I came across Lyndsey Simpson’s book The Age Rebellion and was struck by how much it has in common with the four ingredients I write about here: Energy, Connection, Purpose and Vision. Simpson comes to the subject through her work in banking and recruitment. I came to it after leaving a long career in education […]
I first wrote this quite a few years ago, around the time my husband and I became empty nesters. Reading it again now, I remember how proud I was of our sons and how strange it felt to have a quieter house. I also smiled at my certainty that it was our time to fly.
What I’ve learnt since becomimg an empty nester Read More »
I came across some research recently that actually blew my mind. I had been reading about longevity science, the rapidly growing field studying how we might live not only longer, but remain healthier for more of those years. It is difficult to spend much time online now without coming across it. There are podcasts about
“Have you thought about joining a group?” It’s a familiar suggestion when someone mentions feeling lonely or wanting more connection in retirement. A book club, perhaps. A walking group. A committee that would be delighted to put our years of experience to good use. There’s nothing wrong with any of those suggestions. But I sometimes
You sit down with a cup of tea in the middle of the afternoon. There’s nothing particularly urgent to do. You could read a few chapters, go for a walk or simply stay where you are. And yet, somewhere in the back of your mind, a question appears: shouldn’t I be doing something useful? I
We spend decades learning how to work—but retirement asks us to unlearn a few things too Read More »
There are two useful ways of thinking about wellbeing. Hedonic wellbeing is the pleasure and enjoyment we get from life. Eudaimonic wellbeing is the satisfaction that comes from meaning, personal growth and doing things that matter to us. Psychologists Richard Ryan and Edward Deci explored these two approaches in their review of wellbeing research. The
I do some of my clearest thinking outdoors, especially when I’m walking. Yet even then, it’s tempting to fill the silence with a podcast. I can be halfway through a lovely stretch before I realise I haven’t noticed much of it. There’s nothing wrong with a good podcast. But sometimes I need to hear my
Why spending time alone can help you feel more like yourself in retirement Read More »
A few months after I retired, I had a moment that took me completely by surprise. I had spent years looking forward to having more freedom. I had held senior leadership positions, managed large teams and carried the sort of responsibility that does not always disappear when you close the office door. Retirement was supposed
Retirement today is not a finish line—it’s a fresh start. Thanks to modern healthcare and improved longevity, retirement has become a dynamic, active, and fulfilling phase of life, often spanning several vibrant decades. What sets apart those who genuinely thrive during retirement isn’t luck or circumstance, but rather the daily habits they adopt. Over the
People who thrive in their retirement years often adopt these 8 daily habits Read More »
You make a cup of tea, look at the day ahead and realise there’s nothing you absolutely have to do. For years, that might have sounded wonderful. Now that it’s here, perhaps it feels wonderful some mornings and rather unsettling on others. What do you actually want to do? And why does having more time
