ASK DR LOUISE
YOU South Africa|20 April 2023
Write to Dr Louise, PO Box 39410, Moreletapark 0044, or email info@drlouise.co.za.
ASK DR LOUISE

I’M STRUGGLING TO ADJUST TO RETIREMENT

Q My wife and I recently became pensioners with a lot of fanfare and good wishes from the people we used to work with. I was a chartered accountant and my wife used to be a pharmacist.

It seems as is my wife is adapting well to being on pension but I find it boring and tedious. Most of the people at the retirement village where we live are just into gossiping – something I’m not interested in.

The result is that I have not really made friends with people here because I don’t trust them – they continuously talk badly about each other behind the other person’s back. I find my days are just dragging on. I am everything but happy at the moment. How can I change this?
Barry, email

A Retirement is a major life transition, and being happily on pension is something of an art and takes effort. You have to think about your new lifestyle and intentionally plan it. It is not just about doing “what comes naturally” because then you just drift along.

Look at your life and think about how you want things to change on all levels – your eating habits, exercise routine, how you spend your days, quality time with your wife and so on.

Talk to your wife about how you’re feeling and make decisions together about what to do so both of you can be happy and enjoy your well-earned retirement. Also, keep in mind that being retired doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work at all anymore, even if you don’t need the money. You can now work at your own leisure and choose only the work you want to do.

This story is from the 20 April 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 20 April 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView All
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024