Beyond ‘Semi-Retired’: What Do We Call Later Life?
There comes a point where we want to pause or to take a step back. No longer a ‘full on’ career focus, but definitely not checking out. So, what are we? Semi-retired? But that sounds a bit dull. It sounds like we’ve downshifted into a holding pattern. Neither working nor fully retired, just hovering somewhere […]
Today, retirement is about identity, purpose, and possibilities, not just age
When it comes to retirement, the old rules don’t always apply. Today, I’m exploring why a more flexible, personal approach can help us navigate this important life transition with greater purpose and clarity. Rethinking the Traditional Retirement Timeline Retirement is changing. It’s no longer just about hitting 66 or 67 and stepping away from work […]
Rethinking Later Life Living: Could University-Based Communities Work in the UK?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we might reimagine where, and how, we live in later life. A recent article I read sparked this reflection: could university-based retirement communities (UBRCs), which are becoming popular in the U.S., offer something similar here in the UK? Or do we need to think differently, finding more […]
University-Based Retirement Communities: A New Retirement Model?
University-based retirement communities (UBRCs) are gaining popularity, offering an alternative to traditional retirement living. While this model is expanding in the U.S., could university-based retirement communities work in the UK? Could they provide intellectual stimulation, intergenerational engagement, and a sense of purpose in later life? Or are there better, more inclusive ways to achieve these […]
Rethinking the “Age Wave”: Embracing the Opportunities of a Longer Life
The way we talk about ageing matters. Describing demographic change as an “age wave” or worse, a “retirement tsunami”, fuels a fear-based narrative that frames longer lives as a crisis rather than an evolution. As a 67-year-old psychologist and later-life coach with a doctorate in meaningful ageing, I see this shift not as a disaster […]
Rethinking Life Expectancy: Beyond the Oversimplified Narrative
Introduction The claim that life expectancy has more than doubled over the past century is widely cited in media, policy discussions, and public discourse. While technically accurate, this statistic is misleading without proper context. As a researcher who obtained my PhD at 64, specialising in retirement adjustment and meaningful ageing, I have watched this narrative […]
Changing Gears: Navigating Retirement for Athletes and Executives
When thinking about retirement we think about people at the end of their main working lives, usually in their 60s. We can forget about athletes, and how they retire much earlier. There’s been much in the press on Andy Murray and how he may not be fit for Wimbledon and/or The Olympics and what will […]
The Quest for Meaningful Work
Meaningful Work: Insights from Research and Practice Throughout my career as a career psychologist and researcher, I’ve been fascinated by how individuals seek out meaningful work and construct meaning in their professional lives. This fascination led me to pursue a PhD at age 64, examining how people find meaning in life after full-time work. Today, […]
Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement in Later Life
As I immerse myself in learning tracking skills in South Africa, I’m experiencing what psychologists call ‘flow state’ – that remarkable condition where time seems to dissolve as we become completely absorbed in what we’re doing. This experience has prompted me to reflect on why finding flow becomes increasingly valuable as we age. Throughout my […]
Rethinking Retirement: A Modern Perspective on Later Life
The traditional notion of retirement, marked by a gold watch and a decisive departure from work is increasingly out of step with contemporary reality. As a researcher who has dedicated considerable time to studying retirement transitions, including doctoral research in this field, I’ve observed significant shifts in how we approach later life. The Changing Mathematics […]