Today and tomorrow’s longer retirement is not the “end” of the story, it’s just the next phase. Here’s how to enjoy it more. it’s good to know that staying active and engaged literally “pays off” in lots of ways…better health, better quality of life, better retirement. But good health is more than just having a good report on your blood pressure or keeping your weight down. It’s good old-fashioned human interaction—meeting new people, making new friends, having face-to-face conversations and building connections.

Like in so many other areas of life, balance is very important in retirement. Especially considering today’s boomers are looking at an extended retirement due to longer lifespans. And finding that balance calls for a lifestyle that supports both physical health, as well as financial health. People over 60 today want to be productive and engaged in their retirement years. They are more open-minded and curious than a generation ago. They’re exploring. Learning. Starting a new career. Traveling. Writing that novel. And they not only realize it’s important to set enough aside to cover future costs of healthcare, but they also want to pursue healthy aging so they can avoid health issues as they age. Retirement Lifestyle Coaching can help you develop a plan for retirement that incorporates both a focus on physical health and financial health.

You know the implications that a longer life expectancy can have on retirement savings, but have you considered where you want to live this longer life? Perhaps a neighborhood that gives you easy access to exceptional dining, fitness and wellness programs, and opportunities for healthy socializing. Lots of seniors opt to downsize to smaller housing choices, such as a condominium, zero-lot line home or an apartment. Fewer square feet means fewer worries. And possibly lower monthly costs. Instead, consider how the right senior living community could truly enhance your quality of life now, while you can still enjoy everything to the max.

How going back to work can mitigate the longevity risk of running out of retirement savings. Worry about whether or not your retirement savings is going to be enough? Maybe consider going back to work in a new way. It could be a part-time job. Occasional consulting for a previous employer. Even considering a whole new field of interest and exploring employment opportunities there. The point is, if you yearn to be freed from the work you are doing now, maybe consider that once you’ve retired from that, you could “unretire” and try something else.

Today’s retirees know financial security isn’t just in a checkbook. It’s also health, sense of purpose and family. Holistic retirement planning can help. Past generations often did not have as many options as exist today for their older years. It was often school, work, retirement. And retirement might have meant more time for golf, grandkids and a trip now and then. But today’s older adults are changing the definition of retirement, with everything from working flex time to starting new careers to choosing leisure activities that add significant meaning and purpose to their lives. The result is a holistic approach to retirement, recognizing that it takes more than financial security, it requires creating a plan that aligns with your values and overall goals for a high quality of life.

Longer life expectancies—an additional 10 to 20 years than previously estimated—are changing retirement as never before. Learn how to be ready. If you’re like most of today’s older adults, you probably aren’t interested in the conventional meaning of what we used to call retirement. You want more. You want to live a longer, happier, more fulfilling life filled with purpose. You also understand the importance of staying healthy as you age so that you may continue to pursue new interests and find more meaning in life. It's all part of today’s new conversation: instead of aging, it’s all about longevity. And it’s more than just numbers.