and embrace older adulthood. While the retirement life may conjure up images of lazy
days on the beach, happy hours with friends or a daily golf regimen, it may also spark some
anxiety.
Many retirees experience a changing sense of identity and purpose as they leave their careers
and focus on other life priorities. You might wonder how you’ll find community in this life stage,
what activities will help you enjoy life after retirement, or how you can plan your retirement
lifestyle in advance.
There are financial, emotional, and health considerations, so it can be both intimidating and
exciting to embark on your retired life. The good news is that you’re far from alone on your
journey. 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, making 1 in 6 Americans 65 and older. But no
matter when you decide to stop working, you’ll likely experience the following five stages of
retirement. Let’s explore each of these stages so you can make the best of this next chapter in
your life.
1. The Pre-retirement Phase
The years before you retire can involve extensive thought and planning while you’re still living
your typical lifestyle. When and how this happens is different for everyone; It can last anywhere
from five to ten years or more, depending on your preferences and life goals.
As a general rule of thumb, though, the pre-retirement phase may officially begin once your
focus shifts from expanding your career to planning financially for what comes after. It is
essential to make sure you have enough saved to enjoy the later years of your life after
retirement and plan for eventual long-term care.
But financial preparation is just one piece of the puzzle that makes a happy retirement. Use the
pre-retirement phase to plan for situational and emotional changes. You may weigh the options
of moving, traveling, being close to family and friends, forming new communities of friends, and
developing hobbies. All of these decisions will play a role in finding purpose in retirement. You’ll
want to plan now for the retirement life you believe will best support your wellness as a senior.
2. The Retirement Honeymoon Phase
Like an exciting new romance, retirement has its own honeymoon phase. Once anxieties
dissipate, you’ll hopefully begin to embrace the fun of life in retirement. Some retirees in the
honeymoon phase feel like they’re on an endless vacation, having discovered hobbies they love
and are spending time with loved ones and new friends.
However, everyone’s retirement honeymoon looks different. Some keep up many of the same
routines they had when working, while others dive into a leisurely lifestyle. Perhaps living your
“golden years” to the fullest means finding more unusual things to do in retirement. Maybe you
finally get involved in local theater, master woodworking, take college courses, become a
mentor, or learn how to play an instrument!
The possibilities are endless, and there’s no right way to live the retirement lifestyle. You’ve
worked hard your whole life and likely provided for others. Make this special time about
yourself and pursue whatever truly excites you.
3. The Disenchantment Phase
And just like romantic honeymoon periods can fizzle out, so can your excitement about
retirement. After all, transitioning to a life after work or raising a family is a dramatic change, so
at some point when reality hits, you may find yourself bored or restless.
The disenchantment phase usually happens because retirees have grown tired of the
vacation-like quality of retirement and are missing the sense of purpose they had within their
careers or previous lifestyle.
4. The Reorientation Phase
However, don’t fear the disenchantment. Just like in earlier phases of your life, you can pivot to
explore new activities, people and places that continue to make retirement fun. If you’re looking
for new things to do in retirement, try shifting your focus to spending time with loved ones,
becoming involved in your community—or even joining a new community. Finding activities
that give you a sense of purpose and help you meet new people can reduce feelings of
loneliness or depression.
Reorienting your lifestyle can be challenging. But making the effort to try new things can help
you discover new interests and avoid missing your pre-retirement life too much.
5. The Stability Phase
Finally, you’ve made it! You’ve settled into the retirement lifestyle that works for you. This is
when those “golden years” really begin. You can be fully present in your life now that you’ve
found purpose in retirement and have renewed hope for the future.
Some retirees reach this stage after just a few years. Others can take as long as a decade to
really learn how to enjoy life after retirement. But it doesn’t matter how you reach this stage of
retirement, only that you get there. In the meantime, enjoy the journey.
Plan for a Healthy and Happy Retirement Lifestyle
No matter where you are on your journey through the stages of retirement, there are several
things you can do to make your transition smooth through every phase. Keeping up healthy
habits, like exercise, a balanced diet and plenty of social interaction, will help you to feel
supported and capable throughout this transitional phase of life.
Moving into a retirement or assisted living community is a great way to ensure you stay active
and happy after retiring. Senior living communities like those at Caring Places feature many
activities and social events designed to promote well-rounded and exciting lives for older adults.
Caring Places offers independent living at Beehive Retirement Community in McCleary,
Washington, as well as assisted living and memory care in 12 locations across the Pacific
Northwest. Learn more by requesting a tour of our communities today.