Unretirement — How You Can Find Meaning In The Next Phase
While working as a financial planner, I recall, not too long ago, the chorus of people counting the days to their retirement. This prevailing idea was that retirement was supposed to be better than working until society started to embrace job satisfaction as just as necessary as financial security when looking for work.
Statistics show that more and more retirees are returning to work. This phenomenon, known as unretirement, is due for several reasons. The first is financial. Interestingly enough, statistics have found that most retirees who return to work do so for reasons other than financial.
Life expectancy
People live longer, so the years spent in retirement are longer than ever before.
Variety
Variety is the spice of life. And besides, there are just so many days to play golf — even in Florida. Most of the reasons people cite for wanting to return or continue working is for the variety they get in life.
Passion And Purpose
While looking for variety, unretirees are pursuing work that aligns with their passion and purpose. Many unretirees may have spent their careers working primarily for financial reasons.
Now that they don’t have to be financially responsible to their dependents, they can explore work that brings them meaning above money. It does not mean they don’t care about earning an income, but why not do something meaningful.
Calling the shots
Many retirees who return to work are motivated by the freedom of self-employment. Now that financial security is not the main issue, why not look at developing a side hustle? Becoming your boss means creating the life you want with only yourself to answer.
The digital age brings an explosive growth of online business opportunities where people with knowledge and years of experience can market these globally.
Bringing It All Together
There are many reasons why retirees are redefining retirement with numerous positive results. Dr. Arthur Kroisel has written some highly insightful articles on this entire subject.
I retired as a wealth advisor almost five years ago. I returned a few years later to write and coach people about creating a consciousness for wealth primarily because I love the field of finance, and now I am no longer operating under an institution’s agenda.
Work does not have to be a grind. Your work can be a calling. One of the absolute best articles I have read about heeding your calling is by Caroline DePalatis entitled, “Why You Must Be True to Your Calling- No Matter What.”
And if you may have missed that calling in the first part of your life, it may get more apparent as you get older. Seize the day! Because you only live once.
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