How Your Post-Retirement Blues Can Ruin Your Holiday Season (and how to fix it)

Post-retirement blues is one of those things nobody warns you about. It doesn’t show up in brochures about “the golden years.” Your friends don’t mention it. And most retirees try to pretend it isn’t happening.

But it’s there for everyone who retires. You are not exempt, even if you don’t recognize it, or worse, won’t admit it.

But it’s real. And if you’re not careful, it can sneak up on you just when the holiday season is supposed to be the happiest time of the year.

Today, I want to help you understand why this happens, what’s really going on behind the scenes, and how you can bring back the spark you might be missing, not by working harder, not by “keeping busy,” but by reconnecting with a part of yourself that never retired.

Why Even the Most Successful Struggle After Retiring

Take Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

When he retired from professional tennis, he didn’t suddenly switch to marathon running. He stayed connected to the sport he loves by creating the Nadal Academy.

Why?

Because even world champions lose their way when their passion suddenly disappears from daily life.

We, retirees, are no different. And we all carry something from our careers, a spark, an ability, an interest, that we don’t always recognize as passion.

But when we stop using it… the post-retirement blues move in quietly.

Now, take a look at yourself:

Most of us retirees have worked for decades. We had a job we did for 30, maybe 40 years. Some loved what we were working with, while others didn’t. No matter what, there were always some activities in your job you liked more than the others. And when you work on something you like, you start doing it well. It could even turn into a passion.

Now Comes The Moment…Retirement!

The moment for the post-retirement blues — Image by Kindel Media on Pexels

At first, you enjoy to the fullest the vacation you suddenly got…for years to come. No alarm clocks, no pressure from a boss who wants a job to be delivered NOW!

At first…

“I love this endless vacation!”

But then what?

It’s like peeing in your pants. (I have never tried it, but I can imagine how it feels) First, it is warm and cosy, but after a while it starts to feel cold and uncomfortable. That’s when your post-retirement blues set in!

Returning to Rafael Nadal, he established his tennis academy on the Spanish island of Mallorca in 2016. Cleverly, he had prepared for his retirement and can continue doing what he loves, even if on a different level.

How are most people preparing for their retirement?

Retirement becomes a sort of finish line. No more work and endless vacations. But think about it. It’s a vague goal in life after retirement. Pee in your pants, and you will understand what I mean (LOL).

What happened with the balance sheet you loved to put together as an accountant?

Did you forget about all the public parks you set up as a professional gardener?

Do you just throw away all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained over the years as a teacher?

We all have, with emphasis on ALL, something we bring from all our years in the corporate world that we love to do. You could have the most boring position and a terrible boss, but no one can take away your passion.

Life is a multi-dimensional journey. You have work, family, friends, and social activities. Retirement is not about cutting off any of these strings on your lyre of life. It’s about tuning the lyre.

Of course, it’s a blessing to be able to spend more time with your family, your partner, children, and grandchildren. But if you do it by forgetting about your passion, hidden there somewhere throughout all the years in the corporate world, sooner or later, you will suffer from the post-retirement blues. It’s like cutting one string on your lyre. No more nice music will come out of that instrument.

Retiring doesn’t mean slowing down; it means harmonizing your life with all the strings on your life lyre, inspiring a sense of purpose and motivation.

Avoid Post-Retirement Blues by Doing This

Harmonizing your life in retirement can be a tricky journey. How to actively pursue your passions, family, friends, and social activities with confidence?

We all have different priorities, but your journey could inspire others. It’s all about brainstorming ways to avoid the post-retirement blues, which can dilute your ambition to live this part of your life as the best it can be.

In the video below, I share the personal story behind how I discovered the “missing string” in my retirement, and how you can uncover yours.

It’s not about working again.
It’s not about becoming busy.
It’s about finding the part of yourself that never retired.

Here are the links to the pages mentioned in the video: https://thegoldenagelifestyle.com/Post-Retirement-Blues-Free-Training

Retirees & YouTube — My Journey training series

The holidays are around the corner. For most of us, it’s an excellent time to spend together with the family and friends. But for some, it’s the opposite, where loneliness and emptiness dominate.

No matter which category you belong to. As long as your passion is still alive, there is hope for a bright future.

When younger friends and even family members tell you how lucky you are to have “nothing special to do” and can just relax, they should know something.

You wake up every morning to the silence of an open, unscheduled day. Is this to be lucky?

But here’s the thing. Nothing is wrong with you. You just need to put on the missing string on your lyre.

Post-Retirement Blues: Final Thoughts

Never treat retirement as a finish line. Instead, embrace the opportunity you finally got to do what YOU love to do.

They can take your money away. Your family and friends can disappear. But, there is one thing no one can “steal” from you:

Your passion!

Most people suffering from the post-retirement blues can easily reconstruct their lives by one simple step:

Let your passion come alive!

Forget about the past. After all, it’s history you can’t change. Do not create vague illusions about the future. If these illusions are going to happen, it depends on one single thing:

How do you act now?

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

– Buddha

You don’t need a dramatic story or a big title to find meaning in retirement.
You only need to ask a few simple questions:

1. Which moments at work made me feel proud, no matter how small?
2. What came naturally to me, even if others struggled?
3. What did people trust me with?
4. What part of my job would I happily teach someone else?
5. What made me feel useful, valuable, or energized?

If you answer even one of these, you’re already on the right path.

Every retiree carries a passion, even if it’s been buried under years of routine.

And that passion can become the foundation of a joyful retirement… or even the heart of a simple online business you control completely on your terms.

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