What does it mean to maintain visibility in retired life compared to becoming invisible. This is about making a solid transition to retirement, with the help of a retirement coach.

The case for being invisible in retirement vs the case for being visible.

In retirement there are many ways to define what suits your needs in order for you to have a fulfilling retirement. I want to look at one particular facet of this complex gem. When you cross that bridge from a working life into a retired life you always leave some things behind and take some things with you. I’ll explain what I am getting at with a particular example.

I begin with the claim that when you worked you had a level of visibility – in other words you were recognised for the work you did - whatever your job might have been. Bus drivers often get a good morning greeting, surgeons get a thanks for saving my life acknowledgement etc.

Now do you want to take that recognition and the feelings it gave you across the bridge to retirement? Your call, but let me make the case for each side,  to help you think it through.

To be invisible in retirement

Let me begin by making the case for becoming invisible after you have crossed the bridge into retirement.

Advantage 1: you are just sick to death of all of those phone calls and emails that bombarded you each day at work. Now you want to retire to a lifestyle that is a lot quieter.

Advantage 2: you are just tired of people making a mess at work and you having to clean up their problem, sort things out and make everything good. No more.

Advantage 3: after let's say 40 years of work all you can think to say is that fine Italian word “basta”: enough!

To be visible in retirement 

Now I will make the case for remaining visible after you have crossed the bridge into retirement. 

Advantage 1: for some people in retirement they at least want to be seen by others and want to be known for something that they do. To put this another way, it comes to having a sense of identity in retirement. In 64PLUS’ language that is simple the ability to confidently answer the question: what have you been up to lately?

Advantage 2: and this is not for everyone, you may want to be of value to people somewhere sometime. Perhaps it’s because you never forget those special moments at work when you get that pat on the back for a job well done. Those were great moments.

Advantage 3: perhaps the highest level of all is wanting to make a difference. There are many ways to do that, often through charitable works, but that’s not the only way.

Is there help for you to think through these matters? Yes.

Retirement Coaching as a Valuable Resource 

Retirement coaching can be a transformative resource in navigating the choice between invisibility and visibility in retirement. A coach can help you clarify your goals, address the challenges of this transition, and find the path that aligns best with your personal values and needs. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat from the visibility of work or looking to stay actively engaged, a coach can provide tailored strategies and support for you.

Conclusion

I hope I've made the case for both invisibility and visibility in retirement. But most of all, the choice is yours.

You can watch this article as a video on my YouTube channel: @64PLUS93, then subscribe to get regular videos to watch.