WHY are so many New Retirees so UNhappy?
Why Oh Why are so many retirees unhappy? I post story after story from anxious, depressed new retirees on my site. I also get lots of feedback from other retirees, most of whom agree with the feelings of being lost, useless, unmotivated, unfulfilled, and just sad.
I hate this. I mean, I really HATE this. This should be the time of our life, free to do whatever we choose to do. Financially free or not, there is so much more retirees can do while exploring the world around them and finding new adventures.
BUT — many don’t.
I know I felt the same anxiety when I first retired. That’s why I started my website, retirement-online.com, knowing I needed to keep busy post-retirement. I knew I needed purpose after I retired.
As a Retirement Coach, I can (and do) help new retirees — but I still wonder WHY OH WHY does this happen so often?
Is retirement fundamentally a bad concept until you are old-old?
We live longer than people did when retirement was first conceived.
Let me take this a step further, I retired at 55, and my mother is 95. If God-willing, I live to age 95, like mom, I will be retired FORTY years! Imagine doing little for forty years. Imagine your finances in forty years!
Is the idea of freedom something that humans can’t deal with?
We love the idea of freedom, but when we get to those retirement doors, we are bored, frustrated, and lack purpose.
Our ancestors worked, then died… are humans not wired for doing little?
Is it our egos that can’t believe we aren’t missed at the workplace?
We worked for a lifetime; we were elders in the workplace, often the person who answered questions… then nothingness.
Are we depressed as we finally figure out we lived shallow lives?
We worked, raised families, and have few real interests or hobbies now that we finally have time to pursue fun. Our life may have been full of our employers' vision that our own lives look sad after employment is gone.
So what do YOU think? Seriously, WHY does this happen to so many retirees? Visit my site and give me your two cents… check out the feedback left by other retirees too!