Navigating Retirement Transitions: Redefining Identity and Purpose
Explore the impact of work on identity in retirement, learn how to redefine your sense of self, and discover strategies for building an identity bridge in this insightful journey towards a fulfilling retirement lifestyle.
- Retirement transitions
- Identity redefinition
- Purpose rediscovery
- Building identity bridge
- Work impact
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Presentation Transcript
Discovering Whats Next: Navigating the Transitions of Retirement
Agenda Work and our View of Ourselves Redefining Identity in Retirement Building an Identity Bridge Tips for Redefining Yourself
Work and our Identity Identity: who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world and the characteristics that define you the fact of being, or feeling that you are, a particular type of person; the qualities that make you different from others concept you develop about yourself that evolves over the course of your life For many people, our job is viewed as an important part of our identity i.e. What do you do? = we usually answer with our occupation, even though we have many different roles in life We spend much of our adult life working, so for many, work is a defining aspect of life
How much of your identity/purpose is related to work? Everyone is different in how they view themselves This can occur on a continuum and change throughout one s career
Redefining Identity in Retirement What are the parts of my job that fuel my soul/purpose in life? Are there ways I can preserve/recreate those things in retirement? Is there a passion/purpose that I have had to put aside during my working years? Is there a way I can revisit that passion in retirement? Outside of work, what are the other important pieces of my identity? How can I refocus and build on those in retirement?
Building an Identity Bridge Ease into Retirement: Gradually reduce work hours and responsibilities and build up other roles that contribute to your identity. Enhance a pre-retirement identity through greater engagement: devote more time and attention to a certain activity, role, or relationship in a way that wasn t possible when you worked full time. Activate a latent identity: Rediscover a passion that had become dormant due to the demands of work. Enact a previous identity in a new way: find ways to repurpose valuable skills you have developed at work. Finding a new source for valued affirmation: Retirees often miss the recognition and positive feedback work provides, so it is important to explore new sources of fulfillment i.e. volunteering, part-time work Adapted from: Identity Bridging Across Retirement Teresa Amabile, Harvard University
Tips for Redefining Oneself Take your time! You don t have to have the exact answer right away and you may have to try different approaches. Make it personal. What works for someone else may not be right for you. Also, your needs and interests may change over time. Talk to those you trust and those who know you best for suggestions and support. Remember: Redefining your identity is an ongoing process!
EAP Contact Information Call 860-679-2877 or 800-852-4392 Email: uchc_eap@uchc.edu Website: h.uconn.edu/eap Hours: 8:00am 5:00pm After business hours, if the situation is urgent, call the main number and follow the instructions. You will be connected to the on-call EAP counselor. State of CT Retirement Website: https://www.osc.ct.gov/rbsd/stateretire.htm
