Local friendly society, the Leicestershire Oddfellows is urging recent retirees to consider a prescription of friendship if their rose-tinted retirement glasses start to lose focus.

The group, whose 850 local members are mostly retired, knows that while having greater free time is an attractive prospect, there is a real risk of feeling lonely or at a loose end when the initial excitement wears off.

It says meeting up with people regularly to enjoy a variety of activities and getting more involved in the community through volunteering or fundraising can help to beat retirement blues and reinvigorate a lost sense of purpose.

Branch Secretary of Leicestershire Oddfellows Mike Harris is encouraging local retirees to consider giving one of their group's upcoming social events a try.

He said: "We all look forward to retirement. After so many years of working hard we deserve to start using our time on our own terms.

"But a common theme with our members is that when the initial to do lists are all ticked off, people find themselves missing aspects of their former lives.

"Perhaps your partner is still working, or you simply miss the buzz of the workplace or a set daily routine – the desire to be social and do things doesn't go away because you are retired. In fact, it's even more important."

"We can help you to keep active, busy and positive in your retirement and introduce you to other retirees in your area."

We have a number of affordable events coming up where newcomers are welcome to attend. This includes various day trips and Lunches, a weekly Games morning as well as having guest speakers and quizzes.

Tony Brown from Leicester retired some years ago and said joining the Oddfellows ensured he had regular company and something in the diary.

He said: "There were a lot of things to get on with when I first retired but after that I found myself needing a bit more structure in my life and something to look forward to. The good thing about the Oddfellows is that there's always something going on and it's varied. I get the chance to spend time with all sorts of interesting people and made have new friends, and it doesn't cost the earth."

Dr Jennifer Wild, an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Oxford University and a friend of the Oddfellows, says the lack of structure in retirement can make some feel like they have lost freedom. 

She explained: "We often think of retirement as a good thing, but it's a massive life transition. People can struggle to find an identity outside of the workplace and even begin to grieve their former life which, if unresolved, can lead to loneliness and depression.

"By recognising the transition and looking to fill your days in meaningful ways, you can find a new sense of purpose that will keep you active, help you relax and enjoy your retirement at the same time."

Some of Dr Wild's tips to make retirement work for you are: 

• Plan ahead – whether it's splitting your day into 30-minute-chunks or planning the week ahead, having activities in place will help you feel motivated.
• Identify your loss – understanding what you are missing from your life before retirement allows you to find new ways of replicating it. If you miss the camaraderie of the office, go along to a busy friendship group like the Oddfellows.
• Make new milestones – work on the things you'd still like to achieve.

To receive a free copy of the Leicestershire Oddfellows latest Events Diary, contact Jo Brown on 0116 2543106 or email [email protected]