After the stress of building careers and raising kids, most people’s happiness seems to start increasing at around age 65. And, we keep getting happier until it peaks at around age 85.
Want to do a little extra to make sure you have a happy retirement? Try these surprising tips:
1. Think About Your Death
Yes, you read that correctly.
A recent article on the Association for Psychological Science website made the case that thinking about your death can make you happier. The idea is to approach your daily choices as if this year were your last. Research shows that using death to help prioritize your time actually improves satisfaction and overall happiness with your choices.
And if you are worried that thinking about death is too morbid, researchers have found that contemplating mortality can actually make you funnier.
2. Guarantee Your Retirement Income
According to a Towers Watson Retirement Survey, having a guaranteed, predictable income in retirement can significantly enhance your happiness by reducing financial stress. Studies show that retirees with consistent, dependable income feel more secure and less anxious about their finances. The researchers also discovered that retirees who must withdraw money from investments to pay for retirement expenses had the highest financial anxiety.
Guaranteed sources of retirement income can include Social Security, pensions, or lifetime annuities. Additionally, other forms of stable cash flow like rental income and dividend-paying investments can help provide peace of mind.
By ensuring your expenses are covered with reliable income, you can focus more on enjoying your retirement without fear of market fluctuations.
3. Work
Continuing to work, even on a part-time basis, can enhance your happiness and well-being in retirement.
Research shows that staying active in the workforce offers intellectual and social stimulation, helping retirees maintain vitality. It can also provide a sense of purpose, and reduce financial stress. It also promotes better health. The Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that retirees working part-time had fewer diseases than retirees who did not work at all.
However, it’s key that you work by choice rather than out of necessity. Financial stress from needing to work can offset these positive effects, so if the job is voluntary, it’s far more likely to enhance overall happiness and health.
4. Do Not Hang Onto Your Home for Too Long
Michael Finke, a Certified Financial Planner and a personal financial planning professor at Texas Tech University, has researched the satisfaction people derive from owning a home. He found that, overall, owning a home brings more joy than renting. However, satisfaction with homeownership dropped later in life, particularly as homeowners hit their eighties.
It makes sense. Home maintenance can be hard work and the types of home we want in our forties is different from the house we need in our sixties and is probably very different for what we want and need in our eighties.
The benefits of selling our homes in retirement might be twofold. It might make us happier and we can use the home equity to help with retirement expenses. Home equity is the greatest source of wealth for most Americans.
Use the Boldin Retirement Planner to see how downsizing in your 70s or 80s impacts your retirement finances.
5. Turn Off the TV
Retirement generally means that you have more free time. Watching television is a temptingly easy way to fill that time. However, studies have found that people who watch more TV are generally less happy than those who watch less.
Researchers at the University of Maryland analyzed the responses of 45,000 Americans about the daily activities of people. John Robinson, the study’s author told the New York Times that, “We looked at 8 to 10 activities that happy people engage in, and for each one, the people who did the activities more – visiting others, going to church, all those things – were happier. TV was the one activity that showed a negative relationship. Unhappy people did it more, and happy people did it less.”
6. Seek Awe
Seeking awe—experiences that evoke a sense of wonder, like witnessing a breathtaking natural view or an inspiring piece of art—can enhance happiness as you age by promoting mindfulness, emotional well-being, and a sense of connection to something greater than yourself. These moments of awe can lower stress, enhance mood, and even boost physical health by reducing inflammation and improving immune function. Experiencing awe can help shift focus from daily worries to the present moment, creating lasting feelings of joy and fulfillment.
7. Engage in New Experiences
Novel and unusual experiences stimulate the brain, keeping it engaged and preventing stagnation. As we age, stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new things promotes mental agility and boosts dopamine levels, which can improve mood. Learning new skills or engaging in fresh activities can also boost self-confidence, provide a sense of achievement, and foster social connections, all of which contribute to greater happiness. These experiences help create a more exciting, fulfilling life, reducing feelings of monotony or isolation.
8. Invest in Relationships
The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness documents findings from the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted. The research project started in 1938 with the aim to find out what makes people thrive, and how to achieve happiness.
And, what does this huge amount of research say? The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and overall healthier lives.
Waldinger told NPR that if people could change one thing in their lives to be happier and healthier, according to to the data it would be improving their relationships. He said, “They should invest in their relationships with other people. We found that the strongest predictors of who not just stayed happy but who was healthy as they went through life – the strongest predictors were the warmth and the quality of their relationships with other people.”
It doesn’t matter whether it is family, co-workers, or the barrista at morning coffee, there are huge benefits to investing in any and all relationships. Relationships protect us from stress and we should consciously prioritize our connections to other people. You exercise. You eat right. And, Waldinger and Schulz contend that you need to also really focus on being a good friend and acquaintance, every day.
And, don’t worry if you haven’t always put the time and effort into your relationships, the researchers say that it is not too late and that you can take action immediately, like right now. Call or text someone you miss, make eye contact at the grocery store, or plan a social activity around something you enjoy doing. Just connect.
Watch Dr. Waldinger’s TED Talk about the Harvard study. It is one of the most-watched TED Talk’s ever.
9. Maintain Your Health
The Merril Lynch Age Wave survey found that health is the most important ingredient for a happy retirement, more than being financially secure.
In response to the question, what is the most important ingredient for a happy retirement, this is how people answered:
- 81 percent said having good health
- 58 percent believed in being financially secure
- 36 percent said having loving family and friends
- 20 percent voted for having a purpose
- Only 5 percent suggested trying new things
10. Be Curious and Have a Rich Inner Life
As physical abilities may decline with age, intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning can offer enduring fulfillment. Engaging in intellectual pursuits, such as reading, problem-solving, or exploring new ideas, helps keep the mind sharp and provides a sense of purpose.
These activities foster a deep sense of self-satisfaction and enable you to find meaning in life beyond physical limitations. The joy of discovery and personal growth can become increasingly rewarding, offering lasting happiness and resilience, even as physical strength may fade.
11. Seek Meaning
Seeking meaning is important for happiness as you age because it gives life a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which becomes even more valuable as we move through different stages of life. As we get older, the external markers of success—like career achievements or material wealth—often become less important, and the focus shifts toward internal satisfaction. Finding meaning through relationships, personal growth, giving back to the community, or pursuing passions helps maintain a sense of vitality and well-being.
Having a sense of purpose can also improve mental and emotional health, providing a buffer against feelings of isolation or depression, which can sometimes accompany aging. It can foster resilience, as people with meaningful goals tend to stay more engaged and active in life, regardless of challenges they may face. Ultimately, seeking meaning as you age helps create a life that feels rich, rewarding, and connected to something larger than yourself.
12. Express Gratitude
Expressing gratitude is vital for happiness as you age because it shifts focus away from what’s lacking to what’s positive in your life. Regularly practicing gratitude can increase feelings of joy, reduce stress, and improve overall emotional well-being. It enhances relationships, fosters a sense of community, and promotes resilience in the face of challenges. By acknowledging and appreciating the good, you can experience deeper contentment and a more optimistic outlook on life.
13. Play
You think play is only for the kids? Think again!
Engaging in playful activities helps reduce stress, promotes social connection, and fosters creativity – at every age.
Play stimulates the brain, keeping it active and encouraging positive emotions. Even in later years, play—whether through games, humor, or lighthearted activities—enhances mood, boosts mental health, and improves overall well-being. It provides a sense of joy and freedom, helping you maintain a youthful outlook and adaptability as you age.