What does personality have to do with happiness in retirement? Well, retirement isn’t just about finances – it’s an emotional journey. And the way that you navigate both the expected and unexpected challenges of this stage of life is directly tied to your personality traits.
According to Merriam-Webster, retirement is the “withdrawal from one’s position or occupation or from active working life.” It’s worth noting that the dictionary does not reference age, even though most governments legally require a person to be somewhere between 60 and 70 years old to be eligible to start receiving certain retirement benefits. Anyone can retire from the workforce at any point, however, if they have the economic means to do so.
Because finances are such an undeniably fundamental consideration when planning for this specific rite of passage, many people overlook the other factors that contribute to a happy retirement and the psychological process of settling into a satisfying postcareer life.
The Four Phases of Retirement
According to author Dr. Riley Moynes, there are four phases of retirement that nearly every retiree – regardless of age or personality type – goes through:
- Vacation: Every day feels like freedom
- Downturn: Marked by a profound sense of loss
- Exploration: The process of rediscovering yourself
- Reinvention: Recovering your sense of identity, purpose, and power
The first phase is pretty self-explanatory. Immediately after retiring, most people feel great. While this might not be true for people who were pushed into retirement against their will, it can feel like a major accomplishment for those who spent years or decades anticipating and planning for this next stage of life.
This phase is usually marked by a sense of excitement and opportunity. People take vacations or travel, dive headfirst into their hobbies, or take time to relax and enjoy a life free of the routines or responsibilities that were associated with their career.
But, eventually, nearly everyone slips into the second phase, and they rarely see it coming. That sense of freedom often morphs into feelings of loss – a loss of direction, purpose, and identity. Depression and anxiety are common among retirees in this stage. Relationships change, not only with the people who are closest to them but also with themselves. The work that defined their life is now in the past, and it can be disorienting to feel like they’ve lost their bearings in life.
Sometimes people really struggle to move beyond this place of loss. But, with time, most retirees start to experiment with life again. The third phase of retirement is a time to reorient your vision of your life and future. It’s a time for figuring out new ways to exist in the world, finding a sense of meaning and purpose in waking up every day, and exploring the new identity that comes with this particular season of life.
With a bit of effort and an open mind, it’s possible to move into the fourth phase of retirement. This is where people once again feel solid in their identity, have goals, and are motivated to stay active and engaged in life. They regain a sense of normalcy and generally feel at peace with how their postretirement life has shaped up. In short, they settle into happiness.
How Personality Traits Impact the Transition to Retirement
How someone moves (or doesn’t move) through these phases toward a happy retirement strongly depends on their physical and mental health, their social connections, and how they manage their daily routine – all of which are heavily influenced by personality.
It’s beyond the scope of this article to provide 16 unique, personality type–specific insights into how each combination of traits can help or hinder happiness in retirement. Instead, we’re going to explore how each individual personality trait factors into the first two psychological phases that a person might anticipate passing through after they step away from the workforce: Vacation and Downturn.
Our hope is that if you can see the potential obstacles in the road, you can plan ahead to avoid them and minimize the time spent in that difficult slump of the Downturn phase.
If you’re not sure of your personality type, now is a great time to take our free personality test to find out.
Introverted (I)
There’s a good chance that Introverts will revel in the relative solitude of retirement. They’ve likely spent years adapting their personality to the workplace, so it will feel like a welcome relief when they no longer have to do so. They’ll relish the opportunity to focus more on their hobbies and dedicate more time and energy to their most important relationships.
It might be easy to assume that an Introvert’s main obstacle postretirement will be loneliness, but what they’ll really have to watch out for is their tendency to get hung up on the challenges that this stage of life often presents. Retired Introverts may find themselves ruminating over the difficulties that they must overcome or their fears of poor prospects for their future.
Extraverted (E)
For Extraverted personality types, retirement likely presents the opportunity to finally go all out with their dreams. They are probably looking forward to traveling, trying out new hobbies, and maybe even enjoying the finer things in life. They’re likely to approach retirement with excitement and optimism, eager to embrace the opportunities for new experiences that are inherent in such a significant life change.
Some Extraverts may find themselves feeling socially disconnected, however, if many of their friends are former coworkers or colleagues they no longer see with the same frequency. The shift away from their career may also impact their sense of identity and purpose. Many people with this trait consider themselves leaders, and a leader without people to lead – or one who no longer feels needed – may find themselves floundering about and feeling lost.
Intuitive (N)
In the buildup to their retirement, people with the Intuitive trait will likely spend a fair amount of time daydreaming about everything that they want to do with their newfound freedom. This ultimate career move provides these personalities with the perfect opportunity to explore the neglected parts of their identity and lose themselves in their passions.
But Intuitive types’ tendency to create idealized, future-oriented scenarios in their mind can make the real-life experience of retirement feel like a serious letdown if it doesn’t quite meet their expectations. Just like every other phase in life, retirement doesn’t always go exactly as we imagine it.
Observant (S)
It’s unlikely that Observant personality types dedicated their working years to something that they considered frivolous or eccentric (regardless of any outside opinions to the contrary). Their sensible nature is likely evident in how they approach retirement as well. Their expectations and decisions will probably be dictated by the realities of their specific circumstances, rather than some idealized version of what they hope their retirement will be.
Yet people with this personality trait may feel frustrated if they don’t find a sense of straightforward purpose or utility in the activities that they find to fill their time postretirement. It can also be particularly difficult for people with this trait to plan for the emotional or existential challenges that come with this transition.
Thinking (T)
People with the Thinking trait find a lot of happiness in their accomplishments, but for many of them, retiring may not be a professional milestone that they’re in a big hurry to reach. All the same, thanks to their inherent sense of rational objectivity, they’re among the personality types who are more likely to be setting aside a significant portion of their current earnings – at least some of which is probably destined for life after their eventual transition out of the workforce.
Worries of social isolation or loneliness are probably a minor concern for Thinking types, which may ironically make them more vulnerable to the effects of these challenges after retiring. It may be hard for people with this trait to recognize these emotions for what they are, and it’s not exactly in their nature to regularly talk about their feelings or ask for emotional support.
Feeling (F)
Feeling personality types are keenly aware of the importance of their social connections in retirement. Their characteristic openness toward others and willingness to seek help are strengths when navigating the ups and downs of the transition into life as a retiree.
Despite their willingness to seek and accept social support, however, these types might end up feeling uncertain when adapting to life under the new conditions of retirement. Many people with the Feeling trait admit that they lack confidence when dealing with difficult situations and don’t always want to figure things out independently. This could potentially cause problems when handling important matters that factor into their health and overall well-being.
Judging (J)
Judging personality types typically appreciate the sense of predictability that comes with clear expectations and planning. People with this trait are the most likely to report that they’re actively preparing for retirement, and chances are they have clear goals for life after officially leaving the workforce.
But for Judging personalities, old habits die hard. It can be surprisingly difficult to step away from the routine of a career, no matter how long they’ve been counting down to their retirement. Many people with this trait have always dedicated a fair share of their energy to work. For some, their identity is firmly intertwined with what they do. Despite their best efforts to arrange a smooth transition, these types might be caught off guard by the massive void created by retiring.
Prospecting (P)
Prospecting types often approach retirement with the “take it as it comes” mindset that is typical of people with this personality trait. Chances are they’re eager to embark on the life of leisure that they hope to find in retirement. If they have a bucket list for this stage of life, it’s probably just a vague idea of things that they’d like to do.
For Prospecting personality types, this sense of newfound freedom might feel like a blessing, but it can also have its drawbacks. It’s not exactly in their nature to stick to a routine, carefully plan, or incorporate structure in their day-to-day lives. They may not have many clearly defined goals, but they still might find themselves feeling frustrated and struggling to accomplish the things that they know they want to do.
Assertive (-A)
Regardless of personality type, people with the Assertive trait are highly adaptable when dealing with big life changes like retirement. They’re likely to be proactive about going after their goals as retirees and to feel optimistic about their future.
The most significant risk for Assertive types may be in becoming too overconfident for their own good. They generally have a higher tolerance for risk, allowing them the confidence to pursue potentially questionable adventures, for example, or to put off crucial medical testing because they generally feel okay. In the end, this self-assurance can cross the line into imprudence, making them more susceptible to the sometimes unexpected life challenges that tend to carry harsher consequences in retirement.
Turbulent (-T)
Healthy Turbulence can be a real asset after retirement, where a certain level of vigilance can help prevent inconvenient molehills from turning into mountains. People with this personality trait tend to be more worried about their health, cautious about taking risks, and focused on safety. At this stage of life, these precautions can be downright lifesaving.
But the Turbulent trait also indicates a tendency to become stressed out or anxious, especially when facing the difficulties that are typical in the later stages of life. Turbulent types might also find themselves dwelling on their regrets or slipping into nostalgia, rather than focusing on enjoying life in the present tense despite its difficulties. Without a certain level of conscious awareness about their Turbulent tendencies, people with this trait may be among those who struggle the most to pull themselves out of the second phase of retirement.
Moving toward Happiness in Retirement
One of the most effective strategies for dealing with the emotional boomerang that retirement can trigger is simply knowing and anticipating how that first exhilarating phase can (and likely will) morph into the doldrums of the second. This awareness, enhanced by the study of your personality type, can help you set your expectations for life as a retiree and proactively mitigate the common challenges that you might face.
Hopefully this article has given you a good starting point for thinking about the personality-related stumbling blocks to watch out for in retirement. Remember, happiness, no matter which phase of life you are in, is more easily attainable if you know what you need. And it’s easier to understand what you need if you know how your personality traits influence how you interpret and interact with the world around you.
And now, we turn to you. If you’re retired, how did your personality influence your transition through the different stages of retirement? Let’s carry on the conversation in the comments below.