Life After 65 Isn’t What Many Retirees Expect
So you’re approaching 65 and it’s soon time to retire. What lies ahead for you? Well, if you do a little research, you’ll soon find lots of info about how life changes once you retire. We’ve gathered up all that info and put it into a handy list for you. If you want to know everything about post-65 life, look no further.
You Might Feel Busier Than Ever
Retirement doesn’t necessarily actually mean slowing down. Between grandkids, hobbies, volunteering (if you want to), and appointments, your days can fill up fast. You may find yourself wondering how you ever had time to work in the first place!
Friendships Shift a Lot
After 65, you may notice old friends drifting away – or, and there’s no way of getting round this, passing away. Meanwhile, new friendships will pop up as you expand your social circle by going to clubs and support groups.
You Care Way Less What People Think
One of the most-reported great perks of aging? You stop worrying about trying to impress people. Whether it’s wearing ugly but comfy shoes with everything or saying exactly what’s on your mind, you may find yourself freer than ever.
Technology Might Become Your New Best Friend
There’s a stereotype that older people don’t understand technology, and it’s very untrue. Ask your friends! Video calls, streaming shows, health apps, and even voice assistants like Siri can make life easier and more connected, so get on board.
You May Surprise Yourself With Bold Choices
Turns out, retirement can make you braver than you previously were. Some people move across the country, start a new business, or finally learn a new language or musical instrument. There’s something about passing 65 that makes you finally say, “Why not?” instead of “I can’t do it.”
A Good Nap Becomes a Ritual
There’s no shame in the mid-afternoon nap anymore. In fact, you may start looking forward to it. It’s not about laziness - it’s about recharging and treating your now-older body right. And who is going to stop you?
You Might Want to Give Things Away
Do you have a house full of junk and collectables? Once you hit 65, the urge to downsize might suddenly hit you. Maybe you could give items away to friends and family, or maybe you could even sell them on eBay. There’s truth in the old saying, “You can’t take it with you.”
You Finally Get to Relax
If you did a high-stress job, retirement may feel weird to you. But don’t fight it and try to do too much. Once you adjust, you may come to love mornings without alarms and doing things on your, not your boss’s, schedule.
You’ll Laugh More at the Little Things
When you were younger you probably realized that older people tend to laugh more often. It’s sometimes because they finally have a weight lifted off them after leaving work. When you’re getting older, even the noises your body makes can make you laugh!
Romance Doesn’t Have an Age Limit
Ignore the tiresome stereotype that people over 65 can’t have a fulfilling love life. Love, flirting, and (whisper it) sex can still be part of life after retirement. Even if you’ve lost a partner, a sad fact of life, you can find love again.
Your Definition of Fun Changes
Clubbing? Nope. A quiet evening with friends? Yep! Fun after 65 is more about feeling good in your older body and less about chasing thrills -and honestly, clubbing as an older person isn’t much fun anyway. Too much hard work!
You Might Start Eating Healthier
When you hit 65, junk food might start to get unappealing all of a sudden. Maybe it’s your body trying to lead you down the path of living longer? Try eating fresh veggies, whole grains, and lighter meals in order to feel better in your body.
You Could Become a Minimalist
Suddenly, all that “stuff” in your house doesn’t seem so important. Do you really need more than one TV, for example? Or a garage full of power tools that you never use? Many people over 65 begin to embrace minimalism and start keeping, and buying, as little as possible.
You Sleep Less, but Not Always Worse
You might not manage eight hours of sleep like you used to, but that doesn’t mean your sleeping patterns turn bad. When you hit 65 you can finally create the perfect sleep routine without worrying about an alarm clock waking you up.
You Find Out Who Really Matters
After you leave work, your inner circle often shrinks, but it gets stronger as well. You spend less time with people out of obligation and more time with those who you actually love. Suddenly, there’s a lot less drama in your life.
Doctor Visits Become Social Events
This sounds weird, but many older people have reported that going to the doctors becomes almost like a social event to them eventually. They chat with other people in the waiting room, the reception staff, and of course the doctors themselves.
You May Start Talking to Your Body
This is another slightly weird one, but older people start talking to their body as it throws up new aches and pains. “Okay, knees, let’s take it slow today.” It’s a way of maintaining agency over a constantly changing body.
You’ll Discover Talents You Never Had Time for
Painting, gardening, woodworking, writing… so many people finally try things they never had time for when they were in work. And the best part? You don’t have to be great at them. It’s not about being the best, it’s about engaging your brain.
You Get Better at Saying No
After 65, people often get really good at setting boundaries. If something doesn’t bring joy or serve a purpose, you feel fine refusing it. It’s incredibly freeing - and it helps make room for what really matters to you, like friends and family.
You’ll Still Feel Like You
People dread losing themselves as they get older, but that actually doesn’t happen, according to people who have been there. Your sense of humor, your curiosity, the things you love - they don’t just vanish with age.
