Six surprising habits only the happiest retirees get right

10 hours ago 3

Opinion

January 10, 2026 — 5.01am

Ask anyone in their 50s or 60s how they picture their retirement, and you’ll usually get a vague image of “more freedom”, definitely “more travel”, and occasionally something about finally getting through the pile of books on the bedside table.

But when you dig deeper into how people actually experience this phase of life, a sharper set of truths emerges. Some people flourish in retirement, but others really struggle. And the gap between the two isn’t wealth, luck or timing. It’s something else entirely.

The happiest retirees aren’t defined by early exits from the workplace, large superannuation balances or super-smart investments.

Let’s be honest: retirement is a double-layered challenge. Yes, it’s financially complex, but it’s also emotionally demanding. And today’s retirees are, in many ways, the test case generation.

We’re living longer, we’re retiring with more money, and our expectations of what life should look like in our 60s, 70s and beyond are far higher. That brings opportunity, but it also brings uncertainty.

Most of us enter retirement thinking it’s simply about stepping away from work and shifting how we draw our income. In reality, it’s bigger than that. It requires us to reinvent ourselves and build a life that might stretch another 25 or 35 years.

Life expectancy keeps pushing out, and for many people, retirement is now an entire life stage that’s closer to 25 or 35 years rather than a final chapter. So the real goal isn’t just to stop working.

Money is the tool, not the ultimate goal. It creates choices in life. It funds the experiences you enjoy.

It’s to create a life that genuinely feels good to live.

Over years of interviewing retirees, researching longevity and talking to thousands of readers, I’ve noticed a pattern. People who seem genuinely content in retirement tend to do five things differently.

1. They lay the financial foundations early

The happiest retirees aren’t necessarily high earners, but they are deliberate with their money. They clear debt, especially the mortgage, and arrive at retirement with a plan they’ve shaped themselves rather than one shaped for them.

They diversify their income – leveraging the superannuation system, building investments before they can access them, planning around dividends and even including some part-time work – and they understand how these streams work together.

They don’t obsess over spreadsheets or chase the sharemarket; they just get the basics right. They understand the tax advantages available to them, the power of compounding, and the role that growth assets play over the long term.

That financial clarity doesn’t make them wealthy overnight, but it does make them confident and capable – and confidence is a huge predictor of happiness in retirement.

2. They manage their cash flow, rather than brag about their super balance

Retirement conversations often get stuck on “how big one’s super balance is”. But the happiest retirees think about something else: how predictable their income is and how long it will last at this pace.

They know when money comes in, how to draw it down tax-free and how to adjust their spending when markets wobble. They focus on the sustainability of their spending rather than status symbols.

This mindset frees them up from the anxiety of comparing themselves with others and helps them feel in control, even when life throws curveballs.

Ironically, many of these people aren’t the wealthiest at all. They’re simply realists who make smart choices with what they have. That mix of practicality and optimism gives them a quiet sort of contentment that money alone can’t buy.

It’s not just about how long you live, but how long you feel well that counts.

3. They keep learning, exploring and participating

Retirement doesn’t magically deliver fulfilment. The happiest retirees create it. They stay curious, take up new hobbies, lean into their communities and make space for fun.

They join walking groups, volunteer, enrol in classes, say yes to opportunities and find excuses to be with other people. This isn’t accidental. Curiosity protects the brain, movement protects the body, and community protects mental health – and they know it. Together, they create a sense of structure and meaning that many people desperately miss after leaving work.

Take Geoff and Di. When they stepped back from full-time work, they realised they needed something to anchor their weeks.

So they joined a Photography Club. What started as a bit of fun has become a friendship group that goes on retreats together, eats out together and learns together. They didn’t stumble into a great retirement; they built one proactively.

4. They reinvent themselves – on purpose

One of the biggest shocks of retirement is the sudden (or slow) shift in identity. Titles disappear as you leave the workplace and your sense of relevance changes. Egos can get bruised and take time to heal. The happiest retirees don’t cling to who they were; they experiment with who they might become next.

Mike, for example, spent decades in senior banking roles in Sydney. Now he’s known on his street as “Mike the Bike Guy”. His garage is always open.

He tinkers with bikes, volunteers with a charity that adapts them for children with disabilities, and spends his spare time travelling, riding and developing a talent for photography. He didn’t leave his old life behind so much as trade it for one that fits him better now.

You don’t lose your need for purpose when you retire – sometimes you just have to go looking for it.

5. They launch their kids, then step back

It’s striking how often the happiest retirees tell me the same thing: their children are financially independent. Not rich, just sensibly functioning adults with their own lives and making their own choices.

These retirees still provide emotional closeness and advice, but not ongoing financial support. That independence goes both ways – the kids aren’t reliant, and the parents aren’t burdened.

It removes any guilt, pressure and resentment, and creates room for genuinely enjoyable relationships. They holiday together because they want to, not because someone is footing the bill. Healthy boundaries, it turns out, make for very happy families.

6. They stay strong and active

The happiest retirees also treat their health as their most valuable asset. They understand that money gives them options, but health gives them the ability to enjoy those options.

They stay physically active in ways that feel sustainable, not punishing, and they prioritise the simple things that compound over time: regular movement, better sleep, sensible nutrition, strength training and meaningful social connection.

They book their check-ups, keep on top of prevention and stay curious about modern ageing rather than fearing it. Most importantly, they don’t leave wellbeing as an afterthought in retirement; they weave it into daily life. This gives them more energy, more mobility and, ultimately, more years of doing the things that make retirement worth looking forward to.

The real secret? They know what matters most

When you strip back the noise, the happiest retirees aren’t defined by early exits from the workplace, large superannuation balances or super-smart investments. They’re defined by intention and proactivity.

They learn how the financial system works so they can use it rather than fear it. They stay curious enough to keep life interesting. They find purpose beyond their career. They raise independent kids who can live their own lives while cheering their parents on. And they protect their health like it’s their superpower.

Most importantly, they understand that money is the tool, not the ultimate goal. It creates choices in life. It funds the experiences you enjoy. It supports you staying in good health. But happiness is built from purpose, participation and connection.

That’s what I think the happiest retirees get right.

Bec Wilson is author of the bestseller How to Have an Epic Retirement and the newly released Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife. She writes a weekly newsletter at epicretirement.net and hosts the Prime Time podcast.

Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that considers their own personal circumstances before making financial decisions.

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