Knowing When It’s Time to Retire

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Andrea Reganato says, “Some continue to work simply because they can’t afford to retire. Another reason could be not having any direction or idea of what to do next, so retirement may seem like a sea of uncertainty, which can lead to stress and anxiety.”

How can those near retirement age know the right time? How can they avoid either extreme of retiring too early or working too long?

The following thoughts can help us know when it’s time to retire.

Accept the Reality
Aging is a part of life. Resistance doesn’t stop it from happening. Though many cultures work hard to encourage people to look, dress, act, and stay young, people age. Those who age best are those who accept this reality.

It is important because aging can affect the ability to teach well. Health issues—physical, mental, emotional, psychological, technical—can limit a teacher’s ability to effectively do what they have done before. Denial of that fact doesn’t diminish the reality. Accepting it is a huge step toward knowing when to retire and how to retire the right way for the right reasons.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Retirement Coach Monte Drenner says, “Retirement is a huge decision for anyone, but especially for teachers due to all the connections with students, their families, faculty, and administration. Leaving this vast network can be daunting but is ultimately inevitable. Having a clear identity and purpose are important to having good mental health. Many teachers struggle to find a different fulfilling purpose and identity when they retire.”

Fight the Reluctance
Vocations often equal identity and value. That should not be, but it is. Noticing the importance of new voices can help teachers resist that hesitancy. Professors should remember when others previously retired, it opened spots for them.

Reganato says, “If you feel stressed and pressured to retire at a certain time, take a step back and breathe. See that retirement isn’t the end of your life and purpose. Retirement can be a time when you can track interests and opportunities that you haven’t been able to pursue during your career.”

What can be done? Drenner says, “Perhaps the best way to see retirement as a positive experience is to build relationships with former teachers who have transitioned well to retirement.”

Embrace the Opportunities
A healthy approach is to see retirement not as an end but a beginning. Mentoring younger teachers, serving in other schools, guiding students one on one, writing curriculum from years of experience—the opportunities are there.

Brad Roberts served in public education for 32 years, 21 in school administration. Now retired from those roles but teaching at a private college, Roberts says, “I knew it was time to retire when I was presented with an opportunity to teach future teachers.”

Realize talent and experience are needed, just in a different way and in a different place. Seasons change. Roles change. Joy can remain as teachers teach well, whatever their new role might be after they retire.