Why Retirement Can Feel More Like a Void Than a Victory

You’d think that when you finally retire, close the laptop, clear out your desk, and wave goodbye to the Monday morning meetings life would instantly feel like one long, glorious holiday.

No deadlines, no alarms, no "quick" phone calls that somehow last an hour.

But here’s the surprising truth no one talks about...

Sometimes, all that free time can feel less like freedom and more like... well, a big empty hole.

See that big grey circle in my sketch That’s what free time without purpose can feel like, a giant void, just waiting to swallow you whole.

The Retirement Myth: Why Free Time Isn’t Always Freedom

We’re sold this dream that retirement is the ultimate prize. Work hard for decades and you’ll finally win the jackpot, unlimited free time!

But the reality is a little trickier.

After the initial glow of sleeping in and long lunches wears off, many retirees find themselves pacing the kitchen at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday, wondering how they used to fit their entire lives into weekends and evenings.

True story: (and yes ! do have OCD!) I once spent an entire afternoon alphabetising my spice rack. I now know I own three jars of paprika and zero thyme, literally and metaphorically!

It’s not just anecdotal. A 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people with a strong sense of purpose live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Purpose isn’t a luxury... it's essential!

The Busy Trap: When Busyness Isn’t Fulfilment

One of the sneakiest pitfalls of retirement is something I call "the busy trap."

When we lose purpose, we tend to fill the hole with busyness. Not meaningful, life-giving activity, just stuff.

I know someone who spent two months after retirement reorganising their entire garage. When they finished, they started on the shed. Then the junk drawer. Then they created three new junk drawers! You get the picture...

At some point, you have to wonder: are we keeping busy, or are we just avoiding the emptiness?

It’s not just about boredom. Research shows that lacking purpose in retirement is linked to higher risks of depression, cognitive decline, and even heart disease.

Freedom without direction can lead to poor choices and poor health.

Filling the Hole: Finding Your Purpose in Retirement

So, what’s the solution? How do you fill that big empty circle?

It’s different for everyone, but most fulfilling retirements involve at least one of these three ingredients:

1. Connection – Spending time with people you love (or at least like).

2. Growth – Learning, creating, exploring.

3. Contribution – Giving back, helping others, sharing your skills.

One retired friend of mine teaches local kids how to fix their bikes. Another started volunteering at an animal shelter because, in her words, "At least the cats appreciate me more than my grown-up kids do."

The trick is intentionality.

Purpose doesn’t magically appear when you hand in your security pass. You have to shape it, like a good garden or a great cheese board.

A Little Empty Time Is Okay Too

Now, let’s be clear, I’m not suggesting every minute needs to be productive. An afternoon nap, a long coffee, or a leisurely scroll through cat memes is good for the soul.

But too much unstructured time can quietly turn into an empty void.

Without purpose, you’re not free... you’re just floating.

Your Blank Canvas

That’s what my sketch is really about.

That big empty circle isn’t freedom. It’s just unstructured time.

The magic happens when you start filling it with things that light you up, challenge you, and connect you to others.

Retirement isn’t falling off a cliff into nothingness. It’s stepping onto a blank canvas.

The question is, what are you going to paint?

I’d love to hear from you.

If you’re retired (or planning to be soon), how have you filled your time with purpose? Have you fallen into the busy trap?

Drop a comment below, I might borrow your story (with permission, of course) for my next sketch!