Adjusting to retiring after academic job

[notafanofmarmite]

How did those of you who retired from an academic job adjust? I've been teaching in a university since 1991, and I took a buyout due to financial problems, so retired a bit earlier than I previously envisioned. Though I am still externalling, It is weird not having classes to prepare for, etc. Any tips or thoughts about making the transition?

You probably aren't getting replies because we all wish we could retire!

Do you want to stay in the field of adult learning? You might like the U3A. You can lead a group in any topic you like if there's enough interest locally.

You can't do much about this, but think about what you would have done with regards to planning if you thought you had 5 years before retirement. My dad took an early retirement offer during covid. He had no hobbies and no friends outside the department. He still goes in sometimes and keeps up with his former phd students. Whilst that's sweet in itself, it's sad because it's pretty much all he has. Academia was his life and his hobby. How will you go about building an identity that isn't centered around being an academic? Maybe you're lucky and already have one, in which case keep going!

I don’t know - because I’m in exactly the same position. Took voluntary severance a few years ago at 57 with lots of plans to write. Hit hard by my DH’s death just before I left work and have really just drifted since. Finally applied for my pension today (I’m 60 in a couple of days) so I’m now going to be ‘properly retired’ and using this to kick start me into life 2.0. Really need a focus!

My husband is loving it He has a lot of hobbies and is volunteering in a field he’s always been interested in but never had time to pursue before.

I’m jealous as hell. Eighteen years off retirement myself, and the sector is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

No planning and no marking. What a terrible situation to be in! What a relief it was to realise that I didn’t have a pile of marking waiting for me in my study. If you are really missing it you could look at tutoring for the OU. There are lots of groups that want speakers U3A, WI, townswomen’s Guild. Lots of areas have NT Supporters groups and we have a local history group. Joining a group is also a good way to make new friends. Alternatively could you tutor A level students or even UGs? When I retired I took up painting and I sell some of my work.

I'm avoiding retiring by snagging a big grant. Despite it all, I like my work.

And I have little else but my work, and I'd do my work during retirement - well, the research & writing bit - so they may as well keep paying me a reasonably good salary!

I'm around 3 years from retirement and I need to work full time till state pension age - so I'm wondering how best to prepare myself for retirement. I'm frequently tired and often exhausted nowadays but Im aware that quite a lot of my identity is linked with being an academic. So I'm not quite sure how to prepare for a life in retirement with currently no spare mental or physical bandwidth.

I took advantage of a voluntary leavers scheme (VLS) and retired a couple of years ago. The massive extra workload during covid, not to mention being very ill with covid itself at the start had just about finished me off.

My situation was slightly different in that my wife works in the same field and I was able to pass some of my teaching and tutees on to her. Because of that I retained some involvement during the transition and there was no hard cut off when I left. I have also got involved with a project at another university in an advisory role. That has helped because I found that I really missed interacting with intelligent young people.

The expected massive deficit post covid never materialised and the VLS has been stopped. While this is good news for many it isn’t for us as my wife now wants to retire early and it would have been helpful.

Wow, I came back here and see all the replies. Thank you to all.

During my career, I gave a lot of public talks to different groups, served on some committees for a couple charities related to my work, and started a fellowship programme. Also evaluated grants, so I did a tonne of service.I still edit a journal, as mentioned serve as an external for an UG programme, and often am asked to give talks and be an external for vivas.

What is very strange though is I am starting to lose interest in adult education...I've done it since age 24, and it was fine, but I have to be honest...looking at marks spread for an UG programme as an external is not v. scintillating. I've eaten, slept and breathed it for so long, and starting to want to do something else.

DH's mum just died, and there is more money than we thought we would have, which is nice, but he wants to continue working full time for a couple years. I don't have any kids, so no grandkids to dote upon and my niece and nephew are adults who live in another country. So, other than working on the current book, I'm trying to figure it out. My hobbies are gardening, some piano playing, and writing books...not just academic but a couple trade ones. We are also in a v. rural area, so group joining takes a bit of logistics. Thanks for all your thoughts, and if anyone has any others, please do comment.

Yes @damekindness I was starting to get tired the last year or so. Hang in there....can you get a sabbatical your last term before you retire?

My university ended up with that massive deficit...over 200 people left, so....the department lost so many people that I couldn't see staying really. I'm sorry to hear that your wife won't get the VLS.

That's very cool about the painting. I did a couple illustrations for one of my books, but never thought about actually trying to sell my work...it might be satisfying to see a piece in a gallery I created, but I have few illusions I would make much money from it.

I didn't mind the planning, but really hated the marking for sure.

My dad retired from academia quite a long time ago now and he just carried on doing research and pursuing academic interests for fun.

Congrats on the grant. COVID really changed my view of working for my university, though I also like my research a lot. To be fair, if things in HE would have stayed the way they were about a decade ago, I would not have wanted to retire!

Glad to hear there is someone in the same position. Thought it was just me. Very sorry to hear about your DH.

Yes, I don't see academia as being all I have...at least I hope not. When I was younger, the library was my happy place, regardless of the weather. Now, when it is sunny, I think...why am I inside? A friend died at 60, and it got me thinking about valuing each day.

Thank you for the suggestion...might look into it...maybe not as a teacher, but as a student.