Understanding and Navigating the 4 Phases of Retirement from Dr. Riley Moynes
Executive Summary:
- Retirement involves significant financial and emotional transitions, impacting routines, identity, and purpose.
- Dr. Riley Moynes’ framework of four phases helps retirees navigate these changes: the vacation phase, the loss and lost phase, the trial and error phase, and the reinvent and rewire phase.
- Addressing emotional challenges is crucial to avoid depression and find fulfillment in retirement.
- Engaging in meaningful activities and serving others can lead to a rewarding and purpose-driven retirement.
- Lastly, understanding these phases and staying proactive ensures retirees can make the most of their golden years.
Retirement is one of the biggest financial transitions of your life, so many prepare for years or even decades in advance.
From maximizing workplace retirement plans to optimizing Social Security benefits timing, retirees-to-be invest significant time understanding the financial nuances and tradeoffs needed for a secure and lasting retirement.
But, while many prepare financially, few consider the non-financial side of retirement, specifically, the emotional and psychological transition they will experience in retirement.
And that can be hard, because the reality is that leaving behind your career, whether you were financially ready or not, can create significant challenges, ultimately leading to higher rates of divorce and depression among retirees.
Fortunately, just like you can prepare for the financial aspects of retirement, there are things you can do to smooth out the emotional and psychological ride into retirement, helping you to “squeeze all the juice out of retirement.”
In his book, “The Four Phases of Retirement: What to Expect When You’re Retiring” and viral Ted Talk, Dr. Riley Moynes presents a framework to help retirees understand and navigate this significant life event through the 4 Phases of Retirement, which we will explore below.
The 4 Phases of Retirement from Dr. Riley Moynes
Phase 1: The Vacation Phase
The first phase of retirement is the vacation phase – a time when you enjoy your newfound freedom.
Just like being on vacation, you can wake up whenever you want and spend your time however you want – pure bliss, right? Well, just like being on vacation, there often comes a point where you’re ready to go back home, settle into your routines, and “sleep in your own bed again.”
In other words, the new, fun, and exciting feeling of being able to do anything at any time wears off, and you’re left to wonder: is this all there is?
According to Dr. Riley Moynes, the vacation phase of retirement typically lasts a year before it starts to lose its luster. He says that once you find yourself questioning if this is all there is, you have officially moved on to phase 2.
Phase 2: Loss and Lost
As the name implies, phase 2 is not a fun place to be, and in his Ted Talk, Dr. Moynes describes it for many as “feeling like getting hit by a bus.”
In this phase, retirees can experience 5 major losses:
The 5 Major Losses in Retirement
- Loss of Routine: While work provides structure and routine, the newfound freedom of retirement can be unsettling for many.
- Loss of Identity: Many people intertwine their identity with their work, often defining themselves by their job (e.g., “I am a doctor” or “I am an accountant”).
- Loss of Relationships: Strong career relationships built over decades can suffer as you no longer interact with colleagues daily.
- Loss of Purpose: Many derive their sense of purpose from their work, especially those who feel they are doing their life’s work.
- Loss of Power: Retirees often lose the power and influence they once had as key decision-makers in their careers.
Ultimately, these major losses can lead to what Dr. Moynes refers to as the 3 D’s: depression, divorce, and cognitive decline. This period can be incredibly challenging as retirees struggle to find a new sense of purpose and direction without the familiar structure of their careers. Many may feel isolated and uncertain about how to move forward, which can exacerbate these feelings of loss.
Fortunately, by the time retirees decide they can’t go on like this, they have officially entered phase 3: trial and error.
Phase 3: Trial & Error
Phase 3 is all about throwing things at the wall to see what sticks.
It’s a time when retirees ask themselves a couple of powerful questions:
- How can I make my life meaningful again?
- How can I contribute?
Dr. Moyne’s advice is simple: do more of the things you love and the things you’re good at.
And he says if you are having trouble figuring out what that is, start with some reflection. Ask yourself: a) what are some of your greatest accomplishments and b) what do you love doing?
Where those two things overlap is where you should focus your time.
Remember, this phase is all about experimenting and finding what brings you joy and fulfillment. Interested in volunteering at your local community garden or library? Go ahead and give it a try.
And if you’re struggling to come up with ideas, here are ten activities to consider during retirement:
10 Ideas to Find Purpose in Retirement
- Volunteering: Engage in volunteer work at local non-profits, schools, hospitals, or community gardens. Volunteering allows you to give back to the community, meet new people, and find a sense of fulfillment.
- Mentorship: Offer your expertise and experience to mentor younger professionals in your previous field or other areas of interest. This can be done through formal programs or informal networks.
- Lifelong Learning: Enroll in classes at local community colleges or online platforms. You can study subjects that interest you, ranging from history and literature to science and technology.
- Hobbies and Crafts: Dive deeper into hobbies you’ve always enjoyed or pick up new ones. Whether it’s painting, woodworking, gardening, or cooking, engaging in creative activities can be very fulfilling.
- Fitness and Wellness: Focus on maintaining your physical health through activities like yoga, swimming, hiking, or joining a fitness group. This can also include mental wellness practices like meditation or mindfulness.
- Travel and Exploration: If you enjoy traveling, consider planning trips to places you’ve always wanted to visit. Travel can broaden your horizons and provide new experiences and memories.
- Writing and Blogging: Share your life experiences, knowledge, or interests through writing. Start a blog, write a memoir, or even work on a novel. This can be a great outlet for self-expression.
- Part-Time Work: Find part-time work or freelance opportunities in areas you’re passionate about. This can help maintain a sense of structure and purpose while allowing you to use your skills.
- Community Involvement: Get involved in local community groups or organizations. This can include joining clubs, attending town meetings, or participating in community events.
- Family and Friends: Spend quality time with family and friends. Strengthen your relationships by organizing regular get-togethers, outings, or family vacations. Being an active part of your loved ones’ lives can bring immense joy and fulfillment.
Phase 3 is all about experimenting with different activities until you find what brings you joy. Remember, this process is unique for everyone—there is no right or wrong—and it can continue to evolve throughout retirement
Last but not least, on to Phase 4: Reinvent and Rewire.
Phase 4: Reinvent & Rewire
In phase 4, retirees find answers to the most important question of them all: what’s the point?
But, in Dr. Moynes’ experience, not everyone makes it to phase 4, with some retirees bouncing back and forth between phases 2 and 3. But, for those that do, he finds that it almost always involves service to others, in some capacity.
This could involve giving back to your community through volunteer work or mentorship. In his TED Talk, Dr. Moynes mentions a retiree who found joy in delivering “piping hot pizzas to hungry humans” part-time, not for the money, but for the satisfaction of serving others.”
For Dr. Moynes, success in phase 4 came through a friendship he formed that evolved into community classes teaching other friends how to use their iPhones and iPads. He joked that it all started because he and his fellow retirees were all given various Apple products for Christmas from their kids, but half of them could barely figure out how to turn them on, let alone use them. So, he and a friend taught a class on how to use their devices that snowballed into hundreds of classes on a variety of subjects over the years: from how to repair bikes, to learning different languages.
The best part of all? Dr. Moynes has found that through Phase 4, retirees can recover many of the losses from Phase 2: routine, identity, relationships, purpose, and power. This phase not only helps retirees regain a sense of stability but can also bring renewed meaning and satisfaction to their lives.
So, knowing what you know now, where do you go from here?
Dr. Moynes’ advice is simple:
Here Are 4 Steps You Can Take to “Squeeze the Most Juice” out of Retirement
- Enjoy the vacation in phase 1.
- Be prepared for the losses in phase 2.
- Try as many different things as possible in phase 3.
- And lastly, squeeze all the juice out of retirement in phase 4.
In the end, with 10,000 people hitting retirement age every day and retirement potentially lasting a third of their life: a) you are not alone and b) this is a problem worth solving.
By understanding and embracing these four phases, you can turn the challenges of retirement into opportunities for growth, fulfillment, and happiness. Whether you are just beginning your retirement journey or are already navigating its complexities, remember that each phase is a step towards a richer, more rewarding life. The key is to stay open, flexible, and proactive in finding what makes your retirement truly golden.
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