We all dream of ageing successfully.
Living a dream life with no responsibilities or commitments.
Yet, how many people actually thrive in retirement? What happens when retirement is no longer fulfilling or contributing to their best lives.
What happens if you fall prey to the mainstream view of ageing, withdrawing from social activities and even becoming depressed?
Is retirement all it’s cracked up to be?
This resignation in retirement, is sadly more common than you may think. It actually manifests itself in old age, causing us to think that it is pointless to pursue and develop new skills.
So, how do we avoid resignation during retirement and instead age positively?
Well, I found the secret…and you might be surprised to know…she was 82 years young!
Anne sat next to me on a city bench one day and starting talking. She was charismatic with a capital C. I knew I wanted to be like her when I grew up!
Anne was anything but resigned. She was truly living her best years in retirement.
After becoming friends with and studying Anne, here are her secrets to ageing positively!
The 5 Things Anne did to thrive in her retirement:
Have a reason to stay active. Do Daily Exercise Anne went on a trek in the Himalayas when she was in her 70’s. She trained with purpose every day to fulfil her fitness goals.
She had something to maintain her fitness for!
By being more active, she was able to participate in society for longer. Stay active!
Keep Your Mind Active and Learn New Skills
Anne was always learning new skills. She started lead-lighting and painting with gold leaf in her 70’s.
She told me once that it was important to keep learning something new every day, even when she didn’t feel like it.
She lived with purpose! Keep learning new skills!
Build supportive relationships
Anne had friends from all walks of life and all age groups. I was 22yrs of age when she sat next to me on that bench in the city. She made connections with younger people and stayed active.
She joined groups, actively sought social environments and social experiences.
Research tells us that a positive attitude and social engagement are the two main aspects of ageing positively. Build your social relationships now!
Eat a healthy Diet
Anne was healthy for her age, obviously, the result of a lifetime of eating well. She had never smoked or drank alcohol.
By keeping her body well, she was able to do more, and by doing more she was able to thrive in retirement. Stay Healthy!
- Have things to look forward to
Just in the time I spent with Anne, we went on interstate mystery flights, to musicals, to new restaurants and many more adventures big and small.
Anne knew the importance of always having great things to look forward to. Plan activities to get excited about!
A final Note
People are living longer these days, and are so much more active into their old age.
It is never too early, or too late, to start planning to thrive in retirement and age healthily.
Thank you for creating a retirement that is full of passion and purpose!
References
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Killen, A., & Macaskill, A. (2014). Using a Gratitude Intervention to Enhance Well-Being in Older Adults. Journal of happiness studies, 16(4), 947-964. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9542-3
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TEDx Talks. (2020a, January 27). Redefining retirement | Dean Waggenspack | TEDxDayton [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5F29F1ev8w
TEDx Talks. (2020, September 3). Refire, don’t retire: How to live a longer and purposeful life | Cynthia Barnett | TEDxBeaconStreet [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfiMVWQCS7Y
TEDx Talks. (2018, November 13). Retirement is redundant | Catherine Rickwood | TEDxCanberra [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hh1w2sZuSk
TEDx Talks. (2020b, April 2). Retirement: The best years of your life? | James Cobb | TEDxUoChester [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KyGAgScxqc
The Victorian Government. (2018, August 31). Healthy ageing program. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.health.vic.gov.au/wellbeing-and-participation/healthy-ageing-program
This post is very relevant to me right now. Thank you.