As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the cohort is finding itself in a brand new position. Boomers are reaching retirement age but not retirement mindset. Whether because of financial necessity, an energetic spirit, a simple desire to keep working, or something else, people are continuing to remain in the workforce for years beyond typical retirement age. Sometimes, a career change is sought or new passions are pursued at this time, which scholars refer to as “encore adulthood.”
Researcher Phyllis Moen defines encore adulthood as a stage, “sandwiched between traditional careers and childrearing and old age… A time of varied paths, including […] engagement in meaningful activities.” Encore adulthood can be a time of newly found freedom, where you can explore your interests in ways that you may not have had the time, knowledge, or money for before.
Some universities, such as the University of Minnesota, even offer degree programs specifically targeted at people experiencing encore adulthood, people who might want to learn a new skillset or to change careers without having to start their education all over again. In the U.K., The University of the Third Age is a program where “retired and semi-retired people come together and learn together, not for qualifications but for its own reward: the sheer joy of discovery! Members share their skills and life experiences: the learners teach and the teachers learn, and there is no distinction between them.”
Rather than sliding into the leisure of retirement, many people are choosing to dive into the enrichment of encore adulthood. Are you experiencing your encore adulthood right now? Volunteering, teaching, trying a new job, or learning a new hobby are just some of the options that this new life chapter has opened up. What are some passions that you are now able to explore?