Psychological Guidance In Retirement: How Does It Work And What Are Its Advantages?
Retirement is, for many, the most anticipated moment. Working life ends and the golden years begin in which one no longer has to worry about submitting reports, holding meetings, standing behind the cashier and other really stressful and exhausting tasks.
However, there are those who see this as a moment of great uncertainty, feeling as if they have lost what defined them and structured their day. Free time becomes tedious and the feeling of uselessness appears.
To prevent the person from starting a process that will lead to depression and isolation when it is time to end their job, it is very advisable to plan for retirement and go to professionals to receive guidance in the face of this great change.
Psychological guidance, both before and during retirement, is a key factor in guaranteeing the highest degree of well-being facing this new period of life, in addition to avoiding health problems, both physical and mental, and contributing to enjoying this great freedom.
In this article we are going to explain what processes occur during retirement, how guidance should be focused on those who are going to retire, and some useful strategies to get the most out of the new situation.
Each person is a different world and so is their way of facing life changes. Retirement can be approached in many ways depending on the person. Factors such as culture, life experiences, the type of work performed, family support and many other aspects influence the attitude and way in which the new period will be lived.
Retirement is the end of your working life, of the profession you have been doing for many years. It is not surprising that the majority identify with the work they have done, presenting themselves with the label of their work. We are psychologists, educators, doctors, aeronautical engineers or any other profession. We show ourselves to the world with these professions, but when retirement arrives our letter of introduction seems to have expired, that it no longer defines us.
This can be perceived, and in truth is, the loss of an important part of one’s identity. It generates a certain emptiness, which can lead to different defensive behaviors, ideas, beliefs and associated emotions.
What can we do to improve the lives of retirees?
In recent years and, thanks to the development of sciences focused on the study of the elderly such as psychogerontology, an attempt has been made to present aging not as something fatal and horrible that once it has arrived is to stay, but as something which, in a way, can be prevented. Obviously, There is no human way to prevent the years from taking their course, but we can influence how the person is influenced by them both emotionally and cognitively.
These sciences do not treat retirement as the simple end of working life, but rather the beginning of a new period in which the maximum potential of the retired person can be realized, given that, now, they have all the time in the world to invest it in yourself. She can try to fulfill her dreams, do what work prevented her from doing, and enjoy a well-deserved rest. It should be noted that in the past, old age was not seen as it is today. In the past, and because few people reached old age, reaching an advanced age was something widely respected. Elderly people were seen as references and sources of knowledge and experience.
However, thanks to advances in science and, especially, medicine, in developed countries life expectancy has increased, with many more people reaching old age. Because of this, The current cultural pressure is that old age is synonymous with wear and tear, illness and limitations while youth is what is promoted as desirable and the value to always maintain.
Why is it necessary to provide psychological guidance in retirement?
As you approach the end of your professional life, it is advisable to seek guidance on how to face retirement. The objective of this is to be able to acquire strategies to face this great change, and to be able to make the most of it. Good planning, focused on reflecting on what is coming, will always be helpful to transform the large amount of free time that you will have into very productive and pleasant days.
Ideally, companies have protocols that contemplate how to help older workers manage their own retirement, addressing both economic aspects and leisure and social relationships. There must be an interest in knowing the status of those who are going to retire, to ensure that they will be able to face the new situation with the best possible state of mental health.
The uncertainty of retirement is truly terrifying and begins a whole series of concerns related to it: economic stability, health problems, pace of life, loss of friends, loss of identity…
People who plan their own retirement have greater adjustment when this period arrives, that is, they feel greater satisfaction and lead a fuller life than those who have not dedicated enough time to organizing this period.
Given the importance of retirement as a vital period, it is of fundamental importance that a series of strategies be developed to facilitate the person’s adaptation to the new change. The figure of the counseling psychologist can become crucial in these types of situations.
During the orientation, you plan how you will address free time and other aspects of retirement. It is essential to look back at the person’s life, understand and list their personal experiences, knowledge and experiences, in addition to the meaning that they gave to the role they played in the organization. This is intended to stop seeing retirement as something inevitably negative and to see it as the ideal time to develop each person’s personal potential.
During the sessions with the guiding psychologist, either individually or in groups, topics are addressed: fears of retirement, uncertainties and the perception of possible loss, in addition to proposing activities and interests that can fill the free time and the void that lets finish a job.
It is of great importance that in these sessions all the necessary information is offered to the interested person promote a deep reflection on what your new daily life will be like in addition to helping you break beliefs and myths that you have about this vital period.
There are several strategies that allow you to prepare for retirement and, also, get the most out of it, transforming it into the person’s true golden years.
1. Make a list
Put in places that are pleasant, as well as people who can provide great support during the process and activities and hobbies that satisfy the person.
2. SWOT analysis
This analysis evaluates the threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths of this new period. In addition, it allows you to set realistic goals.
This tool is widely used in the field of organizations, but it can be used on a personal level and focused on satisfying vital objectives.
3. Maintain contact with others
It may seem obvious, however there are many people who, at the time of retirement or even before, go through a brief period in which they isolate themselves. The problem is that something that was initially going to be short can be stretched, and a situation of isolation can occur.
There are many older people who live alone and have not left their homes for a long time, which seriously affects their mental health. That is why, when retirement arrives, friendships must be cultivated.
This, in addition to avoiding disconnecting from the outside world, will help the person’s self-esteem, given that, despite no longer working, there will be people who will have esteem and care about them.
A healthy network of friends has been linked to fewer physical and psychological health problems.
4. Seek new knowledge
Computer workshops for seniors, language courses, neighborhood choirs… there are many activities designed for older people and that have become popular in recent years.
In these courses you not only learn dynamically and recycle, They also allow you to open your mind when meeting new people.
