If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve taken our free personality test and know which of the 16 personality types you are. But I want to ask you to set that identity aside for a minute.
I can see your eyebrows shooting up in confusion through the virtual distance between us. So let me explain.
Throughout your working life and career, circumstances have played a hand in shaping the way that you express your personality. But what happens when circumstances change? How does it affect who you are when those outside demands disappear?
Retirement: An Opportunity for Authenticity with Yourself
One of the most universally desired life changes that people hope to experience is retirement. But when you step away from your career – and, with it, your routine and all of the demands on your mental and physical energy – it’s normal to find yourself questioning who you really are. This particular rite of passage can spark a process of getting to know yourself all over again.
If you’ve always been highly Introverted, for example, you might be surprised to discover that you miss the camaraderie found at work. You might realize that you appreciate regular social contact more than you ever thought possible. Something similar might happen if you’re a Judging personality type who finds yourself marveling at how easy it is to “go with the flow” after a lifetime of living according to a calendar and daily checklists.
This isn’t to say that when you retire your personality will undergo such a radical shift that you become an entirely different person. No, that’s not the case (at least for most of us). But retirement does provide the opportunity – and at times compels you – to redefine your way of being in the world. In doing so, you can more fully be yourself.
So it’s on this premise that I invite you to consider the possibility of what personality type you might take on in retirement. Don’t worry – chances are you’ll still be a Logician (INTP), Advocate (INFJ), Consul (ESFJ), or whatever type you currently are. But when you’re freed from the constraints of your career and at full liberty to settle into yourself, who might you become?
The Retirement Personality Types
Rather than say, “[Fill in your personality type here] are going to be such and such type of people in retirement,” we thought it would be fun to present you with a completely new list of retirement personalities. You’ll notice that they are not defined by a specific set of personality traits but rather organized around trait-related tendencies. That is because we recognize that many people, regardless of their personality type, might identify with more than one retiree persona.
So as you read this list, we invite you to think about how your personality traits influence your life and how this might change when you finally retire.
Bucket-Listers
Bucket-Listers crave novel experiences that take them out of their comfort zone, and retirement offers the opportunity to seek these out. Each person’s bucket list will be different. Some people might pursue adventurous or risky activities like skydiving, while others may prefer more relaxing ones, such as vacations to destinations that they’ve been dreaming about for years. Whatever they end up doing, these types are thirsty for new experiences.
Extraverted Bucket-Listers might be more willing to include others in their adventures or broadcast their latest accomplishments on social media. Introverts, on the other hand, might be inclined toward more solitary or introspective pursuits. Judging types will likely be more organized and methodical in their planning, while Prospecting personalities might opt for a more spontaneous approach. Despite differences shaped by individual traits, people with this retirement personality are determined to squeeze an entire life’s worth of adventure out of their later years.
Community Organizers
When let loose from work-related obligations, Community Organizers don’t retreat into the quiet of their home but rather redirect their time and energy into their community. Whether through activism or just wanting to do good for their immediate circle of friends and neighbors, they show up to make their world a better place. These personalities are fearless in speaking up, sharing their opinions, and offering concrete solutions to create the outcomes that they think will most help the greater good.
There’s a good chance that many – though not necessarily all – Community Organizers are Extraverted. The Feeling and Assertive traits are also common among people with this retirement personality. Community Organizers tend to build satisfying social lives around their activities, finding a sense of connection and belonging that lends meaning and purpose to their day-to-day activities.
Dedicated Athletes
Ernestine Shepherd is the perfect example of a Dedicated Athlete. Completely unathletic and physically average, she started going to the gym in her fifties and later became a full-time, award-winning bodybuilder. Not everyone with this retirement type will win a championship, but depending on their personality and individual preferences, they might train for a marathon, get really good at tennis, or become a bona fide yogi.
Yes, people become Dedicated Athletes because they value physical fitness, but nearly every trait could sway someone toward this retirement personality for one reason or another. Extraverted and Thinking types might be drawn to the possibility of competition, for example. At the same time, Introverted or Turbulent personalities might feel like they’ve found the perfect outlet for stress relief. Different traits intersect in unique ways to influence a person’s passion for physical fitness later in life.
Easy Spirits
Whether they lounge around with a good book, take their dog for a leisurely walk multiple times a day, or join their friends for a prolonged coffee date every morning, Easy Spirits are happy to finally have the time to do whatever strikes their fancy – or not. These types are the people who, in retirement, finally find the space to turn their back on the routines that defined their career. They embrace spontaneity, insist on doing activities that they genuinely enjoy, and revel in the relaxed pleasure of their day-to-day lives.
People with the Easy Spirit retirement personality are likely to have the Prospecting trait. As retirees, they may find that their typical go-with-the-flow attitude can blossom into its fullest manifestation. Easy Spirits have finally reached a point in life where they can just see where the day takes them, and that is precisely what they do.
Family Pillars
Family Pillars are central support figures in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and extended family. Some retirees with this personality take their role very seriously, almost as if it were a full-time job. They assume important responsibilities and become key players in helping everyone accomplish their goals. Other Family Pillars settle into their role in a more sentimental way, and their wisdom and emotional support become the glue that keeps their family united.
The Feeling trait is often prominent with Family Pillars, as they tend to find meaning and purpose in supporting their loved ones. They’re usually empathetic and cooperative, tuning in to the needs of others to find the best ways that they can be of service. Many Family Pillars are also Observant personalities with little need for novelty. For them, stepping into the role of family elder is all the excitement that they need.
Hermits
The Hermit retirement personality type is defined by an inclination for solitude. These types are perfectly happy to go about their business without much social distraction. Some people might think Hermits are unhappy, but in reality, they revel in the peace and quiet that allows them time for introspection and reflection, as well as the space to pursue their interests. These types seek a sense of absolute calm, and their retirement finally allows them the freedom to find it.
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that Hermits tend to be Introverted personality types. But beyond that, they’re also likely to have the Intuitive trait. Their intellect tends to keep them entertained without much need for outside stimulation. They’re immensely imaginative, curious, and creative, and they happily pass the time with their favorite company: themselves.
Hobby Clubbers
As social people, Hobby Clubbers enjoy pursuing their interests in the company of others. Retirees with this personality are likely to be found hanging out with their local fly-tying buddies or meeting up with friends from their book club. They might join a bowling league or a bird-watching group. Regardless of their individual hobbies, the defining detail about these types is that they like to stay active and engaged in their community without doing much more than showing up and participating.
Both Introverts and Extraverts can find happiness as Hobby Clubbers because different groups will offer distinct social environments. But these types are likely to have in common the Prospecting or the Turbulent trait. These retirees are often uncomfortable assuming a leadership role, but they do want to share laughs and stories and enjoy being part of a social circle that’s built around shared interests.
Inspired Creatives
As retirees, Inspired Creatives can finally dedicate themselves to exploring the full extent of their artistic expression, and they do so with gusto. Remember, art is a broad category, and creativity can manifest in many forms: painting or drawing, musical practice and composition, wordplay through writing, culinary invention, or more practical pursuits like basket weaving or carpentry – to name just a few.
It might be easy to assume that Inspired Creatives would mainly be Intuitive types. People with this personality trait are more likely than Observant personalities to pursue their creative interests and tend to agree that their creativity comes naturally to them. But there are plenty of Observant types who, without the responsibilities of their career, find themselves leaning into the artistic inclinations that they had never before given themselves the liberty to prioritize.
Life Coaches
By the time someone gets to the end of their career, they’ve accumulated years of invaluable experience, knowledge, and insights. Life Coach retirees feel compelled to use this wisdom for the service of the greater good. Whether intentionally or unwittingly, these types tend to end up in positions where they guide, mentor, motivate, and inspire others.
Though not strict prerequisites, many Life Coaches often have the Extraverted, Feeling, or Judging trait – and sometimes all three. Life Coaches have an innate ability to connect with others on a deeper level. They exude empathy, compassion, and understanding in all of their interactions. People naturally seek them out for advice, which they effortlessly provide, giving a sense of clarity and direction to those who need it.
Lifelong Learners
Lifelong Learners constantly seek out new knowledge and firsthand experiences that expand their understanding of the world. People with this retiree personality are the ones who go back to school and get that PhD for sheer personal satisfaction. They sign up for workshops and certification courses or check out a fresh pile of books from the library every other week.
Individual personality traits influence how and why someone obtains knowledge rather than the fact that they like to do so. Prospecting types, for example, might find themselves leisurely exploring rabbit holes, while Judging personalities might be more strategic or goal-oriented in their investigations. Regardless of how their individual traits shape their process, Lifelong Learners can be identified by their obvious dedication to studying.
Master Gardeners
While “Master Gardener” is a formal title that is bestowed on people who’ve completed extensive training in the sciences and art of gardening, here the term refers to a certain kind of retiree who spends as much time as possible in their garden. Master Gardeners take up their hobby with a passion in retirement, dedicating themselves to perfecting their spaces, improving crop productivity, and cultivating beauty all around them.
No single personality type is more likely than another to become a Master Gardener in retirement, but there is more than one way to go about gardening. Observant or Thinking types probably tend to find themselves focused on the practical outcomes of their efforts, for example. Intuitive or Feeling personalities, on the other hand, might find themselves drawn in by the therapeutic aspects of working close to nature.
Workhorses
Workhorses might retire, but that doesn’t mean that their appreciation for work and productivity turns off. People with this retirement personality type love getting things done. They are goal-oriented, combining their skills for planning with a love of routine to take on a whole new set of responsibilities in the supposedly laid-back years of retirement. Expect Workhorses to open a new business, go back to work just because, or find countless projects to busy themselves with around the house.
Observant types might take on work that is familiar and practical, while Intuitive types are more open to tackling bigger unknowns. Either way, they probably share the Judging trait – the common denominator among Workhorses in retirement. These types tend to instinctively create the structure and routine that they need to feel comfortable in life after their career comes to a close.
Final Thoughts
Not one personality on this list is a proper “personality type” in the way that we usually define them. But rather than let this detail stop you from taking the topic seriously, allow this list to give you pause. Each type embodies the rich world of possibilities for what you can become in retirement. We hope that you can find yourself within the descriptions offered above.
If you haven’t retired yet, which parts of your personality do you think will shift when you no longer have to focus on your career? We invite you to contemplate how you might become more fully you after going through this rite of passage. Which retirement personality type can you see yourself becoming? How does that type align with your personality traits?
And if you’re retired, how did retirement affect your personality and the ways that you interact with the world? Who have you become since leaving the workforce? Which retirement personality type do you most identify with?
Retired or not, please feel free to share your reflections in the comments below.