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Retirement Should Only Ever be a Choice. Feel Free to Self-Select In or Out

Writer's picture: Rachelle InnocentRachelle Innocent

Updated: Oct 8, 2024

Retirement Should Only Ever be a Choice. Feel Free to Self-Select Yourself In or Out.


Full stop.


As human beings, we are wired to create meaning from the world around us. This hold true whether we’re babies or we’re on the precipice of retirement.


The intrinsic need to create meaning, find fulfillment, and derive satisfaction from the people, places, and situations we invest our energy into, does not change just because we age.


This deep-seated desire could not possibly be something we think we should retire from.


WHO (World Health Organization) predicts that one in six people globally will be over the age of 60, and this population is expected to double by 2050 (hbr.org)


Let’s assume that the growing population of those eligible for retirement are a byproduct of collectively making healthier, happier, daily lifestyle choices. From that assumption, we can shift from the expectation that retirement is obligatory, due to a lack of will or desire, or the deterioration of our mental, emotional, and physical health or well-being.


If we desire to contribute to society within the same vein after a certain age, then we shouldn't feel pressured to do otherwise,


Given the significance of retirement on one's life... the impact that this critical life transition has on our sense of self, retirement should only ever be a choice. Each individual person's choice.



Many people minimize the impact that retiring has on one’s sense of identity, because they discount their present happiness, thinking they can make up for the daily sacrifices, that often translates as neglecting elements of their emotional, physical, and mental health... for the future reward that is "retirement." Rather than focus on finding purpose in the work they do presently, they work with the goal in mind to retire early. A large majority of individuals underestimate that impact that the work they do has on their sense of well being, accomplishment, self-esteem and ability.


Much of our own sense of purpose, is a byproduct of how and what we contribute. Whether it's within the scope of our immediate circles, in our profession, or to society at large.


There will be an impact to our sense of self-worth, when we remove ourselves from the arenas where we feel we are contributing, especially if we aren't provided with guidance or support during this life transition.


Out of roughly 6,111 retirees surveyed, 28% were depressed with a 6-9% decline in their mental health over an average post retirement period of six years (hbr.org).


Not to say that this is a message of doom for those who are excited at the prospect of retirement. There is plenty of research that also suggests that there is a percentage of our retired population that find purpose and fulfilment in their latter years.


All to say, retirement is a critical life event.


It has a huge impact on our sense of identity, belonging, and community.


For those who have spent their entire life in the workforce day dreaming to escape it, it might present as a rude awakening that you hadn’t expected.


We are wired to find meaning and fulfillment in life. While how that translates will differ on the stage and phase we’re in, there should never be the circumstance where people are involuntarily forced to retire. Forced to abandon their sense of purpose and belonging.


It’s a personal choice that can have pretty significant consequences if those eligible to retire do not have the dignity of deciding when they ought to retire, and are forced into taking that option.


I do not consider it to be an effective strategy to live life with the purpose of abandoning purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in my latter years.


An effective life plan involves being mindful and intentional about where you place your energy so that work doesn’t feel like work.


It is important that we embed that value, as early as possible, to Invest your time and energy into a career, practice, or vocation you would’t want to retire from.



Because life is best lived not waiting on the next stage and phase. Not waiting to start living life your own way, but on choosing the kind of life that you recognize you could integrate as part of your lifestyle. I want to choose careers, passions, projects, and environments that I do not want to say goodbye to, regardless of the stage or phase I'm in. My time and energy are committed to living a purpose-driven life, so long as it is life that I’m living, there will be purpose. There will be meaning. This is the baseline requirement.


To think, we place such a high value on living life post-retirement, without recognizing the state of health we may be in when we finally reach that stage in life. Will our bodies support us or fail us? Will our health allow for the goals we have in mind?


I don’t want to spend my whole life, investing my energy in areas that will immediately shift in priority, because of something as arbitrary as age.


I do not want to take my chances on retirement.


I want to live my life to the fullest, investing my energy in the areas that matter most, for as long as I have the clarity of mind to effect change, create impact, and drive my growth and development.


We are born for meaning and from meaning we derive fulfillment.


We were born to create.


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