# Retirement Regrets: Why Some Feel Worse After Leaving Work

> Retirement brings unexpected regret for some as they struggle to redefine identity after work ends.
- Title: Retirement Regrets: Why Some Feel Worse After Leaving Work
- Summary: Retirement brings unexpected regret for some as they struggle to redefine identity after work ends. Some retirees feel worse after leaving work due to lost…
- Keywords: retirement, identity, social anchors, work transition, ichiro kishimi, retirement transition, journal of organizational behavior, Regrets, Some, Feel, Worse, Leaving
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/bien-etre/Je-pensais-que-jirais-mieux-une-fois-a-la-retraite-pourquoi-certaines-personnes-regrettent-leur-ancienne-vie-quelques-mois-apres-avoir-arrete-de-travailler-642028
- Author: Bokhobza Olivia
- Published: 2026-09-26T10:01:09+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: retirement, identity, social anchors, work transition, ichiro kishimi, retirement transition, journal of organizational behavior
## Retirement Regrets Start Early
Many seniors feel lost after retiring as routines and social connections disappear quickly.

> La retraite confronte l'individu à la question des relations humaines
## Identity Crisis After Work Ends
Retirement forces people to rebuild their identity without professional roles they once defined themselves by.

> Je suis médecin, je suis enseignante, je suis journaliste
## Productivity Anxiety Persists
People struggle to stop measuring worth through work productivity after leaving their jobs.

> Si nous éprouvons tant de difficultés à créer de nouvelles relations après la retraite, c'est souvent parce que nous n'avons jamais cessé de mesurer la valeur d'une personne à travers sa productivité
## The Empty Transition
Retirees often feel anger or impatience when their retirement doesn't match expectations.

> La colère ou l'impatience surgissent lorsqu'ils comprennent que la retraite ne correspond pas à ce qu'ils avaient imaginé
## Rebuilding Identity
Successful retirement requires accepting new roles and rebuilding social connections without work anchors.

> Apprendre à aimer la personne que nous sommes aujourd'hui
## What Happens Next
Retirees must consciously abandon work identity to find new purpose and meaning in life.
## Key takeaway

Some retirees feel worse after leaving work due to lost social anchors and identity shifts, not missing their jobs.