Retirement Celebrations and Farewells
With so many years spent working, the last days of work and the first days of retirement will sometimes come with a sudden realization of the significance of this change. Celebrations and farewells can be filled with mixed emotions, from eager anticipation to sadness, or questioning the decision to retire.
Retirement tends to involve a process of adjusting to a new way of living, with many personal changes. Planning and preparation in the run-up to retirement supports a smooth transition. But even if you are very near retirement, there are simple steps you can take to help you successfully navigate the transition—closing one chapter before embarking on a new way of life.
Goodbyes and farewells
The last days of work will sometimes bring up unexpected emotions with goodbyes and questions about what lies ahead.
As you near retirement, consider what you would like your last days of work to look like. What will you be doing? How will you say goodbye to colleagues? Will you write an email, a note, or visit them in-person? Will you exchange contact details to stay in touch? And how will you answer questions about what you will do with your free time?
Marking the occasion
Rituals and rites of passage help to mark transitions from one stage of life to the next. Retirement parties and ceremonies may help to serve this purpose. However, it’s worth considering how you, personally, would like to mark this occasion and celebrate your retirement.
Will you celebrate with coworkers or family? Will someone be helping you organize this celebration? Or do you prefer a quieter celebration, perhaps with a favorite meal?
Early days
The early days of retirement can be a time to enjoy the relaxation and opportunity to do all of the things you did not have time for while working. For others, however, it can involve mixed emotions about what lies ahead.
How would you like to spend the first few days and weeks of retirement? What will retirement allow you to do more of?
Looking ahead
What works in the short-term does not always provide lasting fulfillment in retirement. Ideally, visions for retirement will include both short-term ideas, and long-term visions for a new lifestyle.
What will become your top priorities for this chapter in life? What personal pursuits might provide lasting fulfillment?
Whether you are approaching retirement yourself, or you are working with others who are in the transition, we have programmes and resources to support you.
