In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Denise Taylor about rethinking life after full-time work. They discuss how to shift from striving to thriving, why curiosity is essential for aging well, and how to create a more intentional rhythm in your life.
What’s Covered:
- The evolution of retirement — From rest and recovery to reinvention and choice
- Identity beyond work — Who you are when your title disappears
- Being vs doing — Why constant productivity may be holding you back
- Curiosity and aging — How staying curious supports wellbeing
- Intentional living — Choosing rhythm, meaning, and presence over pressure
About the Guest:
Denise Taylor is a chartered psychologist and later-life specialist who has spent decades helping people navigate retirement and midlife transitions. After years of coaching others, she is now focusing on writing and exploring what she calls “conscious aging”—a more thoughtful, intentional approach to later life grounded in both research and lived experience.
Links & Resources:
Website: https://denisetaylor.co.uk/
Substack: https://ageingreimagined.substack.com/
Beyond Retirement themes discussed:
- Purpose & Meaning in Retirement
- Identity After Work
- Personal Growth & Lifelong Learning
- Mindset & Self-Talk
- Resilience & Emotional Strength
- Community & Connection
- Health, Fitness & Aging Well
- Creating a Fulfilling Routine
- Courage, Confidence & Taking Action
- Life Transitions & Reinvention
Topics:
living intentionally after retirement, identity after work, purpose after retirement, aging well, curiosity and aging, retirement mindset, life after full-time work
