Really important piece Jess. 100% agree with the concept that you don't retire, you simply get to do the things you want to do without being tied to an employer or even a business you may have run. But it's crucial that you not wait until you retire to have what's next for you in mind.
I wrote about this recently as well and shared the concept of "having a little something on the side" as a 50+ career mindset (although applicable at any age), to explore and leverage sklls and interests not being used by your day job as preparation for this time in your life.
I find it really interesting that you’ve framed "purpose" as a medical necessity for longevity—I don’t know much about functional medicine, but it sounds really interesting to think of a "why" as a literal health metric! Do you think your Repurpose Framework is just as vital for someone in their 20s to avoid burnout as it is for someone facing a retirement identity crisis? :)
We might not be in the exact same field, but I really enjoyed your perspective! Maybe you’ll like my content too, and if so, I’d love a sub.
Hi, Jorrit! Yes! Purpose is absolutely a health metric and honestly, one of the most powerful ones we have. The research is wild: 46% reduced mortality risk, 50% less Alzheimer's, better sleep, more movement. Your brain literally needs something to pursue to stay sharp.
And to your question—100% yes. The framework is just as vital at 25 as it is at 65. Maybe more so, because most people in their 20s are told to "grind now, live later." That's the trap. You spend 40 years building an identity around your job title, then retirement pulls the rug out and suddenly you don't know who you are.
Burnout happens when your purpose is tied to external validation (paychecks, promotions, titles). When those disappear or feel empty, you collapse. But if you build purpose that exists independent of your job, something intrinsic, you become way more resilient to whatever life throws at you.
The Blue Zones centenarians figured this out early. They never separated their "work" from their "why." It was all one thing.
Start now, and retirement becomes irrelevant. That's the whole point. I'm 35 and guess I had this perspective or reframing 10 years ago to have gotten started early but I was still getting my nursing degree then. I started experiencing burn out at my job and doing yoga daily and looked for other jobs and studied high-income skills.
Glad this resonated with you! Checking out your work now.
Having tied my identity to my career, I actively sought purpose after retiring at 69. I found purpose and am enjoying life, but facing that void was terrifying especially when I had seen others fade post retirement.
Great article and the advice is essential for most of us. Thank you!
This hit me hard, John. Thank you so much for sharing this.
That void you described "terrifying" is exactly what I saw in healthcare. So many people who'd spent decades defining themselves by their work, and when that disappeared, there was nothing left to hold onto. The fact that you actively sought purpose instead of just waiting for it to appear is huge. That takes real courage.
And you're right! Watching others fade post-retirement is what makes this so urgent. The research backs up what you witnessed: people without purpose decline faster, and they lose themselves long before their bodies give out. I really don't see that or want that for myself later in life or now.
The fact that you're on the other side of that now and enjoying life? That's the whole point. You didn't let the void win. You built something that matters to you, independent of the job title.
I'm curious though, what did you land on? What became your "reason to get up" after retirement? (No pressure to share, but I'd love to know what worked for you.)
So glad this resonated. You've lived this framework, even if you didn't have a name for it.
First, I reluctantly retired at 69. My employer was sold and I knew the buyer was not interested in a 69 year-old CFO.
Age and circumstances indicated it was time to retire and I did.
First question was where do I live. I had few roots in Dubuque, Iowa, where I worked, and three grown children with grandchildren living across the country. Also, I was recently divorced, so I was essentially a free agent.
I decided I did not want to be the poor old dad who needed his kids to keep him entertained, so I began looking for a house in Dubuque.
I found the house and bought it. It is an older home and I began doing some decorating and buying furniture. This was my purpose for a short time.
I also began a romantic relationship during this time. Building a relationship at any age takes time and effort. At my age, it is mostly the same except we needed to be very clear on old emotional baggage.
I also began a consulting business and learned how to build a web site, and helped my wife start her landscaping business. I keep the financial records and do plenty of physical work with a side benefit of being more physically fit than I have been for over a decade.
With COVID, I could not have face-to-face meetings with my network, so I began writing on LinkedIn. I found enjoyment in my writing, so am now on Substack as well.
My apologies for the length of this answer, but filling my void was a process, not a one-shot event.
Mostly, I was not ready to be sedentary and I actively sought purpose for my life.
Love this, Jess. Also reflective of the fact that in the West, I think we're far too easy to walk away from the knowledge that our elders have and which they're almost always willing to share as well.
You're so right, Dr, Sam! I didn't think about it like that until you mentioned it, but it's kind of a shame how we disregard all the knowledge from our elders in the West.
In Blue Zones, elders are mentors, teachers, storytellers. They matter. They're needed. And that's what keeps them alive and sharp.
Here, we warehouse people at 65 and act surprised when people fade. These are people with 40+ years of hard-won knowledge and we just... bench them.
Most elders are willing to share. They want to mentor but we've built a society that doesn't create space for that.
Thanks for bringing this up. it's such a crucial piece. and maybe we can help break that barrier (slowly).
Really important piece Jess. 100% agree with the concept that you don't retire, you simply get to do the things you want to do without being tied to an employer or even a business you may have run. But it's crucial that you not wait until you retire to have what's next for you in mind.
I wrote about this recently as well and shared the concept of "having a little something on the side" as a 50+ career mindset (although applicable at any age), to explore and leverage sklls and interests not being used by your day job as preparation for this time in your life.
could you possibly do a deeper dive on the 4-step framework??
yes! thank you for the idea!
Interesting, but it raises a question:
If purpose is fluid across life phases, how do we know when we’re repurposing meaningfully, or just adapting to groundless momentum?
One answer could be: when the shift feels quieter, when your inner system stops insisting you act before you’ve listened.
- Double🆔️
Love this!
thank you so much, Chris!! I appreciate you reading!🙌
Love the part about desires! And setting a morning anchor!
thanks, Chris! I like how the morning anchor is before checking your email to reinforce the purpose muscle.
🤔
🫶🏼💫
Love the musical note 🎶🤗
Thank you, Ana! I appreciate that. I’m happy to know you like musical note. I love picking out the song each time.
I find it really interesting that you’ve framed "purpose" as a medical necessity for longevity—I don’t know much about functional medicine, but it sounds really interesting to think of a "why" as a literal health metric! Do you think your Repurpose Framework is just as vital for someone in their 20s to avoid burnout as it is for someone facing a retirement identity crisis? :)
We might not be in the exact same field, but I really enjoyed your perspective! Maybe you’ll like my content too, and if so, I’d love a sub.
Jorrit
Hi, Jorrit! Yes! Purpose is absolutely a health metric and honestly, one of the most powerful ones we have. The research is wild: 46% reduced mortality risk, 50% less Alzheimer's, better sleep, more movement. Your brain literally needs something to pursue to stay sharp.
And to your question—100% yes. The framework is just as vital at 25 as it is at 65. Maybe more so, because most people in their 20s are told to "grind now, live later." That's the trap. You spend 40 years building an identity around your job title, then retirement pulls the rug out and suddenly you don't know who you are.
Burnout happens when your purpose is tied to external validation (paychecks, promotions, titles). When those disappear or feel empty, you collapse. But if you build purpose that exists independent of your job, something intrinsic, you become way more resilient to whatever life throws at you.
The Blue Zones centenarians figured this out early. They never separated their "work" from their "why." It was all one thing.
Start now, and retirement becomes irrelevant. That's the whole point. I'm 35 and guess I had this perspective or reframing 10 years ago to have gotten started early but I was still getting my nursing degree then. I started experiencing burn out at my job and doing yoga daily and looked for other jobs and studied high-income skills.
Glad this resonated with you! Checking out your work now.
—Jessica🫶
Having tied my identity to my career, I actively sought purpose after retiring at 69. I found purpose and am enjoying life, but facing that void was terrifying especially when I had seen others fade post retirement.
Great article and the advice is essential for most of us. Thank you!
This hit me hard, John. Thank you so much for sharing this.
That void you described "terrifying" is exactly what I saw in healthcare. So many people who'd spent decades defining themselves by their work, and when that disappeared, there was nothing left to hold onto. The fact that you actively sought purpose instead of just waiting for it to appear is huge. That takes real courage.
And you're right! Watching others fade post-retirement is what makes this so urgent. The research backs up what you witnessed: people without purpose decline faster, and they lose themselves long before their bodies give out. I really don't see that or want that for myself later in life or now.
The fact that you're on the other side of that now and enjoying life? That's the whole point. You didn't let the void win. You built something that matters to you, independent of the job title.
I'm curious though, what did you land on? What became your "reason to get up" after retirement? (No pressure to share, but I'd love to know what worked for you.)
So glad this resonated. You've lived this framework, even if you didn't have a name for it.
—Jessica🫶🙌
First, I reluctantly retired at 69. My employer was sold and I knew the buyer was not interested in a 69 year-old CFO.
Age and circumstances indicated it was time to retire and I did.
First question was where do I live. I had few roots in Dubuque, Iowa, where I worked, and three grown children with grandchildren living across the country. Also, I was recently divorced, so I was essentially a free agent.
I decided I did not want to be the poor old dad who needed his kids to keep him entertained, so I began looking for a house in Dubuque.
I found the house and bought it. It is an older home and I began doing some decorating and buying furniture. This was my purpose for a short time.
I also began a romantic relationship during this time. Building a relationship at any age takes time and effort. At my age, it is mostly the same except we needed to be very clear on old emotional baggage.
I also began a consulting business and learned how to build a web site, and helped my wife start her landscaping business. I keep the financial records and do plenty of physical work with a side benefit of being more physically fit than I have been for over a decade.
With COVID, I could not have face-to-face meetings with my network, so I began writing on LinkedIn. I found enjoyment in my writing, so am now on Substack as well.
My apologies for the length of this answer, but filling my void was a process, not a one-shot event.
Mostly, I was not ready to be sedentary and I actively sought purpose for my life.
Love this, Jess. Also reflective of the fact that in the West, I think we're far too easy to walk away from the knowledge that our elders have and which they're almost always willing to share as well.
You're so right, Dr, Sam! I didn't think about it like that until you mentioned it, but it's kind of a shame how we disregard all the knowledge from our elders in the West.
In Blue Zones, elders are mentors, teachers, storytellers. They matter. They're needed. And that's what keeps them alive and sharp.
Here, we warehouse people at 65 and act surprised when people fade. These are people with 40+ years of hard-won knowledge and we just... bench them.
Most elders are willing to share. They want to mentor but we've built a society that doesn't create space for that.
Thanks for bringing this up. it's such a crucial piece. and maybe we can help break that barrier (slowly).
—Jessica🫶