Welcome to this series of articles about ageing, and combatting some of the negative effects of ageing. Ageing is something that hopefully happens to all of us. It is a time of glory, and a time of challenge.
Retirement is something most of us look forward to. The idea of finally being able to say goodbye to long work hours and spend our time the way we want, is massively appealing.
In reality, for many people, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
Retirement can be followed by a sense of loss – a loss of purpose, responsibility and importance. This can be a painful transition in some cases, and many people even find that they end up with an existential crisis.
Even if you don’t feel that way psychologically, what it does to your body can sometimes be devastating. The problem is you don’t just lose focus and purpose – you lose the excuse to go out and socialize more. You can lose your socialization.
These things combined can lead you to stop challenging your brain and pushing your body as regularly as you once did. This is when old age and deterioration can really sink in.
Think about the older people you’ve known in your own life. Very often, the moment they retire is the moment they start to deteriorate and physically age.
How can you stop that from happening?
It’s never too late to be what you’ve always wanted to be
The secret is don’t ‘stop’ when you reach old age. Take an extended holiday, sure, but make sure you give yourself new challenges, goals and activities.
This might just mean joining classes, 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 becoming a rock star or a film actor. Perhaps writing a book, or launching a company.
Does that sound absurd? Now is the best time to do it. There is a ton of work for older people on TV and even in films. As for becoming a rock star, you might not manage to be the next Bon Jovi, but you could certainly start your own YouTube channel, and be very successful.
Running a business is much more enjoyable when your lifestyle doesn’t depend on it, and when you’ve paid off your mortgage…
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Nick Thorne is the founder of NicksDigitalSolutions Limited a company that specialises in Education, Training and Writing. He lives in Levin, New Zealand.