Raising the Curiosity for a Better Return on Life-Road Map for the Retirees

Abstract

This paper studies the risks of not engaging in challenging projects after retirement and emphasizes the importance of active participation in various activities. By finding meaningful pursuits, retirees not only enhance their own lives but can also significantly contribute to the well-being of their communities. Encouraging retirees to explore new interests, volunteer, and engage in fulfilling projects can help mitigate these risks and lead to a more rewarding retirement experience.

The authors investigate the factors that spark the retirees' curiosity, particularly within the Arab World and Gulf States (GCC), highlighting the importance of sustaining life purposefulness post-retirement. Through the extensive synthesis of the literature reviewed, the paper presents a novel framework aimed at preserving retirees' contributions, complemented by a toolkit designed to enhance resilience amid transformative eras. The research opens avenues for empirical studies on aging economies within Arab countries, emphasizing readiness for employability and ongoing competency development. It advocates for a roadmap to ignite retiree interests through inquiry-based learning, addressing emerging challenges such as adaptability and learning through exploration.

The authors also examine the early retirement trends driven by technological advancements, revealing underutilization of retirees' expertise and proposing methods to mitigate this through structured community involvement. With retirement demographics poised to shift significantly by 2050 in the Arab region, the need for robust pension systems and enhanced social services is underscored. The approach fosters skill transfer and community capacity building through volunteerism, mentorship programs, and intergenerational projects, aiming to integrate retirees as valuable societal contributors. This comprehensive framework re-engineers retirement into enablers phase and risk mitigation phase. The integration of both creates better strategic engagement and lifelong learning, promoting retirees' social interaction, mental stimulation, and overall well-being, ultimately enhancing the socioeconomic fabric of their communities.