Happy Retirement

226 Pages·2016·19.597 MB·English

by  Dk

Ha p p y
RETIREMENT
PSYCHOLOG Y
e
h
t
REINVENTION
of
A practical guide planning enjoying
to and
retirement you’ve earned
the
Consultant Professor Kenneth S. Shultz, PhD

Ha p p y
RETIREMENT
PSYCHOLOGY
e
h
t
REINVENTION
of

Ha p p y
RETIREMENT
PSYCHOLOGY
e
h
t
REINVENTION
of
KENNETH S. SHULTZ, PhD
WITH MEGAN KAYE AND MIKE ANNESLEY
US Senior Editor Shannon Beatty
US Editor Rebecca Warren
Senior Editor Bob Bridle
Senior Art Editor Karen Constanti
Editorial Assistant Alice Kewellhampton
CONSULTANT PSYCHOLOGIST
Jacket Art Editor Harriet Yeomans

Senior Producer, Pre-Production Tony Phipps
Senior Producer Stephanie McConnell Kenneth S. Shultz, PhD
Creative Technical Support Sonia Charbonnier Professor of Psychology in the Department of
Managing Editors Dawn Henderson, Stephanie Farrow
Psychology at California State University, San
Managing Art Editor Christine Keilty
Bernardino (CSUSB), Professor Shultz specializes
Art Director Maxine Pedliham
Publisher Peggy Vance in issues relating to aging and the workplace. He
teaches classes in industrial and organizational
Written by Megan Kaye and Mike Annesley
psychology—as well as aging workforce issues—at
Illustrations Keith Hagan
both undergraduate and graduate level. In addition,
First American edition, 2015 he is the Interim Director for the Center on Aging at
Published in the United States by DK Publishing CSUSB, which seeks to understand the concerns and
345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
enhance the well-being of older people. He has made
Copyright © 2015 Dorling Kindersley Limited more than 100 professional presentations and published
A Penguin Random House Company approximately 50 peer-reviewed articles, 10 book
15 16 17 18 19 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 chapters, and four books in his field of specialization.
001–283872–Dec/2015
Professor Shultz was also recently the recipient of his
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under the university’s prestigious Outstanding Professor Award.
copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise),
without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.

Kenneth S. Shultz:
A catalog record for this book is
I would like to especially thank my wife and colleague,
available from the Library of Congress
ISBN 978-1-4654-3811-9 Dr. Deborah Olson, for her support and encouragement
to contribute to this much needed book.
DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in
bulk for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. The publisher would like to thank:
For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, Mike Annesley for his help with developing the
345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 contents and reviewing the text; Vanessa Daubney
[email protected]
for editorial assistance; Laura Buscemi for design
assistance; and Vanessa Bird for the index.
Printed and bound in China
All images © Dorling Kindersley Limited
For further information see: www.dkimages.com
A WORLD OF IDEAS:
SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW
www.dk.com
CONTENTS
8 FOREWORD 26 Who am I?
The question of identity
CHAPTER 1
WORK AND LIFE 28 Making sense
Life’s meaning and purpose
RETIREMENT IN CONTEXT
32 Material world
Perspectives on money
12 Sunset or new dawn?
34 Does status matter?
Facing the future
Stepping off the career
ladder
14 The shape of things
How we think of our lives
36 Are you a workaholic?
When your job is your life
16 Our 50s and 60s
Middle age and after
38 A life of values
Beyond basic needs
18 Into our 70s
The golden decade?
CHAPTER 2
40 The road to
RIPE AND
somewhere
20 Reaching our 80s
The importance
The new 70s READY
of life goals
22 Jobs for all
42 The meaning of service PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT
The meanings of work
Respect and reward
24 All together
56 Looking ahead
44 Rainbow’s end?
Work as community
Planning and improvising
The retirement dream
58 Roadmap to retirement
46 Staying busy
Charting your life
A satisfying retirement
48 Senior moments? 60 Fit for the future
Truths and myths of aging Staying healthy
50 Free time 62 Brain games
How we think of leisure Keeping your mind sharp
52 You and yours 64 Eye on the calendar
Retirement and the family Getting the timing right
68 Building a nest egg CHAPTER 3
The psychology of money WHEELS IN
MOTION
70 Time to quit?
The early retirement option
INTO A NEW DAWN
72 Staying on
The late retirement option
96 Going in prepared
74 Pressure to go Psychological transitions
The involuntary retirement
CHAPTER 4
98 Down with labels A TIME OF
76 Knowing your Finding a new identity
strengths ADJUSTMENT
A personal stocktake 100 Finalizing finance
Keeping on top of cashflow
THE FIRST YEARS OF RETIREMENT
78 Striking a deal
Negotiating your exit 104 Playing the endgame
Your final contribution
126 Home on a work day
82 Half in, half out
Adjusting to the new
The phased retirement 106 Bring it on
Change and personality
84 Wisdom on tap 128 Ups and downs
Preparing for consultancies 108 Toward the horizon Charting happy pathways
Managing your
86 Going solo expectations 130 Flying high
Starting a retirement Managing euphoria
enterprise
110 Anticipating the loss
132 Peaceful nights
The fear of missing your job
88 Life in limbo Sleeping well or
How to cope with lying awake?
112 Better together
uncertainty
Reinforcing the network
134 Steady now
90 Planning who you’ll be Coping with change
114 Casting off
Learning from role models and anxiety
The art of letting go
92 Knowing who you are 136 Talking it over
116 Successful debriefings
Work and identity How other people can help
Toward a smooth
handover
138 Stress-mapping
Staying on top of change
118 Is my legacy secure?
The succession question
140 Future growth
Cultivating a healthy
120 Thoughtful goodbyes
attitude
The art of farewell
142 Where do I fit in?
Dealing with role change
144 All change 164 A working partner? 196 Happiness for real
Retiring and moving Adjusting to difference Redefining the good life
146 Coping skills 166 Only connect 198 Back to school
Long-term challenges Sex and companionship Learning after 60
148 Online assistance 170 Getting together 200 Passing on the flame
How the Internet can help Who are your true friends? Teaching a new generation
152 Off and away 172 Family favors 202 In the green room
Time for a big vacation? Late rewards of parenthood Gardening and nature
174 Across the generations 204 New kid on the block
CHAPTER 5 The active grandparent The retired entrepreneur
LIVING WELL
176 Saying goodbye 208 The soul at ease
LOOKING AFTER YOU AND YOURS Dealing with bereavement Spirituality and calm
178 There for someone 210 Making it happen
Caring for others Time management
156 In the mirror
in retirement
Safeguarding your health
180 Accepting limitations
Dealing with health 214 How’s it going?
158 Brave new world
concerns Regular self-assessments
How technology can help
182 In their hands 216 Going for gold
160 Keeping your
Help when you need it How to live the future
equilibrium
How to avoid overload
218 INDEX
CHAPTER 6
162 Time together
THE NEW YOU
Dealing with relationship
change
HOW TO REINVENT YOURSELF
186 Where next?
Assessing your potential
188 Collective action
Joining up with fellow
retirees
190 In place of work
Making a contribution
192 Pleasant hours
Hobbies old and new
FOREWORD
A
pproximately 25 years ago my father was offered an early retirement
package at the age of 55. While physically he was ready to retire from
a demanding job at the telephone company, psychologically he was
not ready. I was just beginning my research career, and so my interest in the
psychological aspects of the retirement process was piqued by my father’s
experience. Much of the research on retirement at that time (in the early 1990s)
was focused on “health and wealth.” That is, most economists believed that
health and wealth were the driving forces behind the decision to retire.
However, a quarter of a century later, and having published several books,
book chapters, and numerous articles on the topic of the psychology of
retirement since then, I am amazed at the dynamic nature of retirement in
the 21st century, as well as the critical importance that psychological factors
play in the transition to retirement.
Today retirement can take a number of different forms. This can include
volunteer work, starting a second career, taking on the role of caregiver, or more
likely, some combination of roles. Retirement has become a very individualized
and personal journey for those making the transition from a career to that next
phase of life.
Happy Retirement: The Psychology of Reinvention is ideal for anyone who
is making the personal journey from full-time work to retirement. Every page is
bursting with practical advice that, importantly, is based on a solid underpinning
of the most recent and comprehensive scientific research on the psychology of
retirement. The text is highly accessible and the scientific findings are translated
into visually engaging graphics that everyone can understand.