Coping With Retirement Transition; Planning Your Transition

By Stephen Snyder


Retirement before 40 or even 30 years of age is a dream for many but a harsh reality for most athletes. The body and mind can only go so far in a sporting career and once over, the athlete is faced with a new challenge. What to do now? Following are some insights vital on Coping with retirement transition that will help you slow down and manage the shock and eased schedule.

You cannot get away from the truth that everybody is maturing and aging. Retirement period will come whether we like it or not. It is not easy to give up parts of our daily routines. Athletes or sports people are not exempted to this stage change.

There are two types of retirement for sports people. One of these is the normal and unavoidable end of your lengthy and rewarding profession. This means that you take the fame and honor you achieved during your stay in the business. This is also where self-respect comes in. The other type always tends to be very untimely. Monetary constraints, injuries, or casting away may be the reason of untimely retirements. These are things that a sports person like you has no hand. This type is always unplanned.

Retiring due to the natural way is deemed to be more acceptable. You need to understand that our body endurance is limited. Besides, isn't it nice to look back to those achievements and honor you gathered during your active days? Such a feeling will help you to ease up the pain of leaving your hectic environment.

Many athletes agree that having a new goal or focus makes the transition easier. Confusion with both the decision to retire and with what to do next impedes the process. The circumstances of the individual determine the response to retirement. Everybody seems to go through a state of confusion and need to accept that as a necessary part of the process. Even those who are prepared still hit a slump. The transition does not happen quickly, and this can come as a shock to athletes, and they may need coaching through the process.

Another way to cope with this shock is to ease into it slowly. Continue to work in your profession, but at a reduced pace. It may be possible to work part-time or do some consulting that may make your transition out of the work force a success. Years ago, I had a friend who retired, but continued to come to work as if he was still part of the company.

Retiring because of injury creates more issues to deal with and prolongs the process. Many may persist in looking back to the past, and thinking of opportunities. Missing out on selection in a major team can also create problems. Some athletes may delay retirement in this case in order to fulfill dreams, but instead leading to further heartache.

Besides having new goals and a coach, the important key to successful transition is identity. When you learn more about the mindset, you realized that your identity was wrapped in being a sportsperson and as long as that remained, you will always be floated back to your sport. Once you learn to identify yourself as something new - like a business person and entrepreneur, it will easy to change your actions, your results and therefore your life. What new identity can the athlete take on to ensure success along a new pathway? It's not the end of the journey. You still have to plant the seeds of your inner interests. Let them grow!




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