How to get ready to retire from the public service

This post is written by Paula Benson, Project Manager, Province of Manitoba.

• The problem: Some of the most driven people work in the public sector — and retiring requires a step-change in pace.
• Why it matters: Happy, fulfilled retirements are vital to a good life.
• The solution: Preparing properly prevents issues from occurring.

Retirement can be planned and retirement can also be unexpected. Retirement can be exciting and retirement can also cause anxiety.

I have been thinking of my own retirement in the near future. I have been thinking of friends who have struggled with retirement and the losses associated with retirement. And I’ve been asking myself: what can we do to prepare for retirement so that retirement is healthy, sustainable and meaningful?

What organisations can do to assist staff

A great way to invest in and engage with staff is to assist employees with financial planning, resilience and emotional planning in anticipation of retirement.

Courses, “lunch and learns”, and webinars on the subject of resiliency, self-identity and values can be a great resource for staff as they prepare to retire but also throughout the course of one’s career. Supporting staff with retirement planning shows commitment to their wellbeing. This could be a great initiative to demonstrate how valuable staff are to an organisation.

What we can do to prepare for retirement

While at work

Start with an inventory of what you need to do to be ready and also may require a transition strategy in the workplace. This can include things such as:

• Committees you belong to;

• Projects you are involved with;

• Emotional checklist:

a) Being aware of emotions associated with retiring and letting go.

• Activity checklist:

a) What do you want to accomplish before you go?

• What you want your last weeks/months in the workplace to look like:

a) Many people want acknowledgement and a get-together, others want to leave quietly and without any recognition. If you are asked what you would like, be honest with those asking and with yourself on what would be meaningful to you.

b) Find opportunities to reflect on your career and acknowledge gratitude for what you have done and what you have gained in your career. There are things we may have taken for granted in the daily grind of our jobs and may have overlooked but there are things we can be very proud of and grateful for.

• Employee Assistance Programmes:

a) Far too often, people exit their careers angry and resentful. These feelings won’t go away because the job is gone. In fact, the feelings will linger and may have future negative impacts on one’s emotional and physical health;

b) Many organisations offer support to the employees and may offer counselling and support for staff experiencing change and/or struggling. Take advantage of these resources if you need them. Unpacking and processing workplace-related issues may help alleviate negative emotions and experiences associated with the job, along with grief-related responses associated with the end of one’s career.

Outside of the workplace, you may want to think about things such as:

• Financial planning

  a) Talk with your Human Resource department about your options and opportunities regarding accrued vacation hours, sick leave hours, etc.;

  b) Talk with your financial institution about your plan for retirement and what you need to do to be financially prepared and ready.

• Activity planning

  a) What do you want to accomplish in the first few months after you leave?

  b) What do you want to accomplish in the next year after you leave?

  c) What are your long term goals?

Many people self identify and value themselves based on their careers, job titles and career relationships. When their career is over, many are left in a position of rediscovering who they are without their work identity and without work relationships. Many will struggle with this.

I know that in the first 25 years of my career, I identified my self-worth and self-value based on the work that I did. I didn’t know who I was outside of my career. Due to a mental health injury, I was away from the workplace and in my absence, was able to access therapy. Part of that therapy included a values checklist and for the first time in my career, I was able to determine who I was beyond my career. So consider:

Relationships

• Who is important to you?

  a) What relationships do you want to sustain once you leave?

  b) What do you want those relationships to look like? What you once had in common with a colleague (work) may look much different after retirement, so this is something to be aware of as it may change the dynamics of the relationship/friendship.

• Do you want to maintain contact with the workplace?

  a) Many organizations offer retiree-related gatherings. Is this something that would be of interest or of benefit to you after you retire?

Self Awareness

We far too often self identify ourselves by the work we do and the title of our jobs. Once the title is gone and the work is gone, we may struggle with who and what we are. Retirement involves some loss so there will be time needed to grieve that loss. It is important to take time to allow for that loss and to adjust to a “new normal”.

Doing a values checklist on what is important to you may help with defining what is important to you and what “fills your bucket”. There are many great resources online to help guide you in determining what is important to you in this next phase of your life.

You also need to be conscious of emotional fatigue. Many jobs can be emotionally exhausting. Change is emotionally draining. Be prepared that you may feel tired, fatigued and sad. These are natural responses to change and retirement is a change of many levels. Acknowledge these responses as being normal. If it persists, reach out to a professional, or speak with others you know who are retired. Peer support is a great resource.

Our bodies will also require time to adjust to new routines. Insomnia, oversleeping, lethargy, and irritability may be some ways our body responds to not having to go to work every day. This can be a natural response to change, but if it persists and causes disruption in your life and the life of your family members, seek out professional assistance. Advise your family physician of your plan to retire, and when it comes to medical insurance, be sure to check with your employee benefits program of what coverage you have and what you and your family are entitled to once you are no longer in the workforce.

This list is not an exhaustive list of all the “must do’s” but are reminders of what to be mindful of as you start preparing for retirement. Knowing what to expect can help with preparing for change. Everyone’s experience will likely be different based on their individual situation and circumstance, so planning is individual based on the needs of the retiring staff.

I am preparing financially, and emotionally and mentally I have done the work I need to do and I am ready to cope with what I yet don’t know when I retire. I am excited and looking forward to new challenges and a new way of everything.

Retirement is a big life change. Change can be exciting and can also be difficult. Be kind to yourself as you navigate a new world outside of your career. — Paula Benson

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(Picture credit: Unsplash)