Work/Life Balance Among Senior Citizens

According to a study conducted by LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute, nearly 51 percent of people retire by the age of 65, and only 10 percent of seniors work to the age of 75.  Senior citizens may perhaps be the most interesting age demographic in the workforce because, unlike their younger colleagues, less than half the population still works full time.  For seniors still on the daily grind, this presents both challenges and opportunities.  Below we will explore how senior citizens can maintain a healthy work/life balance in their golden years…
Don’t Compare Yourself with Your Retired Peers
Everyone’s financial situation is different.  Some seniors have saved enough money to retire and travel the world and undertake all the hobbies they have always dreamed about.  Others still need to work full time to put food on the table and pay their monthly bills.  If you fall into the later, it’s important to remember that retirement doesn’t necessarily guarantee increased happiness.
According to BBC, based on a study performed by The Institute of Economic Affairs, retirement increases the chances of suffering depression by approximately 40%.  Therefore, if you are a working senior, do not fall into the dangerous emotional trap of comparing yourself to your retired peers.  Of course, you should hope for their happiness, but just remember that not everyone who is retired is, in fact, happy.  So, focus on your own path, practice gratitude and appreciation, and we guarantee your work/life balance will blossom.
Focus on Your Health
It’s no secret that seniors have a higher chance of suffering serious health complications compared to other age demographics; such as, mobility limitations, disease, mental illness, and major organ failure.  Work is naturally stressful, and our bodies are not the same as when we were younger.  For that reason, we recommend senior citizens cut down to a normal 40-hour work week, or even part-time, in order to not overwork themselves.
Maintaining good health is the first step to creating a healthy work/life balance in your golden years.  Staying healthy will afford you the opportunity to do all of the things you love.  However, if you do need senior care and services in Birmingham, check out Senior Directory to find over 50 categories of resources.
Don’t Procrastinate Doing the Things You Love
Having a healthy balance between work and personal life can only be achieved by nurturing both entities.  Don’t wait until retirement to start the hobbies you have always wanted to do but never found the time.  Pick up that guitar, or paintbrush, or rebuild the engine to that old pick-up truck in your garage.  Mental health is fed through stimulation, so having goals that are not related to work allow you to take your mind of your concerns and daily stressors.
Maintain a Healthy Social Life
Ironically, with the increase in access to people via technology, such as facebook and Instagram, we are also becoming increasingly less connected with our fellow man.  Even though social isolation among senior citizens is on the rise, this doesn’t have to be the case for you!  Stay connected with life-long friends and family through your social networks.  Join a meet-up group with people among the same interest groups, such as hiking, fishing, chess, painting, etc. If you are single, try using a Dating App such as Bumble or Tinder. Dating Apps make the process of meeting other single people your age easier than ever.   Feed your relationships and you will find that your work/life balance improves tremendously.
 
Article written by Alex Milzer with Senior Directory, LLC.