Retirement 1983: The stress of retirement is a myth.
The new freedom has two faces

„"Time will tell" is the motto by which most retirees prepare for life after their working lives. As the new representative study "Leisure Time in Retirement" by the BAT Leisure Research Institute reveals, this doesn't necessarily seem to be the worst approach. 90% of retirees find something akin to "modest happiness," although they begin this new phase of life with mixed feelings of anticipation and apprehension.

The path to this new freedom is not always easy. Initially, it brings no more stress, no more time pressure, but rather peace and finally leisure. However, the difficulties of coping with this new phase of life soon arise.

The biggest dream is travel.

The interviews for the study reveal a fear of sudden emptiness, boredom, and depression. People have lived only for their work, failing to adequately prepare for life afterward. Above all, they have dreams. A need to catch up is surfacing in many areas of life. The biggest dream is travel. And it's not just about traveling more; it's about a world tour as the culmination of all previous leisure activities. The idea of travel has taken on a life of its own. It has become a symbol for everything that makes life worth living: adventure, mobility, passion, happiness.

On the other hand, the BAT study makes it clear that fear of later disappointment keeps expectations low and there is a great willingness to come to terms with the reality of retirement. The two faces of this newfound freedom soon become apparent: liberation from work and the necessity of doing something meaningful with the seemingly unlimited time.

The stress of retirement is a myth.

Retirees are initially ill-equipped to manage their entire daily routine independently. Many behave as if they were on vacation. Sleeping in late, reading the newspaper at length, and enjoying a leisurely breakfast are among their favorite pastimes.

Soon, attempts are made to give structure to this newfound free time. Timetables are introduced, clearly separating genuine leisure from other obligations such as housework, shopping, and errands. Leisure time becomes a serious matter, something not to be left to chance. The daily routine of retirement begins, bringing with it a certain contentment with oneself and the world. The much-discussed stress of retirement proves to be a myth.

A generation without a name

The average retirement age today is 58. And the group of those who leave the workforce well before the official retirement age of 65 is growing at least as fast as their share of the total population. By 1985, one in seven Germans will be between 55 and 65 years old.

The new BAT study focuses on the investigation and analysis of this rapidly growing group, which, while "too old" for working life, is still too restless for traditional retirement patterns. A new generation is emerging here, poised between midlife and old age, fit and young enough with ample time to catch up on missed opportunities or even embark on something new. It is a generation (still) without a name. Its existence, this new post-retirement phase of life, is a novelty in modern industrial society. For this generation, work is no longer their entire life.

This is already evident in their expectations for retirement, which are considerably more demanding than those of "traditional retirees." They don't dream as much about the things they want to achieve "later" as the latter. They have far better opportunities to enjoy their newfound freedom, to pursue hobbies more intensely, and to actually travel. The new generation also has more time and energy to embark on something new or perhaps even start a second career.

Their expectations of society are also different. They resist being prepared for retirement as if they were already helpless. They don't demand that others do anything for them. They still have confidence in themselves because they are "in the prime of life" and not sitting on the bench. They don't want to be made to feel old without actually being old.

The BAT study clearly shows that the true identity of this new group is still in its form. At the same time, it raises the question of whether our society can afford to send an entire generation into early retirement instead of continuing to utilize their human and professional experience.

Technical data of the investigation

The study is based on a survey of 450 retirees and pensioners who are no younger than 58 and no older than 68 years, and who have been retired for at least one year and at most three years.