In tune with retirement

Staying sociable in later life is vital for wellbeing, says CAMILLA FOSTER

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YOUR golden years are often perceived as a great opportunity to travel and pursue different passions, but the realities of day-to-day life can often be a shock.

Many of us take the regular social contact of work for granted until it is gone.

“Work for most people is a social experience, so there can be a propensity to find yourself really socially isolated in retirement,” recognises Brieanne Doyle, BACP accredited therapist and founder of Dwell Therapy.

Some retirees struggle with this sudden increase in downtime.

“Social isolation can be a risk factor for depression and anxiety,” says Brieanne. “Isolation creates an enormous amount of time to think and, while this can sometimes be a great thing, it can lead to overthinking and real rumination on the way things have happened.