Four S’s In
The Transition to Retirement[i]

  Ask yourself how you relate to the following questions.

Situation:

·      What kind of transition is retirement for you?

·      Is your retirement a positive, negative, expected unexpected, desired or dreaded transition?

·      Did it come or is it coming at the worst or best time possible?

·      Is it “on time” or “off” schedule?

·      Is it voluntary or imposed?

·      Are you at the beginning, middle, or end of the transition/

Self:

·      What kinds of strengths and weaknesses do you bring to retirement?

·      Do you believe there are options?

·      Are you optimistic?

Support

·      Do you have support from family, friends, co-workers and supervisors?

·      In what ways do people give support?

·      In what ways do they hinder your efforts to change?

Strategies

·      What ways do you tend to cope? Do you have several or just one?

·      Can you creatively cope by changing the situation and manage reactions to stress?

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[i]  Modified from a ppt  presentation  An Overview of  Nancy Schlossberg’s Transition Theory  Azusa Pacific University.  The theory is designed to help anyone going through… “any event of non event that results in changed relationships, routines,  assumptions and roles.”   I have modified it to focus on retirement.  If you are feeling stressed, seek consultation with someone you trust.