Guide for Writing the Best Retirement Messages that Actually Make People Happy

Retirement messages have always been a nice and empathetic gesture for retirees entering one of the most conflicting phases of their lives. On the one hand, they are worried about what the future holds and how they will live life without doing something they have done for a significant part of their life. On a brighter note, they look forward to having more time on their hands to engage in new activities and bond more with either family, friends, or other loved ones.

As most research has shown, retirement can be a dicey period. Inability to keep up with physical and mental activities can lead to a 5-16% increase in mobility difficulties. It can also lead to a 5-6% increase in illness conditions and 6-9% decline in mental health over a six-year post-retirement period. Therefore, retirees must receive messages and wishes that depict appreciation, love, gratitude, and support. This show of positivity helps them better deal with the process.

It Is Necessary To Send a Wish to Someone Who Is Retiring

Retirement Messages
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One of the questions asked from time to time is if it is appropriate to congratulate someone on retiring. The answer is yes. It is even more essential when the person has shown admirable dedication and love for their career. This person would be leaving a legacy and a lot of memories behind. In this case, congratulations is the best message to send to them on their retirement. Below are sample messages of wishing retiree congratulations:

  • Congratulations to you on your retirement!
  • Congratulations on both your retirement and the work you have done over the years. You are incredible.
  • I still cannot believe you are retiring! Congratulations, and enjoy every minute of it!

When Writing a Retirement Message, Keep It Heartfelt 

If you can address a message to a retiree and have no idea what to write, this guide will prove valuable. Retirement affects people differently. According to a particular study, retirement has a more negative effect on women than men. This is because most women generally do not stop working as they continue to do household chores and take care of their spouses.

As a result, your message to a female retiree should be a bit different compared to a male retiree. However, this is a general guide for writing a heartfelt retirement message:

  • Share Your Favorite Memory of Them – Adding a touch of humor in the form of your favorite memory with and of them is one way to begin your message with. It adds a personal touch to the message and shows you valued your time with the retiree.
  • Express how they have Influenced you – Usually, when someone is retiring, it means they have spent long enough time in a place. Enough time to have influenced a whole lot of people, including yourself. Expressing how they have achieved this in your life tells them they have been impactful in their time and gives them a sense of importance or value.
  • Highlight their Best Feature – What is it about the retiree that stuck out to you? What makes them so respected and is considered their best characteristic? Highlight it and let them know you have closely observed them and how much you appreciated that particular feature.
  • Plan for the Future – One of the greatest fears of some retirees is abandonment. They fear that they might get forgotten by colleagues and family members once they stop working and moving about. Talk about a plan you hope to do with them. It assuages their fear and lets them know you are in their life beyond the present.

Retirement Messages for Coworker

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When your colleague or coworker retires, simply let them know how much you have enjoyed working with them and proceed to wish them all the best. Keep it light if it is someone you are not familiar with. A meaningful message with a gift does the trick. Below are some sample retirement messages to a colleague:

  1. You were the epitome of hard work and commitment during your time here. We will miss you!
  2. Your hard work and dedication were noticed and appreciated by all. I hope you go on to enjoy the rest of your time with family and friends.
  3. Congratulations on your retirement! Your new objectives are relaxation, enjoyment, and happiness. I am positive you will meet all of them.
  4. If you attack your retirement with the same resilience and dedication you employed all through your time here, your retirement will be a resounding success.
  5. You have inspired me to continue to show integrity and honesty in every endeavor. You are irreplaceable. I will miss you always. Enjoy your deserved retirement!

Nice Retirement Messages to your Boss

The expectation is workers and their bosses have built a form of relationship through working together all these years. It could be a strictly professional relationship or one that took on a more personal touch, like a friendship or mentorship. Therefore, retirement messages to your boss should reflect the nature of your relationship.

Do not attempt to get too personal if the relationship was purely professional. It could read as tacky. Here are some sample messages below:

  1. Best wishes on your retirement, boss. I appreciate all you have done for me. I shall miss working with you.
  2. Dear boss, I wish you all the best for the future in your retirement. Here is to memorable and fun times with family and friends. I am always here for you.
  3. You brought so much positive energy to your subordinates and made work so much fun. It won’t be the same without you. Happy retirement, boss!
  4. Dear boss, I wish you a long, happy, and fulfilling retirement. Enjoy it to the fullest.
  5. Congratulations on your retirement, boss! You set a great example to all of us with your graciousness, humility, and competence. We hope to continue making you proud even in your absence. Enjoy retirement, Sir/Ma’am.

Retirement Messages to a Friend

When it is a friend retiring, you have more liberty and freedom to be creative with your message. A bit of humor, banter, and heartfelt words are the best recipes for a retirement message to your friend. See sample messages below:

  1. Congratulations on beating me to retirement, you cheat! I will do my best not to hold it against you.
  2. Congratulations on your retirement, buddy. When you get bored, you know I am only a phone call away.
  3. All your hard work has finally paid off. Enjoy all the time you want to spend time with the people that matter the most to you (Including me). Happy retirement!
  4. There is no need to act your age after retirement. It is time to unleash that inner young person I have always known existed.
  5. Congratulations on your retirement, my brother/sister. Time to start lying about your age and start lying around the house.
  6. Retirement marks the end of you working for someone else and living for yourself. I am excited for you as you enter a new chapter in your life. Happy retirement.
  7. Congratulations on your new post as a retiree. The pay sucks, but the hours are fantastic.
  8. Bye Bye, tension. Hello, Pension! Happy retirement to you.
  9. You have made your mark, and you have paid your dues. It is now time to put on your party shoes. Welcome to retirement, pal.
  10. Congratulations on every day being a Saturday henceforth! You will love it.

Should You Send a Message or a Card?

When wishing a retiree happy retirement, you can decide to send either a message across or a retirement card. However, it is much more advisable to send both. You could scribble a personal message on the card and then send both.

The retirement messages that come with cards might be generic and impersonal. Adding a personal message shows it is not just a token gesture, and it is genuine. Along with this, you can also send a small gift. Nothing too expensive or huge but it should be practical. Sending something you know they will need post-retirement is the most thoughtful gesture, and it is sure to earn you effusive praise.

End Your Retirement Messages With Some Positivity

Send them Well-Wishes for the future – The best way to end a retirement message is to wish them the very best for the future and express positive things towards them. Wish them plenty of rest, enjoyable vacations, and memorable family times. Wrap things up by sending all your love and telling them you are available should they need to talk or need help with anything. Finally, sign the message with warm phrases like ‘All my love’ ‘Best wishes’ ‘Your friend’ along with your name underneath.

Joanne Lawrence
Joanne Lawrencehttps://www.skinnyscoop.com/
Joanne Lawrence is an experienced journalist and lifestyle blogger based in London, United Kingdom

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