Never Too Late

As the first month of the new year, January represents a beginning. We make resolutions to end bad habits and start good ones. Many of us strive to make those New Year resolutions our reality, and hopefully they do because if they do, our life will be better.

Statistically though, only 8% to 9% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions during the year, with about 65% giving up by mid-January or February. The reasons for this failure range from a focus on the goal, rather than the actual habit, setting unrealistic goals to the lack of an actual plan that outlines steps to achieve goals

February (named for the Roman festival of Februa) represents cleansing and purification. This representation opens up the possibility for another beginning, this time with a clean slate. Regardless of the calendar, we know anytime is a good time to begin a good habit. However, many retirees express a lack of motivation or incentive to make the very changes that would improve their daily life.

Good habits make time your ally. Bad habits make time your enemy. – James Clear, Atomic Habits

Retirement is represented as a well-deserved, self-designed lifestyle after decades of work and relief from accountability to others. Retirement bestows time and space to enjoy the people and things that matter to you. Except that many people don’t experience the enjoyment of this ‘next chapter’. Instead, they feel a loss of momentum – an unraveling of self. This loss of momentum doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it is insidious; a slow, gradual adoption of seemingly innocuous habits that steal our happiness and lessen our enjoyment of life. Listed below are five habits that slowly but surely strip our happiness, along with remedial recommendations.

Lack of order. Human beings crave order. When we lack a sense of order, days blur, motivation disappears and time becomes meaningless. The Fix. Establish simple actions throughout the day. Begin a morning exercise routine; set specific time for meals and reserve time for hobbies.

Isolation. Human beings need positive relationships with other humans. Retirement takes away the social network of the workplace, and it is easy to lose touch. The lack of social connections over time will negatively affect your emotional and physical health. The Fix. Be intentional about staying in touch with former colleagues and friends. Schedule weekly calls | visits | lunches | events to ensure you have a social life that includes the people you enjoy being around.

Excessive time consuming and too little time creating. Passive consumption of entertainment or information can lead to decreased mental fitness and increased mental sluggishness. The Fix. Limit time spent watching TV, news, scrolling on social media and other forms of passive entertainment. Spend time in creative pursuits; e.g. gardening, cooking, learning a new language, fixing/building things, writing, etc.

Delay working on goals. It is easy to put off the big dreams of retirement once the pressure of time disappears, so does the urgency. With the passage of time, reaching your goals can seem overwhelming to even begin. The Fix. List your goals and prioritize them by ease and difficulty of achievement. Start with the easiest goal and set aside the time to plan, research, shop, and schedule how and when you will achieve each one. Be sure to celebrate small wins as you work toward your goals, and of course, once they are achieved.

Neglecting physical health.The lack of work routines, commuting and social activity can lead retirees into a sedentary lifestyle before they realize what happened. Convenience food replaces healthy food, and binge watching TV can interrupt sleep schedules. Physical decline is gradual, but inevitable without movement. The Fix. Movement is medicine so be sure to engage in  light exercise every day. As much as possible, avoid a complete diet of packaged and processed foods. Cooking and preparing healthy food can take time (which you now have more of), but pays off in a big way.

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