If Career Defined You, How Do You Find Fulfillment in Retirement?

There’s a bigger question.

If your career is fulfilling, why would you retire?

Ask Warren Buffett or William Shatner or any of a long list of creative people who find fulfillment in their careers, don’t retire, and will only hang it up when the body/mind hangs it up.

Or consider George Burns who worked until he was 100 and said:

Retire? I’m going to stay in show business until I’m the only one left.
People are always asking me when I’m going to retire. Why should I? I’ve got it two ways — I’m still making movies, and I’m a senior citizen, so I can see myself at half-price.
How can I die? I’m booked.

Unfortunately, most people won’t have total control of their career situation, having chosen to work for someone. There’s where the challenge lies.

The transition into retirement is one of the major disruptors in life, often with unforeseen problems. The respected Holmes and Rahe stress scale determined that retirement is #10 out of the top 43 stressors in life.

Take a peek at the nine that are ahead of it:

Death of spouse (100)
Divorce (73)
Marital separation (65)
Jail term (63)
Death of close family member (63)
Personal injury or illness (53)
Marriage (50)
Fired at work (47)
Marital reconciliation (45)
Retirement (45)

Research has confirmed that lack of fulfillment together with feelings of irrelevance and the loss of identity are common among retirees. It’s a direct result of drifting into retirement without a non-financial plan that would address the mental, physical, social, and spiritual side of retirement.

Smart retirees are starting their retirement planning 5–10 years ahead of the projected retirement date with an eye toward building in something that will replace the fulfillment they experienced during their careers.

That’s a very individual process. Some find it in volunteering. Some start businesses. Some mentor and counsel. Some find very fulfilling hobbies.

In keeping with our human nature, it appears that whatever it is, fulfillment will come from avoiding a self-indulgent, leisure-based retirement and having an element of giving back or bringing some level of value to the world.

Happy in your retirement? Tell us how you’ve made it work for you. We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.