I’ve often wondered why there are still many people that stop working when they’re 61-ish. Today, a Dutch newspaper reports that it’s become more common to go to court to be able to work after 65, the age when one usually is forced to retire. Obliged no longer, it seems. A good thing I think. In a knowledge society, as long as we’re mentally OK, we can go on and on and on.

Both my parents are of the generation that it’s normal to take it slow for the final few years of their working carreer and then stop at 62 (or even earlier). From a distance I’ve watched both of them struggling to find a new rhythm and, more importantly, finding new things to do during the day after they retired. I don’t believe they’re fully there yet, even after 1 and 3 years off.

 I completely understand the ‘taking it slow’ attitude towards the end of ones carreer. I’ve seen how my dad was physically and mentally tired of yet another schoolyear, teaching the kids the same things all over again. In his final year he had a hard time dealing with yet another angry group of highschool students that didn’t acknowledge his professionalism. Even colleagues started to ignore his input, since he would be gone soon.

On the other hand I’ve witnessed my mother taking on a whole new role in her final year. The group of libraries she worked for underwent a huge restructure and after 25 years of being head of ‘her’ village library, she helped smooth the process. She was very busy right to the end of retiring and therefore went cold turkey. A few months after retiring she confessed to me she didn’t like it one bit.

From watching both my parents I think we lack a certain transistion period. That’s probably more a cultural attitude shift than anything else. For one, when you’re retiring you’re saying goodbye to a life as you knew it for, let’s say 35+ years. That’s long! Colleagues, look at the experience that will walk out that door soon, never to return. Don’t ignore them, pick their brains. They’ve been through a lot and are probably more than willing to share their stories with you. Employer, make sure you capture those stories and share them with everyone within the organisation. If you’re the one close to retiring, start thinking a few years ahead. So I’ll be 58 next year. Do I want to retire at 62? Or 65? Am I done with my work? Am I physically fit to go on for another few years? What do I envision as a life after retiring? Start negotiating with your employer. Think even of becoming the independent worker.

Looking at my own family I don’t think many people actually have a plan for after their retirement. We carefully plan our carreer when we enter the workforce (or at least we think we do), now it’s time for the same coaching sessions to plan for your second carreer. Note that your plan could also include extending your current carreer after 65.

(All pictures by my mother, back to her passion for photography after retiring)