Over 60 and Stuck in a Rut? How to Add Joy, Energy, and Purpose to Your Post-career Days

You’ve traded deadlines for downtime, meetings for me-time, and that inbox full of “urgent” emails for a calendar full of… well, white space. You thought closing the door on your 40+-year career would feel glorious—and mostly it does—but sometimes, you find yourself three episodes deep into a true-crime documentary thinking, I really should find something to do!

Welcome to the weird, wonderful world of post-career life. It’s not just about retiring. It’s about reinventing your daily schedule. You’ve spent decades doing, achieving, producing and being at the beck and call of bosses and clients. Now the challenge is different: what to do with all that whitespace on your calendar and how not to lose hours to scrolling or snoozing.

Here's a playbook for getting into a whole new flow:

Reclaim Your Calendar (and Make Reflect Who You Are, Now)

You may think you don’t need a calendar anymore. After all, it may have been the nemesis of your 50-hour work week. But here’s the secret. A calendar that reflects who you want to be in this new chapter can be the key to creating the life you crave.  Scheduling “appointments” for hobbies to explore, activities to try, personal projects to accomplish and more will help create momentum—something previously generated by deadlines, meetings, and appointments.

Try these fun hacks that combine structure with adventure:

• Theme one day a week. This may sound silly, but dedicating time every week to one topic can be surprisingly effective. Try “Make Something Monday” to expand your repertoire of recipes. “Friends on Fridays” could be a standing lunch date where your rotate through different friend groups. And what about designating one morning a week where you skip the workout in favor of tutoring young readers at a local elementary school?

• Schedule joy with the same commitment you planned your work life. Block time for learning a new language, trying your hand at a painting class, or an hour sampling sweet and savory at the farmer’s market. For more ideas on adding fun, purpose, connection and more, sign up for Spark 60, a weekly, minute of magic and midlife inspiration.

• Add one “stretch” thing each week. Plan to do something just outside your comfort zone—a solo dinner at a new restaurant you’ve been meaning to try, learning how to create and post fun videos to share with friends, or signing up for a group travel excursion.

Think of your calendar as your new creative canvas. You’re not managing time anymore—you’re designing a life.

Ditch the Endless To-Do List

Somewhere between your color-coded planner and the notes app on your phone, your to-do list has grown into a small novel. I’ve even found myself adding things I’ve already done (“sweep patio…check”) just so that I can pat myself on the back for being “productive.”

Here’s the thing: you’re not supposed to finish life. You’re supposed to live it.

So instead of “organize linen closet” and “sort through family photos,” try making two lists:

• The Ta-Da List: Things you actually enjoy doing. (“Take a long walk. Call my sister. Learn how to use the air fryer.”)

• The Maybe List: A short, realistic list of 2–3 things that would genuinely improve your life if you did them. (“Schedule dentist. Finish that book. Update travel bucket list.”)

When you focus less on getting things done and more on feeling good about what you are doing, life feels like a win because it is.

Move Your Body, Change Your Mood

No need to join CrossFit or train for a marathon. Unless you want to, in which case, I’ll applaud from the sidelines. But if you’re feeling sluggish, physical movement is the quickest and best reset button.

Try sneaking in activity like balancing on one foot while brushing your teeth, ending your day with a stroll through your neighborhood. It’s a great way to connect with neighbors who are just getting home from work. Or do like me and pull out your yoga mat and knock out a few stretches while watching your favorite show. I find that I sleep better when my muscles are relaxed.

Redefine “Productive”

You spent decades measuring productivity in meetings, projects, and performance reviews. Now it’s time to change the metric.

Productive might mean you spent an hour journaling, experimenting with watercolor paints, or finally reading a stack of magazines that keep tumbling off of your nightstand. It might mean you made a killer soup, checked in with a sick friend, or learned how to make a reel for your travel photos.

You’re not being lazy—you’re living at your own pace. The goal isn’t to stay busy. It’s to stay curious, engaged, and forward-thinking.

Fill Your Days with Meaning

Instead of thinking about how to fill your time, refocus on creating momentum toward something that matters. If you’re drawing a blank on what would add meaning to your next chapter, try sitting down with your childhood self for a journal session focused on rediscovering things that brought you joy before career and family took center stage.

Make a list of all the memories that lit you up and the “someday I’ll try” wishes that have taken a back seat. Then, create a plan for exploring and testing out all the intriguing hobbies, activities and adventures that once seemed like interesting possibilities. With practice and patience, you’ll start to uncover what lights you up and earns a regular spot on your weekly calendar.

Whether you’re downshifting your career or leaving it all together, it’s important to remember that the world doesn’t need you to slow down. It needs you to show up. A smartly crafted schedule encourages time to explore and engage while also allowing for precious downtime to feed the your soul and relax into  low-pressure lifestyle.

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Let’s have a conversation:

How have you added joy, adventure, and growth to your post-career years?