Arthur C. Brooks, a Harvard professor and happiness expert, joins former FT journalist Michael Skapinker to redefine retirement. They discuss how retirement today is less about quitting work and more about pursuing passions at a slower pace. Brooks highlights the unique advantages of aging in leadership, while Skapinker emphasizes staying connected with colleagues and fresh ideas. Together, they challenge traditional notions of busyness and success, advocating for personal growth and meaningful connections in this new chapter of life.
Retirement is evolving from a strict endpoint to a stage that promotes engagement in fulfilling activities and personal growth.
Older professionals can thrive post-50 by leveraging crystallized intelligence, focusing on collaboration and mentoring rather than solo problem-solving.
Deep dives
The Importance of Progress Over Happiness
Finding fulfillment in life is more about achieving progress than attaining a state of happiness. Happiness is often misconceived as a final destination; however, it's actually about the journey and ongoing improvements in various life aspects. The notion that one can attain everlasting happiness ignores the value of experiences, including negative ones, which contribute to personal growth and resilience. Recognizing that progress brings satisfaction is crucial, as exploring new interests can re-invigorate a sense of purpose and enjoyment in life.
Understanding Career Transitions After 50
The transition from traditional work roles to new opportunities post-50 often involves a shift from relying on fluid intelligence, which peaks in younger years, to embracing crystallized intelligence that flourishes with age. Emphasizing skills like pattern recognition, mentorship, and teaching can redefine careers and enhance contributions in later life. This transition highlights the potential for older professionals to thrive by leveraging their accumulated experiences while moving away from intense individual problem-solving roles. Those who adapt to this shift often find renewed happiness and fulfillment in more collaborative and mentoring capacities.
Redefining Retirement and Finding Purpose
The traditional concept of retirement is becoming less relevant as individuals seek meaningful engagement beyond their corporate careers. Many people grapple with feelings of loss and a diminished sense of self-worth when leaving their high-status jobs, which can make the transition overwhelming. Understanding that retirement can also mean pursuing new ventures, staying connected with others, and finding ways to matter in different contexts is essential. Maintaining physical fitness and cultivating personal interests are two universal strategies that can help ease the adjustment and foster a richer, more fulfilling life during this phase.
Retirement used to be a cliff edge: you’d be working one week, and gardening the next. That’s changing. Now, retirement can mean working on the things you enjoy at a slower pace, and staying engaged with new ideas. Isabel Berwick speaks to author, columnist and Harvard Professor Arthur C Brooks on the science of flourishing in later life, and what older brains can do that younger ones can’t. Later, Isabel talks to former FT journalist Michael Skapinker about the importance of staying engaged with old colleagues and new ideas – even if you’re not doing the same thing every day.
Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.