Margaret Manning

I passionately believe that every woman has the power to build her dream life after 60. One of the first steps on this journey is to learn to see the world with a sense of optimism, regardless of what is going on around you. Over the last several years, I have had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of women in the Sixty and Me community. In doing so, I have noticed some interesting commonalities between the most positive members of our group. If you are not a natural optimist, I hope that you will find these traits inspiring. Make a conscious choice to build these habits into your daily life. They have the power to put you on the path to happiness and positivity. Here are the traits that the happiest women I know have cultivated to get the most from life after 60.

Life after 60 can be one of the most challenging and uncertain times in a woman’s life. It can also be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding. With our roles and responsibilities changing, life is once again a fresh canvas. If you are just now turning 60, you may be wondering what’s to do next. Do you want to take it easy for a while? Or, after years in a corporate career, perhaps you want to start a business of your own? Whether you want to travel, work, relax or volunteer, there is no reason that life after 60 shouldn’t be amazing. Since starting Sixty and Me, I have had the opportunity to talk to hundreds of women just like you. As I have learned more about them, I have noticed a few patterns about the women that feel most fulfilled with their lives. I would like to share their strategies with you for getting the most from life after 60. I hope you find these ideas helpful. Here are 6 ways to get the most from your life after 60…

Recently, we've seen a number of claims on popular websites that "happy foods," such as chocolate and coffee, can improve your mood. On the surface, these claims seem to good to be true. After all, who wouldn't like to believe that having a Kit Kat with your morning coffee is the path to positivity and happiness? So, we decided to see what science has to say on this subject.

If I asked you when you were happiest in your life, what would you say? Would you say that you were happiest in your 20s, when you were starting your career or finishing university? Or, were you happiest in your 30s, when you were building your career and raising your children? Or, are you perhaps happiest now?

Finding happiness after 60 can be tough. Many of us are struggling to save enough for retirement. Others are dealing with changing social circumstances or a divorce. All of us are discovering that staying in great shape isn’t as easy as it used to be. That’s the bad news.

Do people smile because they are happy? Or, are people happy because they smile? These questions get to the heart of life after 60. Of course, both statements are true. Smiles are a reflection of how we feel. But, at the same time, happiness requires conscious effort.

I love the sunshine. There is something about basking in the warmth of summer – wearing sunscreen of course – that makes me feel deeply happy. Or does it? After reading a new study from the University of Westminster, I’m beginning to question whether the idea that the weather affects my mood is all in my head.

By the time you reach your 50th birthday, you have a pretty good idea of who you are. You have faced all of the challenges that life has thrown your way and you have emerged victorious – ok, a little bruised too, but, victorious none-the-less. At the same time, by the time we reach our 50s, many people find that the person that they are on the inside and the person that they are on the outside have moved far apart. There are many reasons for this…

When I ask the members of our community what challenges they are facing, a lack of meaningful friendships and a lack of financial resources are at the top of the list. On the surface, these are different issues, with different causes. But, if you dig a little deeper, they both relate to our changing circumstances…