When you retire from working, you leave behind the pressure and stress that goes along with it! However, you also leave behind a whole lot of social contact and relationships. This can cause a level of loneliness that can be damaging to your physical and mental health.
Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation – and it can have a serious effect on health. But there are ways to overcome loneliness, even if you live alone and find it hard to get out.
It doesn't mean that the transition is easy for everyone, and feeling sad, hopeless, or lost is natural and valid. Depression after retirement is also common. It's estimated that almost one-third of retirees in the United States develop symptoms of depression at this stage of life.
Studies have shown that an active lifestyle can decrease feelings of loneliness and depression in retired seniors and help to manage stress and anxiety. So, what are you waiting for? Exploring the outdoors is a great way to exercise because you can take part in a wide variety of activities that never get boring.
You may worry about managing financially on a fixed income, coping with declining health, or adapting to a different relationship with your spouse now that you're at home all day. The loss of identity, routine, and goals can impact your sense of self-worth, leave you feeling rudderless, or even lead to depression.
As a general rule, early retirement leads to a longer and happier life. The optimal age is your mid 50's, when you're still young and healthy enough to enjoy everything. The only caveat is ensuring sufficient savings to support your desired lifestyle.
You may feel lonely because many of your friends are at work. You may be bored. The activities you try may not challenge or engage you. Many retirees feel they have lost their sense of purpose.
Older people, in particular, may enjoy a greater sense of well-being because of the availability of Social Security and private pension benefits that provide them with income after they retire. For many retirees, pensions provide a significant percentage of income in retirement.
Introverted seniors crave social connection—they just need it delivered differently than extroverts. Usually a small group of close friends, say between 3 to 5 people, will fulfill your aging loved one's need for socialization while respecting their needs as an introvert.
Retirees are often advised to stay busy and do something meaningful. For the most part this is good advice. No one wants to feel bored and useless in retirement. But sometimes it's nice to just relax and do absolutely nothing.
Almost 90% of retirees say that their retirement is either “very” or “moderately” satisfying. Higher net worth and better health are associated with higher levels of happiness in retirement19. 97% of retirees with a strong sense of purpose were generally happy, compared with 76% without that sense20.
Happy retirees often spend much of their careers actively laying the financial groundwork for their retirements. Careful deliberation about investment strategies, diligent and regular savings and other planning helped position them for a relaxing and financially independent life.
Living alone at 70 and beyond can be difficult. Daily tasks become harder, and oftentimes, elders are afraid to ask for help. While some seniors might have friends and family nearby, others living alone don't have people they are comfortable asking to help them with: Meals.
The average retirement age in the United States is 61, according to a 2022 Gallup survey.
Extroversion is not the only ticket to longevity
If you are hopelessly introverted (and like it that way), not to worry. Research has shown that other qualities like conscientiousness and optimism may increase longevity. So can enjoying laughter, having a sense of purpose, and expressing emotions more easily.
However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.
Society can make introverts feel inadequate.
Also, because of our nature, introverts are less likely to spend a lot of time with others, which may minimize the chance or slow down the process of being accepted, appreciated, and understood. Everyone falls somewhere different on the introvert/extrovert continuum.
Based on their responses, the No. 1 challenge people faced in retirement was not being able to replace the social connections that had sustained them for so long at work.
Generally, people who have retired early said they were happier, had better relationships with family and friends, and had improved mental and physical wellbeing. However, 47% of early retirees said their finances had worsened.
“They may be concerned about losing social connections from work or not having a sense of purpose or meaning in their retirement.” Finally, there's the idea that you're about to embark on a long trip with no itinerary. During your working years, you know exactly what you're going to do.
In the research on retirement and depression, a number of studies have found patterns related to the “loss” of the work experience itself. As much as you may look forward to the day you no longer need to go to work, many will end up missing it when it's gone. This isn't surprising.
Retirement is a huge life transition, and it can take a while to adjust – as in, weeks to years. And of course, every situation is unique and there is no set time frame for how long it takes to feel settled into retirement. For some people, it takes a few months. For others, it can take a year or more.