A Nigerian, Mohammed Zakari, is open to the challenges he faced since retirement a year ago.
In a Facebook post on Monday, April 21, 2025, he revealed that some of his friends seemed to have dispersed and could not answer his calls.
He advises people who retire to invest in connections and interests outside of work, because the relationships built around professional life can be vulnerable.
“A year after retirement, I faced unexpected challenges. One of the hardest people was realizing that some of my friends seemed to have disappeared – they wouldn’t answer my phone and it felt like our connection had changed. An unstructured work life has affected not only my daily work but my purpose and my sense of belonging.”
“As I browsed this new chapter, I began to understand that relationships surrounding professional life can be vulnerable. Without a shared work, some friendships lost motivation. It was a striking experience, but it also taught me the importance of fostering relationships outside the workplace.
“For anyone close to retirement, I recommend investing time in building various connections and benefits. This can help alleviate the transition and provide satisfaction in this new stage of life. Retirement may mark the end of a career, but it does not mean the end of purpose or connection.”
