What comes to mind when you think of aging? Do you think of new beginnings and opportunities: freedom to travel, time to spend with family, the chance to explore your passions, focus on your health and wellness?
For more and more people—especially boomers—growing older means opening doors to new experiences and possibilities. Instead of settling into their Golden Years, they’re embarking on their Second Acts.
It’s a shift driven, in part, by an aging population. “By 2029, when all of the baby boomers will be 65 years and over, more than 20 percent of the total U.S. population will be over the age of 65,” according to the Census Bureau. People are living longer.
But it’s more than just numbers. There’s been a shift in the culture, as we’ve challenged long-accepted notions of health and wellness, aging, retirement and how we structure our lives.
According to Harvard researchers, for the millions of Baby Boomers entering their second acts, investing in exercise, nutrition and overall wellness is just as important as having fun, making new connections and continuing to learn.
“A thriving retirement can, and should, be an amazing time of connection, engagement, expansion and widened possibilities,” wrote Arianna Huffington, who founded Thrive Global when she was 66 (and before that, The Huffington Post when she was 55). “The way we think and talk about retirement needs to catch up to what is already happening. The time has come to retire the old definition of retirement.”
So, whatever your age and whatever stage of life you’re in, it’s never too late to think about how to expand yourself, take on new challenges, focus on your health and wellness journey, and launch a Second Act—or third, or fourth! Here are three steps you can take right now:
Make a list of your skills and talents.
Taking a few minutes to actually write down the things you do well will give you fresh perspective on things you’ve probably come to take for granted. Ask yourself: which of these brings me a sense of joy and purpose? Then ask: could one of these be something more? A hobby, a chance to connect with others, even a volunteer or business opportunity?
Kickstart your mornings with a nutritious breakfast.
A nutritious breakfast like these citrus Ricotta Oats will give you the energy you want to thrive throughout the morning. It’s also a great way to get in whole grains and key nutrients such as fiber, iron and vitamin C.
Schedule appointments with yourself for the activities you value most.
Whether it’s physical, social, intellectual or spiritual fulfillment, make outside activities a priority by scheduling time on your calendar. The resulting connections, to yourself and others, are fundamental to a fulfilling and well-rounded life.
Read more about Second Acts here.
This article was produced by Thrive Global and sponsored by Quaker.