Want a happy retirement? Of course, you do! The Dalai Lama himself described happiness as “the purpose of our lives.” At retirement, however, that desire often becomes an expectation. A white paper from Empower even found that 83% of pre-retirees expect to “live their best life” in retirement. After all, it’s the moment you’ve been working toward.
Indeed, retirees are generally happier. But it’d be wrong to think once you clock out for the last time, you can finally be happy. This is because happiness is more than just a feeling — it can take some work.
In fact, the trend of "unretiring" is currently at a five-year high. According to one study, 36% of retirees are considering reentering the workforce because they feel a lack of purpose in retirement, while 50% miss the intellectual challenge and stimulation from working.
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For a happy retirement, cultivate purpose
Psychologists say happiness involves both the experience of positive emotions (I’m happy it’s warm today) and a deeper sense of fulfillment and meaning in life (I made a difference volunteering). It’s about evaluating our lives as a whole, rather than momentary feelings.
If you want to be happy, you have to keep doing things that give your life meaning. While sources of happiness are personal, there are certain actions research has shown to promote well-being, purpose and connection — key ingredients for a happy retirement.
1. Nurture your relationships
We’re social creatures. It’s undeniable that relationships have a significant impact on our well-being. Look no further than Havard’s decades-long happiness study. It found that close relationships, more than money or fame, keep people happy throughout their lives.
However, retirement can be a time when our social interactions wane. According to Our World in Data, the number of people with whom we interact is highest around age 40, after which we spend an increasing amount of time alone. And the cost of loneliness in retirement can be significant — social isolation is a significant predictor of premature death and health issues, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
Because of this, maintaining social connections in retirement is critical. Use this time as an opportunity to broaden your social life. Call old friends. Travel to visit family. Attend community events. A happy retirement is as much about who you spend time with as what you spend your time doing.
2. Never stop moving
Physical activity is widely recognized for its health benefits and its ability to enhance mood. Research even indicates that those who enjoy retirement are often healthier. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you should hit the gym every day.
In regions known as “blue zones” — where people live notably longer and report higher satisfaction with life — physical activity is baked into daily routines. Dan Buettner and his team found that the longest-lived people in blue zones don’t actually “exercise” in the conventional sense. Instead, their lifestyles naturally incorporate movement: gardening, kneading bread by hand and using manual tools.
Another benefit: Staying fit can also save you money. One study published in the journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine found that adults who increased physical activity levels in middle age saved $824 a year on medical expenses compared with adults who were consistently inactive.
3. Find a sense of purpose
Even if you didn’t enjoy your job, it likely provided something valuable beyond money: purpose. A sense of purpose is linked to living longer, healthier, happier lives.
Finding purpose doesn’t require grand gestures. It can stem from hobbies, travel, family moments or even a beloved pet — which is why older adults' best investment might just be a puppy. Find what matters to you through relationships, meaningful experiences or both. Consistently prioritizing what you care about can lead to a more purposeful, fulfilling life.
4. Serve
Giving back qualifies as a source of purpose, but it’s worth discussing on its own because of its significant impact on happiness. People who give to others — through time, money or energy — tend to be much happier on average than those who don’t.
Interestingly, focusing less on oneself in retirement correlates with higher levels of happiness. One survey found that nearly 70% of retirees say being generous is an important source of happiness in retirement.
Engaging in acts of giving, such as volunteering at a local shelter or making annual donations, can make a profound difference in the lives of others — and your own.
5. Work with a financial professional
Money may not buy happiness, but it helps, especially in retirement. At this stage, you need to fund your lifestyle without running out of money — something many Americans fear even more than death, as one study shows.
But retirement checklist planning can be overwhelming. Should you pay off your mortgage? How much money can you safely withdraw each year? That’s why getting help from a professional is a smart move. According to a 2021 study, people with a financial adviser are three times happier than those without one.
6. Be curious
Wes Moss, a financial planner and author, surveyed around 2,000 U.S. households nearing or in retirement. He found that the happiest retirees shared a common trait: curiosity for new “core pursuits,” or passionate hobbies. They had, on average, four core pursuits.
It reveals how retirement offers a chance to expand your horizons. You may want to adopt what Zen Buddhists call a “beginner's mind,” seeing things with an open mind and fresh eyes, just like a beginner. This mindset prioritizes the joy of the journey over the outcome. Embracing new experiences can boost happiness. So, think ahead about things you can do when you're retired and bored. For example, try learning a new language, take up paddleboarding or attend a free college course for seniors at your local university.
7. Raise your emotional intelligence
Retirement brings significant changes. Adapting gracefully to these changes requires high emotional intelligence (EQ). This is your ability to identify and manage both your own emotions and those of others. It involves self-reflection, acknowledging the present, understanding your feelings and developing healthy coping strategies. A high EQ can enhance your capacity for empathy and deepen relationships. It can also help you avoid identity loss in retirement.
Unsurprisingly, various studies associate higher emotional intelligence with increased happiness, highlighting its importance in effectively navigating retirement’s ups and downs.
8. Stop trying to be happy
Along with wisdom, you can add happiness to the list of things that come with age. Studies show people tend to grow happier as they grow older.
One widely accepted reason is that older adults realize time is limited. They shift their focus from seeking happiness to appreciating the present. This perspective aligns with findings that gratitude is strongly and consistently linked to greater happiness.
Fortunately, this mindset shift isn’t exclusive to aging. You can cultivate presence and gratitude through practices like meditation or journaling.
Henry David Thoreau, the American naturalist and philosopher, suggested that happiness comes when you stop actively pursuing it, writing: “Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will evade you, but if you notice the other things around you, it will gently come and sit on your shoulder.”
So, have dinner with your family or go to a concert with friends. If you’re motivated, work part-time or volunteer at your favorite charity. Refine your backstroke or tend to your garden.
With luck, happiness will follow. Even if it eludes you, your time won’t be wasted. You may be helping to make the world a happier place.
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