Good News 50+ You Are Happier And Less Stressed

Not for nothing but I turned 50 a few years back and since then I feel like life is still very good for me if not better, so I was not to surprised to see a new survey of almost 1500 adults done on-line which found out what I have felt all along seem true for a lot of people my age.  Life in your 50s can be less stressful and therefore more relaxed and satisfying.

The survey was done by TODAY Health and to me really makes because we live so much longer now and our health care is better and thanks to all us baby boomers we have turned 50 from frumpy to frisky. Also with kids grown and probably less or more realistic expectation than we had in our 40s the stress goes down some through attrition.  The other thing I think we develop in our 50s is a greater appreciation of what we have, which is the natural result of going through a few tough times and seeing a few people pass before their time.

Top that all off with many of our favorite stars getting a few silver hairs (whether they choose to show them or not) and still getting great parts and having fun like Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, Vanessa Williams, Viggo Mortenson, Kim Bassinger, Christy Brinkley and the list goes on and on. So sign up for that AARP card with pride and anticipation of some of the best years of your life.

Among survey findings from TODAY Health:

• Sixty-two percent of respondents in their 50s said they were satisfied with their lives, up from 57 percent of those in their late 40s.
• Marital satisfaction went up, and so did good vibes about relationships with children and parents.
• Finances looked better, too, with 71 percent living comfortably or having a little left over after expenses. That may be because they also said they’re spending less on their children and more on themselves.
• 50-somethings really do feel wiser and more balanced than they used to.
• And hello, free time: 66 percent said they had more leisure time and a similar number said they had more time with romantic partners and to learn new things.

In conclusion, the TODAY survey found that although life isn’t all fun and games for the 50-somethings among us, 42 percent of respondents said they do feel less stress in their lives, and 52 percent felt less of a need to strive for work and career success and financial success. Overall, people in their 50s were less likely to report stress about their finances, work, and relationships with spouses, children and friends. “By about age 50 you may realize that, well, if you’re not CEO of the company you’re probably not going to be CEO,” says Reynolds. “But you also realize that’s really OK.”