A recent Wall Street Journal article explored a powerful idea that deeply resonated with me: the concept of “mattering.” This was a new term that I had not heard before. Psychologists describe “mattering” as the feeling that your presence and contributions genuinely make a difference in the lives of others. And we’re starting to understand how crucial mattering is for people when they leave work and entire retirement.
Research from a 2020 meta-analysis published in the journal Healthcare, which examined more than 3,000 retirees, found that nearly one-third experienced depressive symptoms, with higher rates among those forced into retirement by illness, layoffs, or mandatory exits. Anecdotally, I’ve also seen people struggle to find meaningful ways to contribute after winding down their careers.
This is one reason I believe we need to rethink the traditional narrative around retirement as a “finish line.” The current assumption is that once you have “enough” money or reach a certain age, that you should stop working. However, reaching age 67 or becoming eligible for Social Security does not automatically mean someone is emotionally or psychologically ready to leave work behind.
Instead of asking, “When can I stop working?” perhaps a better question is, “How does work provide meaning in my life, and how do I contribute to others?” Depending on how you answer the question, that may mean continuing full-time work, consulting, mentoring, volunteering, teaching, part-time work, board service, or pursuing a passion project. The goal is not to work endlessly out of obligation, but to thoughtfully design a life that preserves a sense of meaning, engagement, and mattering well into your next chapter.
GO DEEPER: Read The Retirement Crisis No One Warns You About: Mattering in the Wall Street Journal.