Fran Brennan
CEO, Active Retirement Ireland
By building social connectedness into retirement planning, we can ensure we get the most out of this rewarding life stage.
Retirement means different things to different people. For most of us, though, retirement brings with it the question — what will I do with my time?
Reframing retirement
We become so accustomed to the structure and routine that work and other responsibilities provide, and it can be challenging to adjust when these fall away. Having a plan is crucial, but what if we first reframe the question so that it is less about what we will do with our time and more about who we will spend it with?
In Ireland, we are fortunate to
have a wealth of community
organisations, clubs and societies.
The power of social connection
As people, we are inherently social beings. Forming social bonds with those around us to help us best adapt to our environment is a fundamental part of our nature. It is also essential for our health, wellbeing and happiness. This is no less true post-retirement when we find ourselves suddenly needing to adapt to a completely new normal.
In Ireland, we are fortunate to have a wealth of community organisations, clubs and societies. They are a great way to meet like-minded people, form new friendships and maintain social connectedness.
Getting the most from your retirement
Active Retirement Ireland is a community organisation that began more than 45 years ago with a mission to help people stay connected post-retirement and get the most out of this well-earned life stage. Today, the charity has a network of more than 21,000 people across approximately 550 local groups around the country. Each local group is run by the members themselves; they organise activities, excursions, holidays, information sessions and courses to do together. Anyone retired or semi-retired is welcome to join their local group.
Retirement is a wonderful opportunity to connect with people who share common interests or may even introduce us to new ones. On the question of planning your time post-retirement — look after the ‘who,’ and the ‘what’ will take care of itself.
