As you get closer to or have retired, a lot of emphasis often shifts towards financial planning, healthcare and leisure. But there is another side of this topic, which is not attended to enough: the subject of mental health over the age of 60.
Whether you are planning for retirement or already retired, it is as important to know the psychological side of things that will challenge and provide opportunities during this stage of life as it is to plan for your financial future.
In this post we examine what no one tells you about mental health in retirement and why it has a big impact on enjoying the later years of life.
Mental Health After 60: What do it mean?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well -being. All too often, the transition for anyone over 60 out of career and into retirement can seem like walking off an edge into unknown land. Although there are positive moments that come with this new freedom, it can also provoke feelings of isolation and anxiety as well as mourning the loss of sense of self which was closely tied to a career. (For more in-depth ways to combat these fears, check out our guide on Retirement Anxiety: 6 Reasons Why Many People are Fearful and How to Overcome Them). In addition, other physical changes associated with aging occur naturally, so mental health becomes very important to remain engaged and mentally active.
To be able to function in your 60s and beyond, means not only being aware of potential struggles but you are prepared for them and are ready for steps, on how you can maintain mental health in your 60s. This includes continuing to socialise, tasking your brain and what may be most important of all, being kind to yourself as you experience the aging process.
Mentally Getting Ready to Retire: And It’s not All About the Money
If you are still in the pre-retirement phase, then it is quite likely that you would have given a fair bit of attention to your pension, investments and how it would be to maintain your lifestyle in retirement. But something that we tend to just brush over is emotional preparatory work around transition.
It surprises many that even those with a solid financial plan often have a sense of loss or aimlessness. The truth is you gain much more than a paycheck from your job; you also receive purpose and daily routine. You may suddenly have a lot of free time on your hands and if you are the type that has been previously busy, bored might become the operative word.
Retirement Myths of Mental Health
Retirement is your time to slow down and enjoy life. Part of that rest is certainly well-deserved, but mental health after 60 should be anything but withdrawing from life. It is wrong to think that retirement is simply about “winding down” as so contributes to a physically inactive or socially isolated life.
It all ends at one point or the other, be prepared for retirement whether you retire early or at its very end and keep your brain in use, learn new trades, pursue your hobby, volunteer; put it to good use because that is where fulfilment lies. Research has shown the effects of remaining cognitively engaged in retirement helps prevents the mental slowdown associated with aging and lowering the risk for dementia.
Limited Social Circles: The Ultimate Retirement Reality
So, as you transition into retirement so does your group of friends. For many new retirees, one of the biggest changes brought on by retirement is not having their co-workers around or daily social interactions. Therefore, when its natural for your social networks to decrease upon retirement, this can often result in feelings of loneliness or isolation.
Age UK research shows that chronic loneliness is single biggest mental health risk for older adults, with those in retirement age falling into the lonely trap of isolation.
Next, most expect their mental fitness to naturally improve now they have left the daily chores but less responsibility often leads to feeling a deeper lack of purpose. After 60, staying connected to groups (community or hobby), or simply keeping social via online platforms becomes an imperative aspect of your mental longevity.
As you get closer to retirement, this may be a good moment to begin thinking about what you are going to do socially when your career is not an everyday part of life. For those of you who are already retired, work to maintain the relationships you have and find new ways to interact with others.
Physical Change Impacting Emotional Health
One other fact about aging, in pre-retirement and retirement, is understanding the body changes. Sure, quite a few of us are already bracing ourselves for the physical decline that only time can bring but how often do we think about how deteriorations in our physiological health affect our emotional well-being? Mobility, energy levels and chronic pain can all affect your mental state and self-esteem.
The Mental Health Foundation says that older citizens prefer keeping their emotional challenges to themselves and put on a brave face. The important thing is to speak about those emotions when they hit you, do not repress your feelings, as discussing the changes can allow you to work through them while maintaining an optimistic energy.
Finding Purpose Beyond Work
For people not yet able to retire, that means planning how to spend all the hours work once occupied. A lot of those entering this phase of life want to travel or be more active; and plenty experience that “retirement honeymoon” where the initial freedom feels exhilarating. But as it goes on, many have trouble with the lack of structure and meaningful purpose that work provided. It can make for an empty, possibly even depressed feeling.
It Is Not Just About Avoiding Problems
While we typically think of mental health in the context of preventing or treating conditions such as depression or anxiety. However, in retirement we should be concentrating on also nurturing more positive states of mind: happiness, joy, contentment. Mindfulness, gratitude and self-compassion practices can begin to change your thinking — pre-retirement as well as in retirement.
In fact, according to Harvard Medical School research, seniors who meditate (a form of mindfulness) as reported by Headspace tend to have significantly lower levels of stress and anxiety. Mindfulness is not about turning a blind eye to challenges, but rather being present in the moments that deliver pleasure, however few and far between those pleasures may seem.
It Is Never Too Late to Attend Therapy
If you are working through pre-retirement or even if you are already retired and continuing to feel as though you are emotionally stuck, it may be time to enter therapy. There is a perception in many older adults that seeing a therapist carries with it some kind of stigma, as though therapy is only for those who are “in crisis”. It is great for anyone who wants to understand themselves better and how they deal with change in their life or just needs new ways to cope.
Mental health professionals also can be very helpful in navigating the more individualized aspects of retirement.
Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Mental Health in Retirement
Either you are planning for retirement or already retired, your mental health should be on the top of your priority list post 60. You need to prepare yourself not only financially but emotionally and knowing how to ask for help where needed.
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