What if retirement wasn’t about filling your time — but about choosing how you want to live?
In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie Doucette talks with Denise Taylor about rethinking life after full-time work. You’ll learn 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.
Denise shares how her own “rediscovery” season led her to step back from intensive one-to-one coaching and lean into writing, research, and thought leadership—work that helps not only individuals, but also the professionals who support them. Together, Jacquie and Denise unpack how retirement has changed over the decades (from “finally rest” to “reinvent again”), and why so many high-achievers struggle with identity when the job title disappears.
The conversation also moves into a more mindful, grounded view of aging: shifting from constant doing to intentional being. Denise describes the restorative power of nature—especially time spent in her woodland retreat—and offers an alternative narrative to the “work forever” message that dominates many retirement discussions. The episode closes with practical, encouraging ideas listeners can use right now: stay curious, take ownership, savor the small joys, and try the thing you’ve been putting off.
What We Cover:
- 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.
Connect with Denise:
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
READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?
Start here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/
Book a FREE call with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discovery
Check out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com
