A lot of people can’t believe their eyes when they see sixty candles on their birthday cakes. Leaving your 50s can be a big change. You will retire soon and maybe even join the senior dance club. It is a new chapter in life that you need to start with dignity.
One thing you should understand is that worrying about your age and retirement will not make the situation better. You have the opportunity to get some perspective on your life and break new ground. That’s how you can feel proud of yourself and get some fun after you turn 60:
Make a bucket list
The bucket list can help you stay active and enthusiastic about your life. Let’s admit that things have never been better than they are today. You have a lot of free time for yourself and your loved ones. If you don’t know what to write in your bucket list, start journaling. Write down your stories and thoughts. Describe the people you used to love, hate and admire. Once you start digging deep, you will discover your forgotten dreams. Writing a meaningful bucket list takes time, but in the end, it is worth it.
This list is not a reminder of your mortality or lost opportunities, it is a plan for the future. Don’t forget to include something that you can easily do today such as eating ice cream or going to the cinema with your neighbours.
Find opportunities
You need to find opportunities to make your dreams come true. Calculate your finances and figure out how much money you need to retire and feel comfortable. Some seniors get responsible equity release to cover everything they need. If you have a house, you can unlock the value of your property and get money.
Another idea is to find a part-time job to make your financial life easier. There are a lot of jobs for seniors: a substitute teacher, pet sitter, tax preparer, house sitter, hotel concierge, consultant or event stuff.
Take care of health
The truth is that it is never too late to improve your health! You can still get benefits from abandoning a bad habit. You will thank yourself in ten years when you turn 70.
First of all, keep yourself active. There is still a chance to make exercise a habit. Start with something small, so your body can get used to your new lifestyle. For example, you can walk a dog or start taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If you have a lot of free time, make a social event out of the exercise. You can invite your friends or family members to sign up for the class. It is an excellent way not only to keep yourself active and healthy but also to meet new people.
You will feel much better if you start eating healthy. Your daily eating plan should include fruits, vegetables, and protein (you will find it in peas, fish, and beans). Also, don’t forget about three servings of low-fat dairy such as cheese, milk and yoghurt.
You will not have to wait for years to see the results. Combined physical activity and a healthy diet will make you feel better in less than a week. Once again, it is never too late to start making healthy life choices.
Keep learning
There are a lot of ways how you can hack your brain at any age. Indeed, kids learn faster than elder people, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try at all. First of all, determine what you really want to learn. Maybe you want to learn a new language or how to play the guitar. Don’t worry if you are not ‘the best student in the class’. Your brain needs some time to get used to this change and create neural pathways that will allow you to learn and memorize things faster. In your situation, daily practice is the key.
If you don’t feel like going to the class, start reading books. It will benefit you more than watching news or documentaries since it is more neurobiologically demanding. As an outcome, this daily mental activity will keep your memory sharp.
Also, you can spend more time discovering new technologies. First of all, it is interesting because every device has a lot of hidden functions. Secondly, it will allow you to spend more time with kids who can’t imagine life without technology. At the very beginning, it might be irritating because you will not know how to use it. However, it will get better with time, just give yourself a chance.
Be social
A lot of people feel depressed after they retire. Losing a job might feel like the end of the world. The statistics show that most elder people miss their colleagues more than the work that they were doing.
You can invite your family members for dinner or find different social activities in your city. If you have enough free time and energy, you can become a volunteer and help kids or animals. According to the latest study, socially active people are healthier and happier.
Make a travel plan
There are a lot of beautiful places in the world where you can travel to next month. Going out of the city on the weekend can also be a useful change.
Also, there is a bunch of reasons why travelling gets better as you get older. First of all, there is no pressure – you can travel anytime you want, and there is no need to ask your boss for permission. Secondly, you know what you want and what you don’t want, so you have the chance to plan your perfect trip.
