From afar, retirement looks like a promised trip to Shangri-La at the end of our working lives. But for many, the abrupt change in the speed of life or loss of work identity can be very jarring. For Dr. David Ekerdt, a professor who spent his career studying retirement, and Dr. Sherry Mendelson, a writer and psychiatrist, the expectations of leaving the working world did not match the reality. Drawing on knowledge from their working years and their own retirements, they share tips on how to prepare psychologically for the next chapter.

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Further Reading

“I Spent 44 Years Studying Retirement. Then I Retired.” 

“The Strains Retirement Put on My Marriage—and How It Survived” 

“Are You Emotionally Ready to Retire? Eight Questions to Ask Yourself” 

The Workplace Report 

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