Retirement after decades in the workforce seems like a reward. The fruits of your labor are finally paying off, and you can now hang up your hat and pursue other interests. You can now freely travel, take up golfing, or just spend more time with the family.
However, recent retirees have reported feeling sad. This condition isn’t uncommon and is known as retirement blues. Fortunately, there are ways to combat the blues upon a long-deserved retirement.
Why Retirement Blues Occur
For some people who work full-time, it may seem unfathomable that anyone would feel the blues about retirement life. After all, they have near-unlimited free time to do whatever they want. So, what’s behind the sad emotions?
Retirees may feel the blues due to the sudden change in lifestyle. To go from an organized work structure to a life of no structure is a major transition. Plus, it’s also a big adjustment for other occupants in the home who is now around the retiree all day long.
Other causes of retirement blues:
- A loss of social stimulus and coworker comradery
- A loss of a consistent paycheck, leading to financial worries
- A sense of no longer being the breadwinner
6 Ways to Minimize Retirement Blues
If the excess free time is making you feel down, there are ways you can cheer yourself up and enjoy retirement life. Consider these productive lifestyle factors as a retiree.
1. Stay Physically Active
Upon retirement, make a commitment to care for your physical and mental health. You can do this with daily exercise. This doesn’t have to be anything rigorous; a brisk walk or light jog outside suffices. You don’t even have to exercise every day. The Center for Disease Control recommends 150-minutes of exercise per week. Exercise has been proven in numerous studies to reduce symptoms associated with depression.
2. Form New Relationships
Forming relationships online is fine, but try to meet people in person. You can do this by joining a local club or group. Use a site like Meetup to find upcoming events in your area. Find a niche-specific gathering that interests you. This is a terrific way to meet people of like-minded interest.
3. Find a Hobby
Do you have a hobby that you held off for years due to work commitments? Now that time is on your side, make it a priority. We recommend hobbies that get your body moving and are easy to participate in in a group setting. Examples include yoga, hiking, and trivia games.
4. Volunteer Your Time
Having a sense of purpose is a good way to offset the blues. One way to do this is by giving your time freely to contribute to a good cause. Perhaps you can volunteer at a library and read to young children, or volunteer for jury duty. It can be a rewarding feeling doing something good for the community without expecting payment in return.
5. Minimize Time Online
Many retirees spend their time watching television or browsing the Internet to stay up to date with current events. However, the news is full of negative events and can contribute to the blues. By all means, navigate the Web, but set aside some time every day devoted to other activities on this list, such as exercising and talking to people face-to-face.
6. Change Your Scenery
Staying home all day can cause depression. Depressive symptoms skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic when homeowners were forced to shelter in place. Spend more time post-retirement visiting new places. Travel or go on a cruise. If this isn’t possible, then just spend more time anywhere that’s not your home. This can be at a local park or café.
We Keep Your Senior Loved One in Good Company
At Home Instead, our senior CAREGivers do far more than just provide daily care for your senior loved one. We also tend to the emotional aspects, providing companionship and a shoulder to lean on. This is integral for keeping the blues at bay when you’re at home all day.
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/retirement-stress-taking-it-too-easy-can-be-bad-for-you
