Finding meaning outside of work
Retirement isn't just a financial transition. It's a psychological one. This week, we explore how to find purpose, identity and meaning in the 1,500 workless Tuesdays that may lie ahead.
Ad - Before we start — a big thanks to our podcast sponsor this week, Aware Super
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In the second instalment of our New Rhythm of Retirement three-part mini series with Aware Super, we’re tackling a question that doesn’t get nearly enough attention:
What are you retiring to?
For many of us, work isn’t just how we earn a living. It’s how we spend our time, build relationships, challenge ourselves and make sense of who we are, which is why retirement can sometimes arrive with an unexpected identity crisis.
In this episode, I speak with clinical neuropsychologist Professor Nancy Pachana about finding purpose beyond your job title, overcoming the shock of the first “workless Tuesday”, and why curiosity may be one of the most important ingredients for healthy ageing.
Then I sit down with Lynda Cross from Aware Super to explore the financial side of the equation: how to build enough flexibility into your retirement plan to fund not just your lifestyle, but the passions, projects and experiences that give life meaning.
There’s more to retirement than money; it’s also about creating a life you look forward to waking up to. Don’t just retire from something, retire to something.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST HERE:
Highlights of the conversation:
Why retirement can trigger an identity crisis: What happens when your job title is no longer part of how you define yourself.
Don’t look for a brand new purpose: Why the clues to your next chapter may already be hiding in plain sight.
The power of curiosity: How trying new things can help keep your brain engaged and your life interesting.
Happiness vs contentment: Why they’re not the same thing, and which one matters more in retirement.
Retirement isn’t a day, it’s a process: Nancy’s advice for navigating the transition without putting pressure on yourself.
The three phases of retirement: Understanding the “go-go”, “slow-go” and “no-go” years and how your needs change over time.
The biggest predictor of retirement satisfaction: It’s not necessarily having more money.
Don’t just retire from something, retire to something: The simple idea that sits at the heart of a fulfilling retirement.
Antarctica through Mike’s eyes
When Mike Chesworth joined me on Prime Time last week, he described Antarctica as one of the most remarkable places he’s ever visited.
This week, he’s kindly shared some of the photos from his trip and I thought they were too good not to pass on.
As you scroll through them, you’ll get a glimpse of the wildlife, landscapes and sheer scale of a destination that sits firmly on many people’s bucket lists.
And if Antarctica is something you’ve ever dreamed of doing, don’t forget to listen to Mike’s episode, where we talk about everything from costs and planning to the famous Drake Passage and whether the experience really lives up to the hype.
From Bec’s Desk
Happy Prime Time podcast day!
Let’s talk meaning and purpose and where you find it this week. I get a lot of my sense of purpose from the work I do. In fact I feel like I have managed to build my interests in health, longevity and financial confidence into the work I do.
But there's one thing I've had to sit with: when your work is your purpose, what happens when it's not there?
I'm not waiting to find out. So I’m actively on the lookout for a bookclub I can join (tell me if you know one), a sport I can get into (I’m working on pickleball at the moment) and I'm looking for a community organisation where I can put my skills to good use. Not because I'm bored but because I know I need roots in more than one place.
When I turned fifty I asked myself three questions.
What lights me up that has nothing to do with work?
Who do I want to spend more time with?
What have I always wanted to try but kept putting off?
Have you done a similar assessment on yourself?
Hope you enjoy the show. These two amazing ladies both inspired me.
Thanks for listening! Cheers Bec Xx
