Creative Aging: Happy Retirees
“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” —Frank Lloyd Wright
Retirement living is often considered a time of joy and freedom, and it often is. However, it is a major life change and requires adjustment, planning, and making choices. For some retirees, this season of life is a time of sadness. What makes the difference? What contributes to a happy retirement?
Two factors of entry into retirement have an impact. People who retired voluntarily are more likely to be happy in retirement than those forced into it by health issues or employers. And people who retire in stages rather than quitting cold turkey also have an easier time adjusting to the change. According to marriage and family therapist Kevin Coleman, retirement employment is usually part-time and less stressful than a retiree’s previous job. He also advises, “Find some work that you take pride in and find intrinsically meaningful.” Retirees who had bridge employment in their fields had better mental health than those who immediately retired fully.
When they think of a good retirement, many think first of a solid financial footing. They consult with a financial adviser before retirement and work through the math. Have they accumulated the finances to continue the lifestyle to which they are accustomed? Some discover they may need to work a few more years than they expected, or work part-time in retirement. Others learn they have sufficient funding to cover their needs. The impact of finances might not be as large as many people think, however. A Health and Retirement Study by Boston College revealed that the effect of economic well-being on overall sense of well-being of retirees was relatively small.
The level of our health, on the other hand, has a major impact on our sense of well-being, and many retirees list this as key for a happy retirement. It is wise, therefore, to do what we can to maintain good health. Remaining physically active and eating right can help us stay healthy. Half an hour of walking per day, in some cases, has been shown to elevate our mood as much as taking antidepressants. Diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats contribute to healthy bodies as well.
But diet and exercise are not a cure-all, and some health difficulties are beyond our control. Nevertheless, there are still ways of increasing happiness in retirement.
Study after study shows social contacts to be a major component of satisfaction in retirement. Retirees find that while they don’t miss the stress of work, they do miss the society and support structure of their work colleagues. Some retirees maintain their contacts with their former colleagues. Some strengthen other existing relationships and create new ones. They find they have more time for children and grandchildren. But adjusting or creating social networks takes time. An extensive Harvard study revealed that the number one challenge for retirees was replacing the social connections that sustained them at work.
Having a purpose and making time for pleasure also contribute to happiness and well-being. Career coach Bill Ellermeyer says the happiest retirees he knows are engaged in meaningful activities. The overall purpose of these activities can vary widely and be big and overarching. Goals can be set to help achieve that purpose. Goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. If we choose volunteering, it should be something that truly engages us, not something we do out of a grudging sense of duty. We can develop a routine that is related to our purpose and goals.
Time for pleasure can take many forms. We now have more time for the items on our bucket list. We can find or expand a hobby, eat out, pamper ourselves at a spa, spend time in a park or woods, travel, play brain games, take a course in a topic that interests us, or buy a pet. If we don’t want the work of a pet, but would enjoy a furry friend, we can spend time with a therapy dog. There are 20,000 therapy dogs and handlers throughout the United States.
Taking time for pleasure is one way of nurturing a positive attitude. If we are people whose natural tendency is a negative attitude, it is possible over time to make an attitude adjustment. We can start by re-framing situations in a positive light—seeing the glass as half full, not half empty. Or we can make a daily list of blessings we are grateful for. That list can be just three items or ten items. The important thing is to do it daily. Practicing mindfulness can also brighten our world. For example, we can savor our food or notice the change in light throughout the day. We can close our eyes, breathe deeply, and focus just on our breathing for a couple of minutes. Or we can practice mindfulness by using apps such as “Calm” and “Headspace.”
The good news is that most retirees develop positive attitudes in retirement. In a recent poll, 82 percent of the responders said retirement gave them an opportunity to enjoy themselves, and 66 percent said they had a chance to have new experiences and to feel fulfilled.
Retirement is like a second adolescence. We can discover who we want to be as we grow older.
Adapted from Creative Aging by Carol Van Klompenburg, published 2023, available from Amazon and for Pella-area residents at Pella Books, the Curiosity Shop, or directly from Carol. Carol has an MA in theater arts and is available for reading performances of her writing on aging, moments in her gardens, memories, and other topics.