Retirement is something that many of us spend half our lives looking
forward to. The idea of finally being able to say goodbye to long work hours
and spend our time the way we want it is massively appealing.
But then comes the reality. And for many people, it’s not all it’s
cracked up to be.
Retirement can often be followed by a sense of loss – loss of purpose,
loss of responsibility and loss of importance. This can be a painful transition
in some cases and many people will even find that they end up having something
of an existential crisis.
But even if you don’t feel that way psychologically, what it does to
your body can sometimes be devastating. The problem is that you don’t just lose
that focus and purpose – you lose the excuse to go out and socialize more often
and you lose the socialization.
Combined, this can eventually lead you to stop challenging your brain
and pushing your body as regularly; which is when old age and deterioration can
really start to sink in.
Think about the older people you’ve known in your own life. Very often,
the moment they enter retirement is the moment that they start to really
deteriorate and physically age.
So the question becomes, how do you stop that from happening?
It’s never too late to be what you’ve always wanted to be! The secret
is not to ‘stop’ when you reach old age.
If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, you can take an extended
holiday, but then make sure you give yourself new challenges, goals and
activities.
For some people, this might just mean joining hobby classes, learning
a new language, volunteering and generally being more active. For others
though, it can mean pursuing a childhood dream or a passion.
This is your chance to become the thing you always wanted to be –
whether that means starting a rock band, becoming a film actress or writing a book.
Think that sounds absurd? Now’s the best time to do it. There are tons
of work available for older people on TV and even in films.
And if you think you’re too old to do it, check out this list
of inspiring people who achieved success well after the age of 40.
You could even start
a company. After all, running a business is much more enjoyable when your
lifestyle isn’t dependent on it and when you’ve paid off your mortgage.
As for becoming a rock star, you might not manage to be the next Bon
Jovi or Tina Turner, but you could certainly start your own YouTube channel and
be very successful that way.
If you love cooking, you can start your own YouTube recipe channel.
If you love helping younger people with their problems, you could become
a life coach. Either way, you’d be sharing a lifetime of wisdom and helping
others.
The fact is, once you lose your sense of purpose, things tend to go
downhill very quickly. That’s why one of the best anti-ageing tips you
can ever follow is to retire from work, but not from life.
Find a new sense of passion and purpose in your golden years and
you’ll look 10 years
younger naturally and without surgery.
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