Living a happy, healthy life doesn’t have to stop at a certain age. In fact, viewing aging as a negative part of life can take away some of your best years! These are the years in which you can live freely without worrying about others’ opinions, follow your passions, take those vacations you’ve been putting off, spend time with friends and family and more. Sounds good and freeing, right?
Aging is universal, but industries such as the beauty industry and media make it seem like we only have a certain number of “good years” and rob us of the joy of aging. It doesn’t have to be this way. Aging can be a joyous time to be celebrated and filled with the things that fulfill and enrich us and in this blog, we’ll explore how we can all change our mindset and create more joy around aging.
An enriching life is centered around having a solid community. Having a rich and deep social network of close friends and family members is essential to aging well and has a huge impact on overall well-being.
Not sure how to start or grow your community? We’re taking a look at that below and brainstorming how to make these the best years of your life because we’re all about the joy of aging.
Mindset is everything. Did you know negative views surrounding aging influence many health problems, such as cardiovascular events, hearing decline and memory loss? Certain circumstances can influence the onset of these conditions, but research has found that having a negative mindset can impact the development of these problems.
Consider Japanese culture. Japanese people have the longest life expectancy in the world. Part of this is due to a diet that’s focused on fish and plant-based foods, a low consumption of red meat and low obesity rates. However, Yale researcher Becca Levy uncovered another notable feature: Japanese culture is focused on the joy of aging instead of the fear of aging.
These beliefs impact things that are often viewed as afflictions in the U.S., such as menopause. In Japan, menopause is a valued part of aging, and, as a result, women are less likely to experience some of its symptoms.
In Levy’s research, she discovered that having positive views on aging didn’t just lead to better health but also led to a lifespan that’s an average of 7 1/2 years longer. In her research, she also found that people who have positive views of aging are 44% more likely to achieve full recovery from a severe disability.
Further research has found that people are generally happiest at the beginning of their lives and late in life, with a dip in happiness in midlife. Because these levels make a “U” shape, it’s known as a U-bend or U-curve of happiness.
It’s important to note that the U-bend of happiness isn’t universal and is more prevalent in high-income nations.
For those in areas where the U-bend of happiness is common, life can often be better in the third act (the years after retirement) because of a wealth of new experiences, opportunities, times of growth and wisdom earned throughout life. These later years allow people to take a more deliberate and slower approach to living, which offers plenty of benefits.
As a result of taking a more deliberate approach to life, you can take time to savor the moment and truly enjoy the experiences around you. It’s also a time to live with intention and gratitude. And the best part? It’s an excellent time to develop new friendships. Just think: All of your life experiences have made you wiser and braver, so use these years to meet other folks who share your passions and build your community.
What was your midlife like? You likely spent some time being stressed by striving for a promotion or raising a family — or possibly both. You’ve worked incredibly hard throughout your life to get to your retirement years now and can use this time for self-discovery.
Don’t think of this as an end — rather, think of it as a time to learn new things, use it as a period for self-knowledge and continued growth, connect with those you care about and, most importantly, grow your community.
Our culture has repeatedly told us that money and visible success will make us happiest. But not everyone who has pursued those things is happy, and doing so also takes a lot out of the things that truly give life meaning. In a CBS News Sunday Morning feature on aging well, activist and actress Jane Fonda spoke about the key part of living well and what gives life meaning. The key to a good life? A strong community.
While deep social connections bring the most meaning to our lives, small interactions, such as those with a barista, bookseller or someone you pass on the sidewalk, also add value and warmth to our lives. Valuable social connections can help you focus on other goals and inspire you to live better, learn new skills and try out new things.
What skills have you always wanted to learn? Are there hobbies you’ve always wanted to pick up? Your time is yours to fill as you wish, and there are so many opportunities. Have you always wanted to take a pottery class? Sign up and give it a try. If you try it and don’t think it’s for you, you can always try out other hobbies.
This is a time of self-discovery, growth and self-acceptance. It’s a time to be braver and accepting of who you are and the rich experiences that have led you to this point. Be comfortable in your skin as you are and live without worrying about judgment from others. Most importantly? Enjoy the freedom and joy that comes with aging.
The most important part of aging well is having a social network and solid community. Here’s how to make that happen.
Use your extra time to give back to others through mentorship and volunteer opportunities. Dedicating your time to others can give life a greater sense of purpose while you support and improve your larger community. Plus, over time you’ll get to know the other people who volunteer in your community and strengthen those bonds. Some great volunteer options include:
Friendships are essential to a meaningful and well-lived life, but it’s also important to focus on your family and care for your larger community. Spend the extra time you have during your retirement years with those you care about. For example, build special moments of joy with your grandchildren, such as taking them out to lunch, going to the park together or baking cookies with them.
While this is a time to make new friends and further build your community, it’s also important to strengthen your existing friendships. Maintain these relationships and continue to share life experiences. Plan regular outings together, such as dinner or lunch every week, an annual vacation or biweekly card games. Carving out dedicated quality time with each other strengthens your connection, ensuring that changes in living arrangements or distance don’t alter your bond.
To start and care for your larger community and find people you connect with, get involved in things you enjoy. Taking classes is a great way to build your community and can help you develop stronger relationships while staying engaged. Think about what fulfills you or what you’ve always wanted to learn. Maybe it’s arranging flowers, sculpting, theater, dancing or singing. These classes can help you build a community of friendly folks with shared interests.
There’s nothing quite like a warm community of neighbors nearby with the added opportunity to constantly make new friends. Life Plan Communities (also known as continuing care retirement communities or CCRCs) make it easy and effortless to make new friends because meaningful activities and opportunities to meet new people are always just outside your door.
Life Plan Communities offer art and exercise classes, opportunities to dine with friends, local excursions, learning programs and more, and residents can participate in as much or as little as they like. Living in a built-in community with warm and friendly neighbors makes it easier to connect with others and make the most of your third act.
Eager to learn more about the social opportunities available in Life Plan Communities? Explore our guide, Relationships: The Key Ingredient for a Happy, Healthy Life.