Summary of this article
· Rest is often mistaken for laziness due to societal conditioning
· Retirement should be viewed as an opportunity, not an endpoint
· Embracing leisure and self-kindness is essential for well-being
Summary of this article
By Bhuvanaa Shreeram
In most Indian households, discipline and diligence are virtues passed down like heirlooms. From childhood, we are taught to strive to score marks, crack exams, earn a job, and build wealth. Productivity becomes not just as a routine, but an identity. And once we enter the workforce, we are swept into the rhythm of early mornings, packed calendars, never-ending emails, and high-stakes decisions. Over time, we begin to mistake motion for meaning.
It is no surprise, then, that when the rhythm halts—when retirement arrives—many of us do not feel liberated. We feel… unprepared.
Rest Does Not Come Easy
Ask any recently retired professional and they will tell you that it is not the loss of income that unsettles them. It is the loss of purpose.
In fact, a 2023 study by the Centre for Research on Retirement in India found that over 67 per cent of urban, white-collar retirees reported feelings of guilt when they were “not doing anything productive.” The irony is painful. After spending three or four decades working, they now struggle to enjoy the very rest they longed for.
One of our clients, a former CXO from Pune, summed it up well, saying, “I used to fantasise about long mornings and slow afternoons. But now that I have them, I feel guilty. Like I am wasting time, I should be using better.”
But it is not laziness. It is conditioning. We have been trained for effort, not ease.
Emotional Weight Of Productivity Culture
The idea that value comes only from “doing” is deeply ingrained in our societal fabric. Even our language is a reflection when we ask, “What are you doing these days?” or “What do you plan next?” or “Any new projects?”
There is little space in our conversations for simply being.
But rest is not the opposite of work. Rest is not withdrawal. Rest is restoration.
Wisdom Of Stillness
The power of inner stillness is long understood in the Indian spiritual traditions. In yogic science, rest is not a reward at the end of effort; it is the very basis from which clarity, vitality, and creativity emerge.
“Only if you know how to be still, can you be dynamic. Otherwise, you will only become frantic. Stillness is the highest level of intensity.”— Sadhguru writes in his book Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy.
Stillness does not mean stagnation. It means aligning with life, rather than endlessly chasing it.
So what does this mean for the newly retired? It means retirement is not a problem to be solved. It is a state to be understood.
What Happens After The Applause Fades?
Most people prepare for retirement as if it were an endpoint, like crossing a finish line. The job is done, money has been saved, and the pension plan is ready. But just like a wedding is not a marriage, retirement is not the life; instead, it is the invitation to design one.
Without roles and responsibilities dictating our every hour, many retirees feel unanchored. The silence can be disorienting, even painful, but only at first. With intention and reflection, this silence becomes sacred.
How To Learn Rest Without Guilt
Here are some thoughtful ways to embrace rest, not as indulgence but as nourishment.
1. Reframe The Idea Of Time
Instead of asking “What did I do today?” ask “What did I enjoy today?” or “What gave me peace today?”
Shift the question. The answers will follow.
2. Build A Rhythmic Day, Not A Busy One
Create gentle rituals like reading the newspaper while sipping tea, walking after dinner, or tending to a small garden. These are not filler activities; they are grounding ones.
3. Keep A 'Joy Ledger'
Write down one moment each day that brought you joy, curiosity, laughter, or calm. Over weeks, you will begin to value time by depth, not activity.
4. Relearn The Art Of Leisure
Watch a film. Take a nap. Sip your tea slowly. You do not have to earn your rest with a checklist. Rest is your right.
5. Be Kind To Yourself
Remind yourself gently that you have nothing to prove anymore. This season of life is not about performance; it is about presence.
The Deeper Realisation
There is an old saying: “You are not a human doing. You are a human being.”
As retirees, this truth finally has space to unfold in the quiet hours of early morning, in the soundless moments between sunset and moonrise, in the soft rustle of a newspaper, or in the satisfaction of a homemade meal. These are not distractions from life; they are life.
Conclusion
If 9-to-5 was about building a life, retirement is about inhabiting it. If work is about proving yourself, rest is about accepting yourself. And, if your weekdays were dictated by meetings, targets, and timelines, your retired years can be shaped by peace, meaning, and gentle discovery.
Let us stop asking: “What are you doing in retirement?”
And instead start asking: “How are you feeling in retirement?”, because the real wealth we seek now is not more returns, but more restfulness.
The author is a certified financial planner and co-founder and head of financial planning, House of Alpha Investment Advisors Private Limited
(Disclaimer: Views expressed are the author’s own, and Outlook Money does not necessarily subscribe to them. Outlook Money shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.)
