8 Things to strengthen your purpose in life after 50

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There are a lot of inspiring ideas out there for how to strengthen and nurture your purpose in life after 50 but at the end of the day you have to find what works for you.

In fact, there can be times that you question what keeps getting you up in the morning to go about your day, maybe when you are considering how many dinners you must have prepared in your life, or when you’re feeling a little less than motivated to do your usual exercise routine that you must have done a thousand times.

If this is you. Don’t feel alone many people feel exactly the same. I’ve noticed myself doing it a bit lately. At times life can get a little ho hum and monotonous.

So I’m here with some healthy tips and ideals worth following no matter who you are and what your age is, so that life can still be exciting and rewarding for you.

How does your life purpose and change as you get older?

Thanks to so many things such as hormonal changes, cognitive decline, the possibility of illness or difficulty with mobility your motivation to finding purpose can decline. 

But what we don’t have to do is sit back and just let it happen. There are things you can do to fire up your motivation and enjoy life for all its worth.

Why is keeping strong motivation and zest important?

We all need to have a sense of purpose. A reason to get up in the morning. 

Not necessarily racing off to do charity work somewhere, or start learning golf or similar although those are both great ideas. 

I mean we need to find meaning in every moment. A sense of absolute love for life. As Eckhart Tolle would say “Forget about your life situation and pay attention to your life. Your life situation exists in time. Your life is now. Your life situation is mind-stuff. Your life is real.”

In other words your age, the situation you’re in, what is currently happening in your world is not your life. Your life exists in this one moment and this one and so on. So allow this moment to be amazing and appreciate it for all that it is. Each new moment is another chance at new life.

So, how can you stay motivated after 60? Here are 8 common-sense ways to do just that, including a few interesting things that you may not have thought of.

How to keep your sense of purpose in life after 50

1. Find something that you enjoy doing

It may be time to take a new direction in life. Often children have become young adults and gone off to do their own thing and you are considered an empty nester with more time on your hands.

You might feel drawn to volunteer and do some charity work, or take up some new hobbies. It may mean that you decide to be more connected to that which is greater either through a place of worship or in meditation.

You could even be eyeing up a new career. There is no cut off point for being able to work. I’m always inspired by women who have finished one career and go on to be incredibly successful in another whether it’s starting their own business or working for someone else.

I work in my own online business which I’m growing and I have no intention of slowing down anytime soon because I absolutely love it. 

The important thing is, no matter what your daily activities consist of, to find something that makes you feel good and gives your life meaning.

2. Love What You’re Doing

Whatever you are doing, make sure it is something you love. If ever there is a time you should be doing something you love it is now.

If you can’t do something you love, find the love in what you ARE doing. 

It helps if you can stay active and healthy, both physically and mentally.

Learning is incredibly important at any time in life but even more so now as it expands the connections in your brain keeping you sharp and slowing cognitive decline. Which will contribute greatly to you living longer.

3. Set Plans and Goals

Goal setting is an excellent way to gain motivation. Goals give you something to work towards and a focus.

Maybe you make a goal to travel. You might need to save to be able to afford it. You may need to equip yourself or build your fitness. These are the things that count towards you achieving your end goal. And each step is like a mini motivation.

Can you think of a goal or new skill that inspires you?

Some ideas:

• Hike specific trails around the world
• Visit various landmarks around the world
• Learn new skills like a language or instrument
• Get a diploma, degree or similar.
• Turn your backyard into a vegetable garden.
• Join a book club
• Become a mentor
• Start a website on a niche subject you have an interest in

There are so many different things to help us start living a life where we can crawl out of our comfort zone, meet new people and find purpose.

4. Be grateful

When you see the good in every situation and you’re grateful for what is in this moment, motivation and positivity will follow. 

Of course, there will be times when this will be difficult but even in those times if you can just allow the difficulty to exist and know that it will pass you will feel a lightness of spirit.

So, before you even get out of bed each morning. Think of three things or people you are grateful for at that moment.

Maybe it’s the barista that took the time to put a smiley face on your coffee yesterday, or a beautiful flower that you noticed on your walk. 

When you are grateful and positive it attracts more good into your life and a sense of psychological well being.

Try to stay focused on the things that are important to you throughout the day.

5. Work at your health

Eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are so important for feeling a sense of wellbeing and especially if you want to live longer.

Having good health not only allows you to increase longevity but also enjoy activity more easily and will keep you stronger and active longer.

If you’ve never really been a healthy eater or exercised much then now is still a good time to start.

Make small changes each day and before long you’ll be feeling the positive effects in your body and mind.

One food swap. A ten minute brisk walk. One less coffee. 

Gradually build up to walking half an hour every day, drinking 6-8 glasses of water and eating healthy meals most of the time.

6. Support your emotional health

In the long run, the most important thing of all is to look after your emotional wellbeing and self esteem.

To that end here are some tips:

• Be self aware and notice your emotions and reactions. Notice what makes you sad, angry or frustrated. If it makes sense to change it and you can do so. Otherwise, be okay to allow the feelings but don’t dwell on them. If you truly feel lost, seek help.
• Express your feelings in appropriate ways. Don’t try to fight the feelings or hold them back but be careful about how you let them come out.
• Consequently, think before you act. Similarly give yourself time to think and be calm before you say or do.
• Manage stress. Learn relaxation methods to cope with stress. These could include deep breathing, meditation, and exercise. 
• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
• Eat healthy wholefoods.
• Strive for balance in all things. Work, play, exercise, rest. Notice what is positive in your life
• Connect with others.  Positive connections with others is important so join a group, connect with an old friend, volunteer. Making friends can be hard but is worth it when you find a true connection.
• Or, spend your time doing what feels meaningful to you even if it’s walking through a parkland.
• Be kind to yourself and to others. Forgive yourself when making mistakes and forgive others. 

7. Limit Social Media

Social media is a wonderful way to stay connected to friends and family but it is an easy trap to fall down. 

The videos can be almost addictive. You scroll and scroll and before you know hours of your time is lost and you can never get that back. 

And, it’s not for me to tell you to stop scrolling but if you want to enjoy life I suggest you quit the scrolling and notice the present in your life not someone else’s

8. Don’t Give Up!

Celebrate your accomplishments including the small ones.

Did you walk today?
Maybe you cut out one of your coffees. 

Did you smile at someone, or say good morning.

Every little positive moment and achievement is an incentive to keep going. So the more you notice the present, be grateful for where you are and what you have the easier it gets. Then one day you stop and think,

 “Gee I’m actually happy.”

Conclusion

Motivation, positivity, and gratitude often don’t come naturally. They have to be prioritised, worked at and shaped. 

Therefore by taking care of ourselves both physically and emotionally, we can make the journey to finding purpose in life after 50 a little bit easier.