Will You Get Happier As You Age?

There’s no doubt that our culture often overlooks the benefits of aging. You may not have looked forward to getting older when you were younger, but now that you’re nearing retirement, you may have gained a different perspective. The fact is, many studies have found that happiness does increase with age.[1] There could be many reasons for getting happier as you age, from financial stability to an active social life.

Older Americans may be more satisfied with their standard of living and financial stability and experience less stress and worry related to these things. At a certain point in life, you learn that money doesn’t buy happiness, but it can make life easier and make you feel confident about your future well-being. When you begin planning for retirement, you may be surprised by how much wealth you’ve accumulated over the course of your career. It can be nice to know that you’ve worked hard to earn your nest egg and can enjoy yourself in retirement without worrying about running out of money.

Many say that people gain wisdom as they age. Part of wisdom includes understanding what makes you happy and orienting your life around those things. The great thing about retirement is that you have the time to pursue activities you find interesting and enjoyable, be it spending time with your grandchildren, traveling, or volunteering.

After some people retire, they may feel a loss of purpose because they no longer have regular career-related goals to accomplish. Getting involved in their community can be a solution. Volunteering and community involvement are important parts of retirement for some people who are interested in aging in place and want to use their free time to help others and improve the place they’ve called home for many years. Plus, volunteering can help you meet new people and give you a similar sense of satisfaction you got from working.