How to smoothly navigate the identity-changing transition into retirement

Leaving the workforce can be a daunting change. Here's how to make it more manageable.

A couple on a dock.
(Image credit: Illustrated | iarti/iStock, monkeybusinessimages/iStock)

In the years leading up to retirement, many people spend a lot of time and energy making sure they are physically and financially secure. From taking care of expensive medical procedures to meeting with a financial planner, there are countless "to dos" as you think about leaving full-time work. But while financial and physical security are both very important, they're not the only factors to consider when moving to this next stage of life.

Many seniors can find the transition out of a full-time career and into retirement stressful and disorienting. "There are many benefits from retirement such as leisure time, lower stress, opportunity to travel or pursue other interests," explains therapist Jacob Brown of Therapy for Aging and Grief. "But we also lose many important parts of our lives, such as our identity as a working person, a status in the world, income, and a sense of purpose."

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Sara Lindberg

Sara Lindberg is a freelance writer specializing in health, wellness, education, and business. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Headspace, LIVESTRONG, Paste Magazine, GOOD, and many more.