‘Identity Bridging’ in Retirement

Let’s face it—some people are scared to retire. It’s not a matter of what to do with the time; it is a matter of what my identity is in retirement. Who am I once I retire?

If you are nervous about who you will become in retirement, consider the idea of “Identity Bridging” in retirement.

What is Identity Bridging in Retirement?

Identify Bridging uses aspects of your pre-retirement identity to help you transfer to full retirement. Commonly, this can mean cutting back to half-time or even less. This way, you keep your contacts and some of your schedule while still having time to explore other facets of retirement.

It gets you off to a running start in retirement.

What are Some Identity Bridges to Consider?

Ideas to build a retirement identity bridge include:

Go full-time at an activity you might be interested in (say, a two-week pickleball camp, provide full-time child care for young ones, get a transitional job, or something intensive that likely won’t be what you wind up doing full-time in retirement)
Go full out at a hobby: get a motorcycle and tour the country for a summer, or something equally intensive that won’t be who you become in retirement
Go back full-time to something you used to do. If you had a prior career, consider starting it up again for a while
Go full out in self-improvement. Do yoga every day, meditate, and figure out your philosophy of life. Go full-time to make yourself a better person.
Re-imagine your career through free or paid coaching or mentorship
Open a small business in a related interest

And, of course, there is the traditional retirement bridge: Cut back to very part-time work.

Prevent a Retirement Identity Crisis

Of course, identity bridging aims to prevent a retirement identity crisis.

Some options you have to prevent a retirement identity crisis:

Start exploring what is next when you are still working
Retire into a new career
Or, stop caring what other people think by dropping your work façade and figuring out who you are

Oh, man, I like the last one! Self-acceptance is nothing more than finding the real you and keeping “true to you.” If you remember that nothing you’ve seen in the past is true, you might be able to re-invent yourself by discarding pre-conceived self-notions and limitations that have no basis in reality.

How are you holding yourself back with beliefs about yourself that are not yours? For example, did someone tell you you can’t do something or aren’t good at it? Is that voice still in your head limiting your options? Well, what is the evidence that that is true? It is okay to love yourself and be who you are. You do not have to earn love or be “good” to please others. It is fine to please yourself; it is the most important yet difficult task you might face.

Remember that “no one can be a better you,” and be kind to yourself. Find compassion as you accept yourself for exactly who you are. This radical acceptance is important to prevent a retirement identity crisis.

Traditional Retirement Advice

Traditional retirement advice will ask you to answer these questions:

What have I always wanted to do
What is the next step if I want a new career
Say I needed a few extra bucks, what would I do
What favorite childhood hobbies, activities, or pastimes do I remember
What did I use to do daily at any point in the past

These questions are great but won’t help the voice inside your head define who you are.

I like some of these questions better:

How do I improve connections with family and friends
What gives me a sense of meaning and purpose
Adequate finances
Good health

The first two are related to our self-identity. They involve successfully transitioning from a career to retirement by continuing to work part-time, gradually phasing out of their full-time job, or finding new ventures or new avocations.

After the Honeymoon

After the honeymoon period of retirement, some struggle with restructuring their lives after letting go of their work identity. It is time to focus on self-care and pleasure. Do more purpose-driven, meaningful activities. Spend more time and attention on important activities, roles, and relationships.

Be aware of the need to bridge and have a more comfortable transition.

Identity Bridging in Retirement

Identity bridging—the continuation of preretirement identities into retirement life.

Maintaining engagements with existing aspects of the preretirement identity. Re-activating dormant identities such as singing again or using leadership skills for community purposes. Using all of you even though you are retired.