Finding purpose in retirement: A guide for government employees

Retirement isn’t just about leaving work and hoping you find a sense of fulfillment in your warm weather paradise. There’s a complete shift in how you spend your day and where you direct your attention, from meetings and deadlines to something of your own choosing. While exciting, that freedom to choose is where a lot of people become stuck. 

After years, or even decades, of service to the public, your daily routine, your role and your sense of identity have been tied to mission-driven work. When that ends, the question that matters most isn’t just when you retire, but:

What do I want from retirement?

The answer is rarely simple. Some envision travel, time with family or long-delayed hobbies. Others quietly worry about losing purpose or structure. One of the most useful tools for thinking through this transition comes from Japanese culture: Ikigai—your “reason for being.”

By using this idea, you can design a retirement that is more than a long vacation. It can be a stage of purpose, contribution, and joy.

Ikigai: A compass for life after work

Ikigai is about identifying activities in the following areas, though it’s not necessary to meet all four:

1. What you love
2. What you’re good at
3. What the world needs
4. What gives your life meaning

For many government employees, you contributed to something larger than yourself, used your skills to serve and built a professional identity around it. But when you retire, that representation of who you are changes.

The opportunity—and the challenge—is to reimagine Ikigai without a paycheck or job description attached. Instead of asking, “What do I do now that I’m retired?” ask:

• What lights me up when I think about the years ahead?
• How do I want to use my skills in new ways?
• How do I want to connect with the world around me?

Work often provides purpose and motivation through connection. Everyone's experiences and emotions vary, but if you enjoyed connecting with others at work, despite maybe not loving the actual job, volunteering can offer similar fulfillment without the stress.

Ikigai doesn’t always mean starting a big project. It could mean painting, mentoring, gardening, learning a new language or simply being more present with family. The key is that it gives your days meaning. 

Building a new identity

For years, your professional title might have been somewhat representative of who you are. “I’m a social worker.” “I’m a firefighter.” “I’m an analyst.” In retirement, those titles fall away. That can feel both freeing and confusing.

After working for 35 years and carrying a badge that provided instant recognition and purpose, the transition into retirement can feel like losing a part of oneself. However, it is possible to build a new identity, one that is not tied to a job or professional title.

Discovering who you are now is at the heart of retirement. It doesn’t mean completely letting go of your past. It means carrying forward the values and skills you’ve built and reshaping them for a new stage of life. Maybe you will become a mentor to younger professionals. Maybe you become a student again, picking up subjects you always wanted to learn. Or maybe you discover an entirely new path.

The phases of retirement

Researchers and advisors often describe retirement in phases. Knowing them can help you prepare mentally:

• The Honeymoon Phase: At first, it feels like an endless vacation. You finally have freedom. There are no alarms, no deadlines. Many retirees fill this phase with travel, family visits or long-awaited hobbies.
• The Adjustment Phase: Eventually, the novelty wears off. Some retirees feel restless, even bored. Without the familiar rhythm of work, days can blur together. This is when the deeper question—What do I really want? —becomes unavoidable.
• The Reinvention Phase: With reflection and experimentation, new routines and identities emerge. Retirees begin to settle into a life that feels authentic, balanced and meaningful.

Recognizing these phases allows you to anticipate the changes, rather than be surprised by them.

The power of routine

Retirement frees you from the daily grind, but it also removes the structure you may have relied on for decades. Without intention, that freedom can feel aimless.

That’s why creating new routines is so important. They give shape to your days, without recreating the stress of a strict work schedule. A balanced retirement routine might include:

• Morning rituals like walking, meditation or journaling
• Time blocks for hobbies, learning or creative projects
• Regular social connections, like coffee with friends, club meetings or volunteering
• Physical activity for health and energy
• Quiet time for reading and rest

One aspect to consider is the level of proactivity in managing daily routines. Without an intentional approach to organizing the day, you risk reacting to it and taking on the role as just another consumer. You purchase more stuff, watch more television or eat more food. These brief distractions may make you feel good due to their immediate gratification, but they’re short-lived (and can become expensive). 

You are in the driver’s seat, with the freedom to take charge of your life because you’re not retiring from life. You’re stepping into a new daily role with the ability to write the rest of your story. But the key is consistency. Purpose often hides in your daily habits. A retiree who paints for an hour each morning or volunteers every Tuesday finds fulfillment not in grand gestures, but in rhythms that give life flow.

Connection and community

Work provides more than a paycheck. It provides community. When you retire, that built-in network may disappear overnight. Without intentional effort, retirees can slip into isolation which are major risks to both mental and physical health.

That’s why connection is not optional in retirement, it’s essential. Ask yourself:

• Who do I want to stay connected to?
• What new communities do I want to join?
• Where can I contribute my time, skills or energy?

Legacy and meaning

The later chapters of life naturally bring thoughts of legacy. Retirement is the perfect time to consider: What do I want to leave behind?

Legacy doesn’t have to mean wealth or achievements. It could be the wisdom you pass on to grandchildren, the stories you record from your career, the students you mentor or the kindness you show in your community. When you frame retirement as a time to build legacy, everyday gains weight and meaning.

Questions to guide you

To uncover your own vision for retirement, take time to reflect on questions like:

• What gives me energy and joy right now?
• What role do I want in my family and community?
• What skills or passions do I want to deepen?
• What would my ideal week look like in retirement?

Your answers don’t have to be perfect. They can evolve and turn into something you never imagined doing. In the pre-retirement phase, it’s important to begin reflecting on these questions so you’re ready to step into purpose, not just into the sunset.

For federal employees, retirement marks the end of a career of service, but it doesn’t mean the end of contribution, growth or meaning. If you’re able to look at retirement with a clean slate, let the idea of Ikigai guide your next steps. 

By preparing for the phases of transition, building intentional routines, nurturing community and reflecting on legacy, you can design a retirement that feels both free and purposeful.

The real question isn’t “How do I retire?” but “What do I want from this new chapter of life?”

When you answer that, retirement stops being a finish line and becomes the beginning of a more meaningful journey.

Watch our YouTube video on this topic here

Austin Costello, CFP® is an LPL Financial Planner with Capital Financial Planners. If you have questions about your insurance needs or any other federal-specific financial planning question, register for a complimentary checkup. For topics covered in even greater depth, see our YouTube page.