60 Challenges To Kick-Start Life After Sixty

"Everyone dies not everyone really lives" ~ Braveheart.

Life after sixty can be your best years. Don’t be one of those people who wait their whole life to start living … and then die!

If you’ve passed the big 60 feeling jaded and uninspired. Concerned about the world. Your finances, retirement, relationships, health or work. There should be something on this list that will spark at least one change. 

A butt kick to kick-start your life with new challenges. Bagging the enjoyment and personal achievement rewards.

Look for an idea that will set you off along a different path. Plant it and watch it develop into a full-grown life change.

Here's my random list ... enjoy!

1. Never think of yourself as too old for anything. You aren’t.
2. Never stop learning. If you’ve stopped, consider the break as a “time out” and start again. Watch Ted talks. Read about all the fantastic technologies that are being developed at breakneck speeds: 3D printing, mapping the human genome, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, space travel and big data. Plus, all the other things we aren’t even aware of.
3. Make a bucket list of 50 things to do before you die.
4. Plan to visit 50 countries – even a fleeting visit will do.
5. Consider becoming a "roving retiree".
6. Accept yourself as you are. Accept that your youthful physical perfection has faded now replaced by a more complete person.
7. Take up yoga or pilates. Or at least so some stretching every day.
8. Move more. Our body wasn’t designed to sit behind a computer screen or slouched in a comfort chair watching TV.
9. Exercise regularly. It has many benefits – a healthier body plus a healthy, active brain equals a more fulfilled life plus more confidence and self-esteem.
10. Activate your mind. Play mind games. Do a crossword puzzle. Play something like online chess, bridge, suduko or scrabble.  
11. Do fun things. Get your children or grandchildren, or friend’s children to teach you a computer game. Try “Minecraft”, “PlayersUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” or “Fortnite Battle Royale.”
12. Subscribe to a free online course. Anything that takes your fancy. Sites like Coursera, Udemy, Lynda, Skillshare, Alison, edX and Khan Academy offer many free courses covering just about anything you can imagine.
13. Practice mindfulness … live in the moment.
14. If you hate your job, then leave it. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow but start making a plan … build an escape plan or Plan B. Be daring take a chance. 
15. Start a business or a side hustle.
16. Clear away all baggage like so-called “friends”, limiting thoughts, excess physical stuff, redundant ideas and relationships
17. Become more spiritual. Practice or follow whatever suits you best.
18. Listen more. With age you’ve possibly become an “advice monster”. Arrogantly believing that “been there done that, so I know what’s best for you”!
19. Don’t always believe the news or opinions of other so-called “experts”.
20. Don’t share blindly on social media. Verify any suspect articles on sites like Snopes.
21. Acknowledge that you are responsible for your financial well-being. Not your husband, your wife, your partner and especially not your financial advisor. You never know what the future will bring and you are going to have to live it.
22. Start learning about your finances. Understand the advice that you're given. Understand that advisors who are providing you with information have been described by Nassim Taleb as “experts who are not experts”. They suffer from groupthink and run with the herd … with your money!
23. Take a good hard look at your life. Are you stuck in a rut? If "yes" then take a short trip out of your comfort zone.
24. Be grateful for your life and all you have.
25. The world is not limited to your neighbourhood. Explore more.
26. Rejuvenate your creativity. It has hibernated and is waiting for spring to bring it alive. 
27. Find something you love and pursue it.
28. Ignore the voices of naysayers (often those that are closest to you and the monkey on your own shoulder) as you consider options with your newfound freedom.
29. Become an authority on something you love. You don’t have to be a 10,000-hour expert. Just an “expert” who has studied 5 books and knows more than 80% of people. Remember: In a kingdom of blind people, the one-eyed man is king.
30. Acknowledge all the things where you are “better than most people”. Where YOU are already the one-eyed man!
31. Accept that you’ve still got a lot of living to do. If you are aged 60 in the western world, the average life expectancy is another 25 years for women and 20 years for men. A lifetime!
32. The only barrier to your dreams is your thinking, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t - you're right."- Henry Ford.
33. Find a mentor or coach. Someone you look up to and respect and someone who will support you. You don’t have to do it all on your own.
34. Be humble and ask for help.
35. Don’t live your life for someone else. Not your husband or wife or partner. Not your kids and definitely not your friends. As James Altucher says “Choose yourself".
36. Realize that life is not all about money and possessions. Try experiences.
37. Don’t make excuses for where you are in life. You are there because of what you thought were the best choices at the time.
38. Keep on dreaming big. "Life" can start after 60.
39. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. You are the average of the 5 people you spend your time with. They don’t have to be immediate friends, they could be online groups, mentors or coaches. 
40. Never give up. Whatever life has dished up in the past, you don’t have to accept that ordained your future.
41. Don’t put your plans off. There are choices. There are options. Don’t procrastinate. Time is slipping away. Accept that "If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way, If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse."
42. Nothing happens until something moves. Don’t waste too much time inside your head. Only action gets rewarded. Take the first step.
43. You don’t need certificates or credentials. If you want knowledge, study for the knowledge and not a piece of paper.
44. Forget about planning for retirement and start planning for life. Traditional retirement is a redundant concept that went out of fashion with defined benefit pension schemes. If you have one of these, beware. Many are  insolvent, or teetering on the brink, and there will be many more in future.
45. Acknowledge that you have a lot to give. Knowledge and skills gained through your many experiences. With your special talents, you can help a lot of people.
46. You can always get better. You might not compare with the best, but there’s only one of them anyway.
47. Giving is better than receiving. Remember the saying “Sow, so shall you reap”. Develop a “How can I help you” mentality.
48. There will always be someone stronger, prettier, cleverer, richer, poorer, weaker, uglier than you, so just be the best you can be
49. Never put yourself down. You are not worthless or a failure.
50. Never say never - it will come back to haunt you.
51. Read 50 Shades of Grey. For anyone whose relationship has turned a bit “grey” and lost its sparkle.
52. Identify your cognitive biases. There are many and we all have them. Recognise them, acknowledge them and combat them. Believe that you can change and that your personality isn't permanent.
53. Don’t rely on the government to look after you. The government is made up of millions of self-serving bureaucrats who have other problems to solve. Like their own pensions, their legacy, their own issues before having any time to be concerned with you. Your best guarantee is to be independent. Know that you're fine without government support.
54. Have a life after sixty "Plan B”. You never know what the future will bring.
55. Do something for 60 people. Big, small, time or money, kind word or deed. Then make it a habit.
56. Acknowledge that you teach people how to treat you.
57. Decisions are not binary. There are many choices – occasionally take a risk.
58. Connect with 5 school friend you haven’t seen or heard of since leaving school. Try Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
59. Take a 30 minute walk and then make walking a habit - at least 3 times a week.
60. Start  strength training - lifting weights, bodyweight exercises, go to the gym or do it at home. It's the way to win the battle against becoming feeble and puny.

Good luck, take care and if you have any other ideas please post them in the "Leave a Reply"  below.