Author name: Graeme Brown

Graeme Brown is a writer and editor based in Australia. He spent his career in education, first as a high-school mathematics teacher and then as an assistant principal, before moving into editing and later co-founding Global English Editing. He is married to Jeanette Brown. On this site he writes about retirement and the years after work, with a teacher's instinct for what helps ideas land and an editor's eye for clear, honest writing.

A grey-haired woman sits on a bed listening to a young girl in a pink dress.

Grandparents often wonder what children will remember—studies of parents suggest the conversation matters more than any perfect phrase

Connection & Relationships / By

Research on how adults talk with young children suggests which kinds of grandparent phrases are most likely to last, from ‘Do you remember when…?’ to ‘You worked hard on that’.

Grandparents often wonder what children will remember—studies of parents suggest the conversation matters more than any perfect phrase Read More »

An older woman in a lavender sun visor smiles broadly on a tree-lined path.

A smile returned can be enough: in a study on a busy university walkway, passers-by who got even brief eye contact from a stranger felt less disconnected than those who were looked straight through

Connection & Relationships / By

Research on eye contact, brief exchanges and culture suggests that returning a stranger’s smile, or even just meeting their eye, matters more than it seems.

A smile returned can be enough: in a study on a busy university walkway, passers-by who got even brief eye contact from a stranger felt less disconnected than those who were looked straight through Read More »

An older man and woman with backpacks and walking poles stand on a misty hiking trail.

People who chose work over pleasure felt more regret the further back the choice lay, in studies by Columbia University researchers, one reason not to leave the hobby, the trip or the bushwalk waiting for retirement

Creating Your Retirement / By

Research on regret, hobbies and time in nature suggests the hobbies, trips and bushwalks we save for later may be worth more, and sooner, than we think.

People who chose work over pleasure felt more regret the further back the choice lay, in studies by Columbia University researchers, one reason not to leave the hobby, the trip or the bushwalk waiting for retirement Read More »

If someone always seems “okay” but avoids vulnerability, they may be silently struggling

Self-Improvement / By

We all know someone who always seems “okay.” They avoid showing vulnerability, and they keep their struggles to themselves. But beneath that strong exterior, they may be silently dealing with a lot more than they’re letting on. Understanding these people can be challenging. They often bottle up their feelings, making it difficult to see what’s

If someone always seems “okay” but avoids vulnerability, they may be silently struggling Read More »

If you want your retirement to be great years of your life say goodbye to these behaviors

Life Transitions / By

Retirement can be the best time of your life, or it can be a struggle. It’s all about the habits you carry into it. Some behaviors can tarnish those golden years, despite the best intentions. Others, however, can make them truly shine. I’m here to tell you that if you want your retirement to be

If you want your retirement to be great years of your life say goodbye to these behaviors Read More »

8 reasons to use an AI chat bot as a complement to a therapist

Self-Improvement / By

There’s a significant difference between replacing your therapist with an AI chatbot and using one as a supplement. The difference hinges on balance. Replacing your therapist entirely with a bot could mean missing out on the human connection and expertise. But using an AI chatbot alongside can offer you 24/7 support and fill in the

8 reasons to use an AI chat bot as a complement to a therapist Read More »