Retirement for Introverts
When a lot of people think of retiring, they think of hanging out with friends and family, taking classes, meeting new people, and generally enjoying an active social life. However, not everyone wants that. People who are introverts tend to enjoy quieter activities and less social time. This doesn’t mean not seeing anyone at all, but retirement for introverts tends to look different than it does for extroverts.
Do What You Enjoy
One of the main things to remember is that your retirement is yours to enjoy. You worked hard for this opportunity. That doesn’t just mean how hard you worked at your actual job, but how hard you worked at saving, investing, and planning as well. For years and years, you did what you needed to do to end up in this place at this moment. So, enjoy it the way you want to enjoy it.
A good place to start is with your hobbies. What do you enjoy doing? Keeping busy is an important part of retirement, but each person has their own definition of “busy.” What sort of things have you always wanted to do? This doesn’t mean taking a class or socializing at events, it can mean learning a new skill or focusing more on something you already enjoy.
Woodworking, gardening, knitting, painting, and so many other hobbies can be done alone, without socializing. Embrace these hobbies and truly enjoy them.
Find a Purpose
A lot of retirees have difficulty with finding a new purpose once they’ve left work. For some people finding a new purpose means volunteering, teaching a class, or joining a community or faith group. However, finding a purpose in retirement for introverts looks different.
It can mean building something you’re proud of, writing a novel, staying in shape, learning a new skill, or engaging in other activities that help you feel good about yourself.
It’s important to have something like this in your life. Sitting around aimlessly and just existing through each day, rather than truly living, can have a seriously negatively affect on your mental and physical health.
Being Away from Coworkers
Many introverts enjoy retirement more than extroverts for one simple reason: they’re away from coworkers. For a lot of introverts, work is more exhausting than usual since, on top of the actual work, you need to spend time socializing with others and negotiating social situations. This can cause a lot of anxiety.
Now that you’re away from work, these interactions go away as well. This can reduce your stress and help you feel happier and more positive, which is important.
Smart Socializing
Social interactions are important for mental and physical health. They help reduce your stress, improve your state of mind, and help you sleep better. Having social connections is also associated with reduce risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and depression.
However, socializing doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing to everyone. While introverts shouldn’t avoid all friends and social events, they can do things their own way. This starts with knowing that you don’t have to say yes to everything. When you’re retired, some people may assume you have all the time in the world. That means you’ll get more dinner invitations, more calls to hang out, and more social gathering requests. Know that you don’t have to say yes to all of them.
Setting boundaries is important. You need time to unwind and be by yourself. Prioritize attending a smaller number of quality events over saying “yes” each time. Make time for the people who matter the most to you and who you enjoy being with most.
Time with Your Partner
If you’re in a relationship, retirement could mean more time at home with your partner. While you obviously love your partner and enjoy being with them, you’re probably also not used to seeing them all day, every day.
Communication is crucial at this point. Talk to one another about how much personal time you need. Couples don’t need to spend every moment together, even if they have the time and enjoy one another’s company. Make sure you have your own hobbies and activities and that your partner is aware that you’d like this time for yourself.
Counter this with planned events and meaningful time spent with one another. Plan dates or outings or travel where you get to spend quality time with one another. Again, quality over quantity matters a lot.
