For many people in their fifties and sixties, life can feel strangely full and strangely rushed at the same time. Financially, things may be more stable than they were in earlier decades. Years of work, saving and investing often mean that resources are finally available. Yet despite having more financial security, many people feel they […]
Here are seven “What Happens Next” style experiments simple, cheap, and designed to create data about what fits you. The 4-Week Creative Sampler Week 1: drawing. Week 2: writing. Week 3: music. Week 4: photography. At the end, rate each out of 10 for enjoyment and wanting to do it again. The “Bad Art” Challenge Make something deliberatelydays. This is exposure therapy for perfectionism. The […]
In What Happens Next terms, the best habits are the ones that improve multiple wellbeing domains at once. Creativity is a classic “stacker” because it can support: Intellectual wellbeing: learning, attention, memory, novelty Social wellbeing: clubs, groups, shared practice wellbeing: contribution, volunteering, shared culture Mental wellbeing: stress reduction, emotional processing, flow” Purpose and values: identity beyond work; “reason to get […]
Having a ‘bucket list’ sounds like a decent thing to do. Since Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman starred in the film ‘the bucket list’ and did things like Skydive, Visit the Taj Mahal and ride motorbikes on the great wall of China, I think we’ve got a romantic ideal of bucket lists. You see Bucket lists feel aspirational […]
If you’re in your 50’s and 60’s and been thinking about, reading about and doing research on , you’ve probably noticed an annoying truth: Most advice and perspectives, particularly online, comes in extremes… “Go all in.” “Quit your job.” “Move to Portugal.” “Sell everything you own and start again in Malaysia.” “Hustle harder.” “Stop doing everything completely today.” But real life, especially something as important as the next chapter of life, is rarely solved by swinging from one […]
When we think about the next chapter of our lives, particularly in our 50s and 60s, the instinct is usually to focus on the practical. Have I got enough money? When can I stop working? What does retirement actually look like for me? They’re sensible questions. Important ones, too. But after years of conversations with […]
When we look back on the content we share at What Happens Next, it’s tempting to measure success purely by views, likes, or comments. And if we’re honest, the videos that tend to travel furthest are often the ones where I’m talking directly to camera about a single idea I feel strongly about. But that […]
The festive period is often a funny time. It typically starts with being super busy with everyone you’ve ever known seeming to want to catch up. However often as we enter the Christmas period and in particular the gap between Christmas and new year we often had the time, opportunity and headspace to think. It’s an opportunity to think and often annoyingly some reflective but difficult to […]
I have an interesting conversation with some in their late 60’s the other day. We were talking about AI and the impact it’s made on her life. She told me that she’s using Chat GPT more and more and even jokingly described Chat GPT as her new best friend. Now, I wouldn’t go that far…but I do think the tools we now have access to […]
We talk a lot on What Happens next on finding purpose, meaning and overall wellbeing in our 50’s, 60’s and beyond. But here’s the thing. We should also find more time in the next chapter of our lives to do stuff we’re simply going to love to do. After all, we are allowed a bit more time to do a […]