Retirement begins long before the last workday

The greatest enemy of the third age is loneliness, as shown by numerous studies on the subject. It can lead to depression, boredom, weakness, and even health problems. When these phenomena appear, the person requires specialists in various pathologies to treat them — psychologists, psychogeriatricians, gerontologists, and other specialized therapists. It is not for nothing that a minister for 'loneliness' was appointed in England to deal with the challenge. One of the most important tasks in preparing for retirement is to prevent in advance a situation where loneliness takes over life.

The key to this is preparation for a new period, in which the familiar routine of life changes: waking up in the morning, getting ready, going to work, working, returning home, and the next day — starting it all over again. Until retirement, a large part of managing our lives was the responsibility of others: parents and teachers in childhood, commanders in the army, and managers in the workplace. With retirement, for the first time in our lives, the responsibility shifts to us. This is a complex challenge that is worth preparing for well in advance.

The wider the range of activities of the retiree, the easier the adaptation to the retirement period. Occupations, hobbies, physical activity, studies, volunteering, belonging groups, additional work, or any other regular activity — all these can help in creating a routine and meaning even after leaving the workforce. If these things are not part of life, it is recommended to start developing them long before retirement.

The employing organization also has a role in the process. About a year before retirement, it is recommended that the organization hold preparation workshops, as is done today in many workplaces. The preparation workshops are important from three aspects:

1. Providing relevant knowledge that concerns the retiree, including topics of insurance, pension, funds, wills, and enduring power of attorney.

2. Meeting with a group of peers with their many deliberations, where one can share concerns and receive reinforcement and support from the group.

3. Development of behavioral skills: interpersonal communication, the importance of preparing the family for retirement, social integration, personal appearance, time management, and ways to search for employment according to preference.

Many are involved in the retirement process, but those who bear the responsibility for the process and pay its price are the retiree and their family. The next part will deal with the retirement event and its contribution to the retiree and their family.

Dr. Zvi Barak — lecturer on the behavioral aspects of the retirement process, CEO of the Gishot Le-Mitzuyanut group.