Resources
Here are some of our favourite resources on retirement life and wellbeing.
Take our retirement readiness quiz to assess your readiness with the non-financial side of retirement.
Rethinking "Retirement": What's in a Word?
Matthew Kaplan, PhD, provides a thoughtful piece on the word retirement.
What is retirement life planning?
When we think of retirement planning, we usually think of finances. Of course, finances do form a foundation for retirement, and they will have an impact on what your retirement looks like. But financial plans are just the start.
The Last Day of Work, Before Retirement
“When the time comes to pack up your desk, and say goodbye to colleagues, the significance of this departure can start to really hit home.”
Next-Gen Retirement
“Retirement is not an end but a beginning—an opportunity to experiment and explore, to engage in pursuits you value, and perhaps to reinvent your legacy.”
Retirement Wellbeing
Will leaving work help people find more meaning in life?
Psychology Today article by Ayse Yemiscigil, PhD
Retirement Life Plan by Pauline Johnson-Zielonka, Phd
Grounded in research on retirement adjustment, this book explores key areas of adjustment and wellbeing in retirement.
Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges
How retirement impacts social support and wellbeing
This article summarizes research finding that high levels of social connectedness were linked to better health and wellbeing in retirement.
Flourish by Martin Seligman, PhD
How to spend your time more wisely, with Cassie Holmes, PhD
In this APA podcast interview, Holmes discusses whether there is an optimal amount of free time for happiness, and why it matters how we spend our free time.
Forging a Retirement Identity
Judith Nadratowski provides commentaries on her own retirement experiences, including the shedding of her professional identity.
Arthur Brooks: Strength to Strength
In this podcast interview, Arthur Brooks talks about happiness and wellbeing as we age, workaholism, and retirement.
Benefits of Doing Nothing
In this article in the Atlantic, Arthur Brooks talks about why it might not be such a bad thing to have some down time, and how you can start to embrace it.
10 Greatest Fears about Retirement
A 2021 survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies revealed what it finds to be the biggest fears Baby Boomers have about retirement.
Nurtured by Nature
This article by Kirsten Weir explores how psychological research is advancing our understanding of how time in nature can improve our mental health and sharpen our cognition.
Retirement Activities & Pursuits
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
8 Best Language Learning Software for 2022
Interested in learning a new language in retirement? This article outlines some of the top applications for it.
MIT OpenCourseWare
Interested in going back to school, or simply learning about new topics? MIT OpenCourseWare provides free online courses on a range of topics.
SCORE (Volunteering)
SCORE is a volunteer organization where business experts, from a range of backgrounds, can provide support to entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Working Retirement
Find Joy in Any Job: What do I really love to do?
In this HBR Ideacast episode, Marcus Buckingham discusses how to figure out what you really love, and craft your job around it. These same ideas can also be applied to retirement, and designing a retirement life that will be more engaging.
Not Quietly Quitting But Quietly Returning, Older Workers Are Changing Work And Retirement
They are quietly creating something else — a new life stage altogether that sees the retirement age of today as a mile marker, not an exit.
A growing number of retirees are heading to work — as entrepreneurs
Kerry Hannon interviews executive coach Alisa Cohn on entrepreneurship for those over 50.
Blume
Connects experienced freelancers with charities who need flexible, high-quality and experienced support.
RestLess
Careers for over 50’s. Based in the UK.
ProTem
Interim contracts for older workers
Working Wise
Job site for older workers.
Coping with Sooner-than-Planned Retirement
Life Is in the Transitions
Bruce Feiler weaves real-life stories in with his research on life transitions, and provides strategies for navigating transitions well.
Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Dr. Brown provides guideposts for living life from a place of worthiness. Her research on shame has enabled her to understand and highlight ways the things that hold us back from living with courage and feelings of worthiness.
Retirement and Health
Your Brain on Retirement
Referencing research on cognitive health, this article points to the need for challenging ourselves cognitively, throughout life.
Research Highlight: Social Involvement and Physical Health
Studies suggest that we need to look beyond diet and exercise for living a long and healthy life in retirement.
How Relationships Keep us Happy and Healthy
APA Podcast Interview with Richard Slatcher, PhD.
Meditation and Brain Health
In this APA podcast episode, Dr. Richard Davidson discusses how meditation can help you live a flourishing life, and its benefits for brain health.
It’s never too late to start exercising
“Research shows that even those who are entirely unaccustomed to exercise can benefit from resistance exercises such as weight training.”
Aging Well and Ageism
Let’s End Ageism: TedTalk by Ashton Applewhite
Ashton Applewhite talks about ageism and how we are all impacted by our own ageist views.
The secret to being a “SuperAger,” with Emily Rogalski, PhD
Rogalski talks about her research on “super agers”—those over 80 who display better than average cognitive health.
Image of Aging Quiz
Take this short quiz to quickly explore your age beliefs
Breaking the Age Code by Becca Levy, PhD
Ageism Podcast Episode with Leading Age
Don't let ageism define you. How to enjoy life at every stage
Andee Tagle talks about how we can free ourselves of ageist beliefs and improve our wellbeing at any age.
Reflecting on Ageism: Podcast Interview with Ashton Applewhite
Ageism is something that can happen to any of us, at any age. Strangely enough, we even tend to stereotype our future selves with assumptions about aging.
How we can embrace the shifts that occur as we age
This article illustrates the emotional shifts and changes that can occur before and after retirement.
Emotions Get Better with Age
“As people grow older, they gain greater control of their feelings. How do they do that — and can they teach young whippersnappers a thing or two?”
Caregiving
The Family Caregiver by Stephanie A. Kennan
“This book assists the family caregiver to get organized and to navigate the system and advocate for the loved one regardless of the healthcare setting and circumstances.”
When I’m 64 Podcast
This podcast, produced by the Stanford Center on Longevity, explores real life stories and expert insights on the topic of caregiving.
The Joy of Caregiving with Dr. Elise Eifert
In this podcast interview, Dr. Elise Eifert talks about how caregivers can make a mental shift and give attention to both challenging and positive aspects of caregiving. Listen here
Resources for Employers
Don’t Leave! Your Guide to Beating the Great Resignation
In this free download, Kooth provides an extensive guide for organisations to retain employees at a time when so many people are leaving their jobs.
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Have a resource you recommend?
We want to create a space with resources to support retirees and pre-retirees. We focus on the social-psychological side of retirement, but also consider other aspects as well. Let us know if you have a resource recommendation you’d like us to review.