Why Renaissance beats retirement
What if retirement wasn’t an ending, but a Renaissance? Jon Glass explores how creativity, meaning and balance can shape a richer next chapter.
A little about Jon
Dr Jon Glass runs retirement coaching business 64PLUS. He coaches individuals to a clearer understanding of the issues they will face post work. He has studied counselling and coaching at The Australian College of Applied Psychology and The Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership.
Does the word ‘retirement’ need to be retired? Many people think it does. I believe that's because that word evokes feelings of how things used to be in previous generations. At retirement, you got put out to pasture, which lasted usually for a few short years. Sad but true.
Now, in 2026 the landscape has altered: most people can look forward to a long and healthy life in retirement.
In choosing a new name, there is always a balancing act between precision and appeal. Let me flesh this out a bit.
I recently conducted a poll on LinkedIn, asking people to vote on a potential term to replace the word ‘Retirement’ that better reflects what it means today.
The top four responses were:
- Renaissance
- Post work
- Adventure
- Work detox
Renaissance was the winner, while post work came a close second. Adventure and work detox came a distant third and fourth.
What's in a name?
So, what was wrong with adventure and work detox? I suspect adventure sounds too temporary. In fact, it reminds me of what I talk about often, which is the honeymoon period of retirement. The honeymoon period tends to last a few months and then poses the question: ‘What next’. Adventures might be fun, but they lack the meaning and purpose we crave when work no longer fulfils those needs.
Work detox may be precise, but it is such a negative expression. Many people enjoyed their working lives and while the next chapter should be refreshing, there are often parts we want to hold onto—like the colleagues who became friends. And why begin retirement on a negative note?
Let's move to the winner’s circle. Post work is a very precise term that suffers from its precision. It says almost nothing about the potential for good things to emerge after a working life. Although I have used this term in the past, I now use it less and less in my work as a coach.
Renaissance, on the other hand, has a new, exciting and pertinent feel to it. It's associated with a glorious and critical phase of human history. It shines brightly, hinting at beauty and fresh discoveries. How can we apply this in our lives?
How to start your own Renaissance
In my practice as a retirement coach, I like to suggest my clients find a creative outlet, a kind of personal mini-Renaissance. But within limits – for example, you don’t need to be as amazing as Leonardo to create art, nor as brilliant as Hemingway to write. The value of creativity lies in the process, not necessarily the output.
Creativity of course is not the end of the matter, as people want to spend time in what I call ‘consumption mode’, too. This might include travelling, entertainment and watching sports. There's value in passively absorbing experiences, along with actively creating new ones.
In retirement, it's important that we strike a balance between consumption and creativity: each person can aim to find their own balance.
Giving a new name to retirement is only a first step. Redefining the lifestyle that goes with this phase of life is equally important. This leads into such issues as building an identity, creating a new routine, maintaining social connections and many more. And way down the bottom of that stack is the critical word: meaning.
In my own retired life, I have enjoyed a mini-Renaissance. My creative works-in-progress include learning two languages, teaching ethics at a local primary school, and writing four plays and several children's books (I created a middle-grade detective hero called Worcester Glendenis).
But I also have plenty of time for travel and for maintaining social connections.
My personal balance of creativity and consumption feels about right, for me. Yet that balance has changed and will change over time.
I recommend that people treat their Renaissance phase of life with flexibility. You will have lots of time for self-reflection, so use it wisely.
I do believe it's time we ditched the word retirement. I propose Renaissance as an alternative. That word can open the door to a long period of fulfilment and meaning. If you have another word you prefer, please let me know.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the views and opinions of Russell Investments.
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