Slowing down time is inevitable factor of retirement life. It is a period of shedding
previous demands, learning to say no, and mellowing out. It is time to throw off
pressures and think more of themselves. Staying home with simple pleasures may start to become as enjoyable as participating in social events or accepting strenuous outside involvement. Some of this occurs because of lower energy levels, some by preference. Some individuals are happier in this phase than the prior one. These retirees do not like too much activity and when they start slowing down, they enter a comfort zone that provides more fulfillments, not less. Often one life partner reaches this stage ahead of the other. This phase can last as long as the prior phase, and sometimes longer. Self-pacing and involvement balance seem to be the keys. People do not want to slow life down to the point where things begin to drag; on the other hand, anxiety is more difficult to handle. Often after making a commitment to do something strenuous, doubts appear. Of course, to the energetic retiree still in the middle of active living, a slower, more balanced pace may seem boring. Once there, these same people might think differently and appreciate their new comfort zone. The danger in this phase lies in misunderstanding just what balance means. For example, it does not mean a drastic change, but a slower, softer approach that retains some of the activity blended with more quiet times. Achieving just the right balance is an individual matter. Some can handle considerable social activity outside the home; others need only a sprinkle of the outside world to enhance their home-centered comfort zone. It can take a few years to reach a satisfactory balance because people keep frustrating themselves by trying to return to active living instead of relaxing and enjoying the new pace.