How to Reinvent Yourself at 60

(Last Updated On: October 19, 2023)

60 is a significant milestone for many women. It’s a time when you may feel like you’ve accomplished a lot, but there’s still more that you want to do. It’s also a time when you may be facing some major life changes, such as retirement or an empty nest.

In times of transition, it can be helpful to consider how to reinvent yourself at 60. This doesn’t mean that you have to completely start over, but it does mean that you can take some time to reassess your goals and make some changes that will help you live a happier and more fulfilling life.

You’ve probably heard it said that 60 is the new 40. And while that may be true in some ways, it’s also true that this can be a time of great change and self-reflection for many women.

Perhaps you’re empty-nesters who are now looking at your daily life and wondering what’s next. Or maybe you’re a retiree who is finally getting the chance to pursue your passions. Your family responsibilities may have changed as the years have gone by, too.

Whatever the reason, if you’re feeling like it’s time for a change, to say goodbye to some old habits, here are some ideas to get you started on reinvigorating your life at this stage.

Challenges of Refocusing, Reimagining, and Reinventing Your Life

There are many common challenges that people have when they’re trying to reinvent their life at 60. Some of the most common ones include feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start, feeling like you don’t have enough time or energy, and feeling like your passions and interests are unrelated to the rest of your life.

If you’re feeling any of these things, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Many women feel this way when they’re trying to make changes in their lives. The good news is that there are ways to overcome these challenges and finally achieve the life you’ve always wanted.

One of the best ways to overcome feeling overwhelmed is to break down your goals into smaller, more manageable pieces. Rather than trying to do everything at once, focus on one thing at a time and take small steps each day to move closer to your goal.

Another way to overcome common challenges is to seek out support from friends, family, or a professional coach or counselor. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through and can offer helpful advice.

Last but not least, remember to be patient with yourself. It takes time to make significant changes in your life, but it’s important to stick with it and not give up. With perseverance and dedication, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Reinventing Your Life Doesn’t Always Mean Starting Over

It’s never too late to reinvent your life. You can do it at any age, but it doesn’t always mean starting over.

Reinventing your life means making changes to improve your life satisfaction and well-being.

It could be something as simple as taking up a new hobby, making new friends, changing the financial situation, or traveling to new places.

It could also be something more significant like changing careers or moving to a new city. No matter what changes you make, the important thing is that they are right for you. Only you can decide what will make you happy.

So, don’t be afraid to take some risks and make some changes. It’s never too late to reimagine and refocus the direction of your life.

My Personal Experience with Reinventing Yourself After 60

I was forced to reinvent myself when I was 60 years old, as my husband and soul mate passed away after 20 years of marriage. That changed everything about my life, and I needed to make some decisions.

As devastating and life-changing as that experience was, it was also a crossroads for me. I could hang my head and cry, stare at the walls, and pity myself for being a widow at 60, or I could put one foot in front of the other and create a new life for myself. You can read more details about what I decided to do and why in this post. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t stop living!)

Several years later came another opportunity for me to reimagine my life when I decided to close my Florida-based home staging business and move back to the Midwest to be closer to my family.

Earning an income was, and still is, a must, but I decided that this cross-country move would be a new beginning with a 100% commitment to my online business. That was a huge swing for me, as I’d spent many years in face-to-face client interactions.

This didn’t happen overnight and took months of planning, but eventually, I stepped away from my design/staging business and haven’t looked back. In fact, I stay motivated and inspired to keep creating and growing with my new business.

A new personal style statement was also part of my reinvention of myself when I stopped using the auburn hair color that was my trademark for many years. Going natural gray has been quite the adventure but I wouldn’t change anything at this time in my life.

There have been other, smaller changes as well, but these were the top three on my list:

• a cross-country move
• an online business venture
• a new look with my natural hair color

I’ve also taken the step of traveling alone once or twice a year, back to Florida. I love southwest Florida and it’s worth the time, effort, and monetary commitment to enjoy the warm, lush surroundings when I can.

My story will not be the same as yours, of course, as we all lead different lives and are unique individuals. I hope it prompts you to do some reinventing and refocusing in your own life if that is a desire of yours.

Considerations for Reinventing Your Life

It’s more than just a to-do list, although those can be very helpful! I use them every day. But when you are considering such a momentous undertaking I think it merits more than a list of things to check off and then say, “Yay, it’s the new me!”

1 | Take stock of your life as it is today.

How is your body physically? What is your emotional health like? Are you with a spouse or partner who needs to be involved in your decisions? Let’s think about each one of these individually.

First, how is your body physically? This is a big one because our physicality affects every other area of our lives. Are you at a point where you need to make some changes in order to maintain or improve your health?

It could be as simple as adding more movement into your day by taking a brisk walk every day or starting a yoga practice. Or it might be something more significant like changing your diet or starting an exercise regimen. Pay attention to your body and what it needs.

Second, what is your emotional health like? This is also a big one because our emotions can have a profound effect on our physical health as well. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed, now might be a good time to seek out professional help.

Talking to a therapist or counselor can be incredibly helpful in managing your emotions and working through any challenges you might be facing.

Third, are you with a spouse or partner who needs to be involved in your decisions? If so, it’s important to have a conversation about your plans and see if they’re on board with whatever changes you’re considering.

It’s also important to consider any children you might have and how they would be affected by any significant changes you make.

2 | The 10 things

If you were to make a list of the 10 things about your life that you’d like to change (you know, wiggle your nose and make it so) what would they be?

Go ahead and create that list, then prioritize it. What are the top three on that list?

The ones that are left, you can put into a “maybe someday” file.

Number one on your list could be the hardest to change. It’s also going to be the most important because it’s the thing that is causing you the most dissatisfaction in your life.

So, take some time to really think about it. What is it that you want to change? And why is it so important to you? What are the steps you need to take to make that change happen?

This is where a lot of people get stuck. They have an idea of what they want to change, but they don’t know how to make it happen.

That’s where a good plan comes in.

Sit down and figure out what steps you need to take to make your change happen. If you need help, there are plenty of resources out there (including this website!) to help you figure out what those steps might be.

If relocating is at the top of your list, for example, start figuring out what you need to do first, then after that, and keep going down the list until you come up with a specific plan.

Do the same exercise for your #2 and #3 on that list of 10 things. And remember, it doesn’t matter how large or small these priorities are. They are yours and you own them.

If changing your hair color is at the top of your list, then make a plan to do it. When considering how to reinvent yourself at 60, there is no right or wrong way to go about your plan.

3 | Make it new

One of the most exciting aspects to reinvent yourself after 60 is the opportunity that you give yourself to try something new, learn a new skill, travel to a new location, and so on. This is your chance to be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do!

Part of the reason that people feel stuck in their lives is that they haven’t allowed themselves to explore new things. They’ve become comfortable with the way things are and they’re afraid to step outside of their comfort zone.

But comfort zones are meant to be challenged! That’s how we grow as individuals.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself what new things you’d like to try. What have you always wanted to do but never had the chance? Now is your chance!

Do you want to learn a new language, write a book, run for a political office, move to a different state or country?

Make a list of all the things you’d like to try and then start exploring them one by one. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy some of the things on your list.

And even if you don’t, that’s okay! The important thing is that you’re giving yourself the opportunity to grow and expand your horizons.

4 | Get healthy

One of the best things you can do for yourself at any age, and for all age groups, is to focus on your health. But it’s especially important as you get older.

You might not be able to change everything about your health, but there are always things you can do to improve it. Implementing a daily routine is very helpful, so think about a healthy morning routine or evening bedtime routine to help you stay on track.

If you’re not already exercising, start doing so. Even a moderate amount of exercise is better than none at all. An active lifestyle will only help you live longer and with more energy. Start with a simple brisk walk every day, even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes.

Focus on eating healthy foods and getting rid of the junk food. This doesn’t mean you have to become a health food fanatic, but cut out as much processed food as you can and make sure you’re getting enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The commitment to eat healthy will serve you well as you reinvent yourself.

And don’t forget to stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

5 | Work on your mental health

In addition to physical health, it’s also important to focus on your mental health. As we age, our mental health can decline if we don’t work on it.

One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to stay social. Isolation can be a major problem for older adults, so make sure you’re staying connected with family and friends.

You can also stay active mentally by reading, doing puzzles, and learning new things. Keeping your mind active will help keep it sharp.

Are you a Wordle fan? Give it a try and you’ll quickly be hooked! I play every evening with some family members and we text our results to each other. It’s a fun way to stay connected and use your noodle.

And last but not least, make sure you’re getting enough sleep! Lack of sleep can seriously impact your mental health and literally every other part of your life, so make sure you’re getting adequate rest, at least 7-8 hours per night.

6 | Improve your relationships

Another important aspect of reinventing yourself at 60 is to focus on your relationships. This includes both your family relationships and your friendships.

If you have a strained relationship with any family members, now is the time to try to repair it. Life is too short to hold onto grudges and resentment.

And as far as friendships go, take inventory of who is in your life and who isn’t. Are there people you need to let go of? Are there people you need to reach out to? Now is the time to do it.

Making the decision to renew, repair, or dissolve a relationship is huge, my friend. It’s not an action that is relevant to all of our lives. But if this is where you’re at right now and you are committed to reinventing and refocusing your life, it deserves your time and attention.

7 | The 10-year plan

Where do you see yourself in 10 or 20 years? After all, 60 is still pretty young. Even though it is true that we don’t know what tomorrow holds, we can still live our lives with hopes and dreams as we age.

Think about what you want to accomplish in the next 10 years. Do you want to travel more? Do you want to start your own business? Do you want to retire early?

Make a plan and then start working towards your goals. The important thing is to not just sit idly by as life passes you by. You still have time to make things happen!

8 | Be patient with yourself

Finally, it’s important to remember that reinventing yourself at 60 (or at any age) is not going to happen overnight. It’s a process that takes time and patience.

So, be gentle with yourself as you go through this process. Allow yourself the time and space to make mistakes and learn from them. Protect and encourage your self-esteem and self-confidence by allowing yourself to change directions as you go through this process.

And most importantly, don’t give up! It might take some time, but eventually, you will get to where you want to be.

Need Some Inspiration and a Gentle Nudge?

Considering changes to our routines, the comfortableness of our lives, can be overwhelming. Where do we start? Do we really know where we are at our life right now? Who thinks about that stuff anyway??

Well, I do. And I know that many women in midlife consider these aspects, too. In our minds and hearts we’ll always be “that girl”, the one who wants to be better, stronger, capable, and fulfilled.

If you have the desire to reimagine your life but aren’t sure where to start, I have a simple guided course that will help you start with today and where you are in your life, consider all the wonderful components that make you who you are, then provide tools to help you plan for the future.

Take a moment to learn more about Inspire Your Life, and how this could be the perfect opportunity for you to reimagine, refocus, and yes, inspire your life for the future!

Conclusion: Reinventing Yourself After 60

In conclusion, reinventing yourself at 60 is possible. It might take some effort, but it’s worth it to go through the process and learn to enjoy life more.

Follow the tips above and you’ll be well on your way to starting a new chapter in your life.

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