Happy elderly couple enjoying a picnic in a park with a guitar and flower basket

Finding happiness at old age

“Let us never know what old age is. Let us focus on happiness with time and not count the years.”

When was the last time you stopped and thought, am I happy? From our childhood we were always so busy with doing different work, making a future and looking after our family that we barely paid any attention to ourselves. But as we age, things start to fade and we gradually start to get time to take a breath and ask this question to us. Our happiness will vary always depending on our circumstances, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change it and push for happiness.

So how about we take matters of our happiness in our hands and try a few tips!

Do what you have always wanted to: Throughout our life we get busy with so many things and get free time only now. How about we do the small things we have always wanted to do? go to a place we longed to see or some activity you wanted to try!
Sense of purpose: As we grow older we don’t get happiness from only our work. It is important we look back on our life and find a purpose for our life. This can include anything from taking care of grandchildren or lending help in NGO’s.
Spending time with family and friends: Physically meeting people can lift up our mood. Spending time, discussing our life story and future plans with others can make us feel connected with others which makes us feel happy.
Learn something new: There is no age to acquire new skills, we can learn a new language, instrument or cook a new dish. This experimentation can make us feel happy as it leads to breaking the everyday routine.
Laugh and Laugh a lot: Living through life we know ups and downs are an inevitable part of life, so how about we turn our focus towards good things and grasp every moment to laugh.
Exercise: A healthy mind resides in a healthy body is no myth. To live a happy life, it is important that we go out and get moving. Exercising lifts our mood and changes our outlook due to the feel-good hormones released and it also contributes to keeping us healthy. A small walk outside, doing yoga or cycling, do what you enjoy but ensure you do it.
Eating healthy: We all know eating healthy is very important for us, but do we really follow it? Eating a nutritionist diet is very important to keep ourselves happy. As we grow older we fight to find the will the eat, but it is important to push and motivate ourselves to eat well.
Live every day: Throughout our life we have had a set routine where we would get through the day without paying any attention. Things of the past are long over and accepted which allows us to know better, make the most of every day and have as much fun without thinking about it. And laughing produces happiness hormones!

With age also comes wisdom and we try to make people around us happy and bring a smile on their face, but how about doing that for ourselves as well. Afterall only when we are happy from within can we make others happy!

There isn't time, so brief is life, for bickerings, apologies, heart burnings, callings to account. There is only time for loving, and but an instant, so to speak, for that. - Mark Twain.

Author's Bio
Arushi Malik : A counselling psychologist, Arushi Malik, is an expert in Child Psychology. She has garnered 3 years of experience while working with popular institutions like Max Hospital Saket, Tihar Jail, Convergys India, and Children First, in Delhi and Headstreams and BM English School in Bangalore. She has been associated with NGOs, like Rhythm of Life, New Delhi, that worked towards helping children.