You're a seasoned linguist. How do you keep your skills sharp as you approach retirement?

1 Read widely

One of the best ways to keep your skills sharp is to read widely and diversely. You can explore new topics, genres, and perspectives that challenge your assumptions and expand your knowledge. You can also revisit classic texts, theories, and debates that shaped your discipline and see how they resonate with you now. Reading widely can also expose you to new vocabulary, grammar, and discourse patterns that enrich your linguistic repertoire.

2 Write regularly

Another way to keep your skills sharp is to write regularly and share your insights. You can write for academic journals, blogs, newsletters, or social media platforms, depending on your audience and purpose. Writing regularly can help you articulate your thoughts, refine your arguments, and showcase your expertise. It can also help you get feedback, network with other linguists, and contribute to the advancement of your field.

4 Teach or mentor

A fourth way to keep your skills sharp is to teach or mentor others who are interested in linguistics. You can share your knowledge, experience, and passion with students, colleagues, or the public. You can also learn from their questions, perspectives, and feedback. Teaching or mentoring can help you review your fundamentals, update your methods, and stay relevant and connected.

5 Experiment or innovate

A fifth way to keep your skills sharp is to experiment or innovate with new tools, techniques, or applications of linguistics. You can explore new domains, such as computational linguistics, forensic linguistics, or neurolinguistics, that combine linguistics with other disciplines. You can also experiment with new technologies, such as speech recognition, natural language processing, or machine translation, that enhance or challenge linguistic functions. Experimenting or innovating can help you discover new possibilities, solve new problems, and create new value.

6 Have fun

A sixth way to keep your skills sharp is to have fun with linguistics. You can enjoy the beauty, humor, and creativity of language and communication. You can play with words, puzzles, games, or jokes that test your linguistic skills and make you laugh. You can also join or create communities of linguists who share your interests, hobbies, or goals. Having fun with linguistics can help you relax, recharge, and remember why you love what you do.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?