Life After Retirement

Is age just a number or a state of mind? Is it not that you are as young as you feel? What makes aging people add that extra zing into their lives?

There exists an unspoken dikkat in India that says once you cross 60, you should behave like a senior citizen. What is implied by this is that people should retire, sit at home, run errands play with or babysit their grandchildren etc. However the situation is slowly changing, you will find many active and independent seniors who firmly believe life begins at 60.  They plan, travel, pick up a hobby, look at the 2^nd innings of their career and try to achieve their dreams which hitherto looked impossible.

Many single individuals in this age group are now seeking out companions to spend the rest of their lives together. Therefore, it is not pilgrimage and babysitting alone that is on the minds of India’s senior population. Perhaps, this is all aided by technology and social media too. So, what you can do once you hit the 60s?

Follow Your Heart

There is always a possibility that you might have had some societal or family issues that had prevented you from doing what you earnestly wanted to. Hence, this is the best time to lay all demons to rest and do what you feel. Maybe, it is traveling the world, writing a book, starting a venture, exploring a second career in a different domain, or pursue a career in performing arts, and so on. If you can earn while following your heart, there is nothing like it.

Set An Objective

Ambitions and goals are not prerogatives of the young alone, try setting a goal at 60 on what you like to do for the next five years. Uncertainty of life does not change much just because you are 60. So, there is no harm in setting a fresh objective and working towards it. It could help keep you active and young both physically and mentally

Leverage Your Skills

The biggest asset that seniors carry with them is a lifetime of experience and honed skill sets. Hence, one of the best things that seniors can look at is sharing this knowledge with the people around them. It could be done as paid service or as a free service if you can afford it. However, if you prefer to earn from these coaching sessions, it could become your second innings. The learning and judgment skills that seniors gain can be of immense value, and many organizations engage them as consultants.

Learning  & Socialising

One way or the other, it is essential to socialize in this age, as it keeps you fresh and agile and also helps keep depression away. This Covid pandemic will wane sooner or later, enabling people to meet, have get-togethers, travel together etc. The socializing group could be based on hobbies such as reading, music, travel etc. This is also the time to pick up new skills which you may not have had. Every new skill you learn gives you energy, positivity, a sense of purpose, and an excuse to socialise.

Take Care Of Finances

Without a doubt, managing finances is a must that people in their 60s should do. It could be keeping track of income and expenses, investing, philanthropy, and more. Making provisions for emergencies, ensuring health and life insurances etc., must be done without fail. Another important activity would be to make a WILL, and ensure that all assets have stipulated nominees. Death is the only certainty in life. It puts our family members in some unwanted hassles after we die. Keeping a list of important things handy for other family members is crucial to ensure that they can easily handle our assets post our death.

Health Check-ups

Even if we are healthy, getting a health check-up done once a year is advisable. A good physician would advise on the basic tests to be done, like some blood tests, ECG etc., to pick up any common anomalies. The check-ups are important if you have diabetes, blood pressure, heart issues etc. Even eye check-ups are important as they can catch any problems that can turn serious. Being healthy means being independent, and that is an important aspect of living as a senior citizen.

In the end, the bottom line is not to allow anyone to tell you what you cannot do. Nor is there a need to prove anything to anyone by going beyond. However, it is important to add life to the years, and not vice versa. Ensure that each day is providing you happiness, contentment, and something to look forward to.

I being a senior citizen retired from active work in the year 2016. After that, I started writing, which I wanted to do for a long time but due to professional commitments there was no time to pursue the writing. Now I write my blogs, which is about 5 times a week. Last year in September, I published my first book, which gave me immense satisfaction.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

8^th March 2022