Breaking free from old midlife and retirement templates
And in today's newspapers, 'Is Trump going to destroy your retirement?'
In this edition
Feature: Breaking free from old midlife and retirement templates
From Bec’s Desk: On the road again
SMH/TheAge: Is Trump going to destroy your retirement?
Prime Time: All the key election issues that matter to Primetimers—broken down and analysed just for you!
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Breaking free from old midlife and retirement templates
For decades, we’ve all been following outdated life templates that shape how we think about ageing. These old scripts told our parents and grandparents that life followed a set track—education in your early years, working hard through your ‘prime,’ then stepping into retirement as if it were the official start of ‘old age’ and the beginning of a slow decline. But here’s the truth: those templates belong to another era, and clinging to them is making many of us act older than we actually are.
This week, I was speaking to rooms full of people approaching retirement, and you could see the lightbulbs going off. They nodded furiously, recognising that they’d been subconsciously holding themselves back because of these outdated assumptions.
So let’s crack this wide open. The idea that midlife is the start of decline isn’t just outdated—it’s actively harmful. It leads to self-directed ageism, where we shrink our ambitions, stop learning new things, and convince ourselves that certain opportunities are ‘for younger people.’ And the worst part? By believing it, we actually speed up the very decline we fear.
The new reality
Modern science, longer life expectancy, and shifting social norms have redefined what it means to be "middle-aged" or "older." If you’re in your 50s or even your 60s today, you’re likely to have decades of good health, career potential, and personal growth ahead of you—if you choose to embrace them.
Consider this: most people in their 50s today have a longer average life expectancy than a 40-year-old did in 1950. The idea that we’re “too old” for change, learning, or reinvention at this stage is simply outdated. Yet, many of us don’t realise we’re still running on an old, broken script about what midlife and beyond should look like.
Overcoming self-directed ageism
The first step to overcoming self-directed ageism is recognising it. Ask yourself:
Have I ever assumed I’m too old to start something new?
Have I invested in learning some new skills and knowledge lately? (It might be for a pursuit you’re keen to become better at or for your working life)
Do I hesitate to learn new skills because I think younger people will do it better?
The antidote? Intentional learning and action. People who continue learning, staying curious, and setting new challenges for themselves not only maintain their cognitive and physical abilities but actually enhance them as they age.
Rewire your approach
If you want to feel younger, stay sharper, and avoid falling into outdated thinking, you need to actively challenge those old narratives – noticing them when they pop into your head and knocking them out. Here’s a few ways you can try:
Promise yourself you’ll learn something new every year. Whether it’s a new language, a digital skill, or even a hobby that challenges your brain in different ways, the act of learning rewires your mindset.
Look for ways to expand your social circles beyond your age group. Intergenerational friendships and work collaborations keep you adaptable and engaged. They can make you feel vibrant, interesting and capable too.
Reframe your expectations. Instead of seeing midlife and retirement as a winding down period, start seeing it as the best bits of life—a phase where your experience, wisdom, and time freedom give you a unique advantage. (They do!)
Challenge your own biases about ageing. When you catch yourself thinking, I’m too old for that, stop and ask, Am I really? Or is this just an old belief I’ve absorbed?
Stay physically and mentally engaged. Exercise, brain training, and social activities aren’t just good for you—they’re essential for keeping you feeling younger.
You are not “old” just because a decades-old life template told you that you should be. The biggest risk to your vitality and potential isn’t ageing—it’s accepting an outdated mindset about what ageing looks like.
If you shift your thinking, challenge self-directed ageism, and actively build a life that prioritises learning, growth, and engagement, you might just find that your best years aren’t behind you—they’re still ahead.
I spent a lot of the last week on the road. First it was off to Sydney for the Inner West Council’s SeniorsFest events. Two terrific education sessions for rooms packed with people are the West Ashfield Leagues Club. I was thrilled to meet so many of our community there — thanks for coming up and saying hello!
Then it was off to Port Stephens to speak at the open day for Ingenia Natura — a stunning new lifestyle community.
It’s certainly terrific to be out and about hearing everyone’s tales of retirement in-person — and share how to have an epic retirement in person too. It’s my favourite thing to do.
Meanwhile, our Epic Retirement Flagship Course for Autumn has reached week 5 already! And this has been a fantastic cohort. All our Live Q&As are flooded with questions, as everyone makes the most of our terrific guest experts! And they come away feeling like they’ve got plenty of learning done. This week we’re learning about finding your sense of purpose, and Sue West joins us from Flourish After Fifty to talk about the transition process.
Our Winter Edition of the How to Have an Epic Retirement Flagship Course has launched for Earlybirds this week. The program will kick off on the 10th April. There’s a new brochure on the website packed with all the event details. Our next event after this one won’t start until very late in August. You can book your place here.
And finally, on the Prime Time podcast this week I had a ripper of a conversation with Shane Wright the Senior Economics Correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald all about the election — and the big issues that matter to midlifers and retirees.
Don’t forget, you can always email me at bec@epicretirement.com.au. I love it when you tip me off on things that I can help with or reply with insights.
Many thanks! Bec Wilson
Author, podcast host, columnist, retirement educator, and guest speaker
Is Trump going to destroy your retirement? (with practical steps inside)
Extract of article published in print in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, WA Today on Sunday 16th March 2025.
If you’ve been watching the markets lately – and thinking about retirement at the same time – you might be clutching your super statement with a rising sense of dread.
The ASX200 has tumbled more than 9 per cent in the past month, and headlines are screaming about a punishing rush for the exits. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is riding high, rattling global markets with new nationalist tariffs and rhetoric that sounds a lot like a return to trade wars. For retirees and pre-retirees, it’s a nerve-wracking time.
I’ve been flooded with messages from people who are either planning for retirement or in the early days of what should be the most exciting time of their lives – only to find themselves gripped with fear that we’re staring down four years of turbulent, unpredictable financial markets.
The questions keep rolling in: “Should I drop my investments back to more conservative levels?” ,“Should I pull my super out and put it all in cash?” and “Is this going to be another GFC-style hit to my retirement?“
So, is Trump about to wreck your retirement? Or is this just another case of markets overreacting to uncertainty?
Read on — this article continues in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and WA Today.
All the key election issues that matter to Primetimers—broken down and analysed just for you!
With Shane Wright the Senior Economics Correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
It’s time to talk about the upcoming federal election. While we’re all still waiting for it to be officially called, once it happens, things will move fast. In this episode, we break down the big issues that matter to midlifers and retirees—because with around 50% of voters over 50, older Australians are going to be important voters.
Joining me is Shane Wright, the Senior Economics Correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He’s got a deep understanding of both the historical and current political landscape, and he doesn’t hold back when it comes to calling things as he sees them. We didn’t always see eye to eye in this discussion—which makes for a much more interesting conversation for you!
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST HERE:
Last of all, if you haven’t read the book, you can order your copy from Amazon online. Or pick up a copy at your local Dymocks, or QBD stores. And if your bookstore doesn’t have it - ask them to get it in.
I have a little online store where you can purchase signed copies too.
Well, at 76, nearly 77, I agree many of my friends seem to have decided that they're just filling in time, waiting to die. I'm just finishing my third Masters degree, have been accepted for a PhD, work 3 days a week as a senior executive and just don't have enough time in the week for everything I'd like to do, although a 4 day weekend helps. I agree people limit themselves and it's sad to see.
Hi Bec, interesting article and a few things to consider. The one thing missing however is doing something for someone else i.e. - Volunteering. Yes, don't necessary think of everything you can do for yourself in retirement however perhaps think of what you could and perhaps should do for those people who are more vulnerable in our society. If you have spare time, think of the enormous positive difference you could make to someone's life. We get far more out of giving than receiving in regard to our time. Just a thought.