What do people value most about being retired?

This morning, while out walking with the dogs, we ran into a neighbour who retired around the same time as us – we hadn’t seen her for a while, and vice-versa.

That’s because all of us are so busy, we’re never at home as much. She’s taken up pickleball, we’re into our tenth year of line dancing – and we’ve never felt busier. Our friend Anne says she’s met lots of new friends on the pickleball court, so her social life has also got busier.

That made us curious – what do people value the most about being retired? Is it doing new things with new people? Not working and going to meetings? Let’s have a look-see.

An article from Forbes, written by Andrew Rosen, begins by suggesting “that happiness in retirement depends on more than just money. Factors like social connection, emotional well-being, daily purpose and reliable income have emerged as powerful drivers of post-career satisfaction.”

Research, he continues, has found that “many retirees report greater life satisfaction than they anticipated before leaving the workforce,” and “that retirees often experience lower stress and better mental well-being than they did during their working years.”

“This suggests that retirement, when planned with intention, can lead to a meaningful boost in quality of life,” Rosen writes. “The key takeaway is that happiness in retirement is not strictly tied to a retirement account balance. Lifestyle flexibility, time with family, and freedom from career pressure play important roles.”

He notes that two factors “stand out consistently” in any conversation about retirement values – “purpose and connection.”

“Retirees who stay engaged through volunteering, hobbies, mentoring, or community work report higher levels of life satisfaction. A sense of purpose helps fill the gap left when career responsibilities fade,” Rosen explains.

“Social relationships matter just as much. Loneliness and isolation can negatively affect both mental and physical health. Those with close friendships and strong family ties tend to fare much better in retirement than those who withdraw from social circles,” he adds.

The Retiredom blog provides a handy list of retirement values that people abide by.

Focusing on health and wellness is a key value, the article begins. “Your well-being is your foundation in retirement. Investing time and energy into your health ensures that you can truly enjoy the freedom this stage of life brings. It means developing routines around exercise, nutritious meals, regular checkups, and plenty of rest,” the article advises. “Mental and emotional wellness matter just as much,” the article adds.

Continuing to learn new things is another important value, the blog continues.

“Retirement doesn’t mark the end of growth—it’s the perfect time to expand your horizons. Learning doesn’t have to be formal or structured. It could mean diving into history books, learning a new language, taking online classes, or trying your hand at watercolour painting,” the blog notes.

It’s also a period of life where you can focus on helping and giving within your community, the blog suggests.

“Giving isn’t just about money—it’s about time, attention, and kindness. In retirement, you have more of all three. Volunteering, mentoring, or supporting local causes can create deep connections and give your days a greater sense of meaning. Generosity helps you feel useful, appreciated, and part of something bigger than yourself,” the blog notes.

For some final thoughts, let’s turn to the Second Wind blog.

The blog suggests that finding purpose in the years after work is essential in countering “age-related decline.”

“Just think of it this way — in retirement, you have the time and space to explore your passions and discover your purpose. And with the right structure in place, you can start living with more purpose,” the blog advises.

Those with higher scores on having purpose in life had, the article notes:

• 24 per cent lower likelihood of becoming physically inactive 
• 33 per cent lower chance of developing sleep problems
• 22 per cent lower likelihood of developing unhealthy body mass index

As our conversation with our friend Anne concluded, we all agreed that stepping up our activities was driving more exercise and stronger social connections – we aren’t sitting around reading the paper.

Having retirement income security is of course another important pillar of a good retirement.

If you don’t belong to a retirement savings program or pension plan through your workplace, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan may be the savings plan you’ve been looking for.

SPP is open to any Canadian with available registered retirement savings plan room. You can contribute any amount up to your RRSP limit, and you can transfer in funds you may have in other RRSPs to consolidate your savings nest egg. And if you change jobs, that’s no problem – SPP is not tied to any single employer as other types of pension plans are.

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