Ep 79 - What Will I Do All Day? with Patrice Jenkins

In this uplifting and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Patrice Jenkins, author of What Will I Do All Day?, to explore the real heart of retirement beyond financial plans.

Together, we dig into why retirement is not simply about staying busy, but about rediscovering meaning, purpose, identity, and joy.

Patrice shares insights from her decades of counseling and interviews with retirees, offering a compassionate, practical guide to navigating the messy, magical transition into post-career life.

What You Will Learn

• Why financial readiness alone doesn’t guarantee a happy retirement.

• The emotional stages of transitioning into retirement and why patience is crucial.

• How to rediscover passions, build social portfolios, and embrace “space.”

• Why successful retirements often include a form of meaningful "work."

• How to avoid the trap of being "busy but unfulfilled."

• Simple frameworks to plan your next two years, not just your next thirty.

Key Topics Discussed

• The difference between hiding out and holding out when nearing retirement.

• The importance of purpose, agency, and intention in retirement planning.

• Why internal validation matters more than external praise after leaving work.

• How relationships - spouses, adult children, friendships - evolve post-retirement.

• Embracing play, experimentation, and curiosity in later life.

• Strategies to transition through the inevitable “messy middle” of change.

• How to think differently about work as part of a fulfilling retirement.

Resources Mentioned

• What Will I Do All Day? by Patrice Jenkins

• Patrice’s Website — patricejenkins.com

• Richard Leider’s The Power of Purpose 

• Book Mention: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

Memorable Quotes "Retirement is not about keeping busy. It’s about living meaningfully and purposefully every day." — Patrice Jenkins "Work gave you structure, identity, and purpose — but your next chapter can too. It just takes intention." — Patrice Jenkins "Perhaps work kept you so busy that you forgot what you used to love. It's time to remember." — Patrice Jenkins "You don't have to figure out your whole retirement — just the next two years." — Dan A Takeaway Exercise

The 'What Lit You Up?' Reflection

Grab a pen and a notebook. Reflect and jot down:

• What activities made you lose track of time when you were 10 years old?

• What hobbies or interests did you abandon during your working years?

• What would you do with a free afternoon if no one was watching?

Circle one that sparks excitement and design a small experiment to try it out in the next two weeks!

A Final Thought

Retirement isn’t the end of the story, it’s the beginning of a new one.

The key isn’t to stay busy; it’s to stay true. Stay curious. Stay purposeful.

Whether you're months away from retirement or years in, there’s always an opportunity to dream, to experiment, and to build a life you’re excited to wake up to.

Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this episode, please:

• Subscribe to The Humans vs Retirement Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts

• Leave a rating and review, it really helps!

• Share this episode with someone who’s thinking about (or struggling with) their retirement journey.

• Download for free my whitepaper - The Skill of Spending Money in Retirement

• Follow me on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter - The Retirement Fix