Happiness is about how well we cope with what life throws at us so, if people get better with age at managing life’s ups and downs, our later years should be looking rosy. Following this theory then as people age they should become happier even though their circumstances, such as their health, may decline.

As encouraging as this sounds, achieving a happy retirement does take some work and a fair bit of patience. Top tips from those retired and ‘in the know’ on raising happiness levels include:

Keep up the daily routine
We all know people who work hard for 40 years only to find retirement unsatisfying. Surprisingly, one of the keys to happiness after retirement is doing exactly what you did before. Keep getting dressed earlier in the morning rather than later. Arrange activities throughout the day and continue making an effort. Research shows that people who maintain their personal standards and believe that retirement is just as important as working life are likely to be happier for longer.

Friends and family
Once people have retired, friends and family are at the top of the list of things that make them happy. Without colleagues to see the day through, and the fact that families don’t often live as close as they used to, it is important to find friends who share the same interests. Effort needs to be made to get back in touch with old friends, join some local clubs, and to try a new hobby.

Keep active
This isn’t a top tip to ‘keep busy’ as mindless activity doesn’t achieve the same happiness level as taking on an activity that interests you. Further research has found that those in retirement who spend at least six hours a day doing something active that they enjoy and can learn from are more likely to be content. Developing a new skill can make you feel good and most local councils and further education colleges hold evening classes in subjects from flower arranging to wood work. Courses such as how to search your family history or the night sky can also invigorate the spirit.

Do something nice for others
Set a target of carrying out five acts of kindness a week, big and small, and it will make you smile. Helping out at a local school, looking after your grandchildren, weeding a neighbour’s garden or even volunteering can give a little back and doesn’t have to take much time away from your other activities in your, now busy, daily routine!

The NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk) gives further insight into entering a happy, healthy retirement with some interesting ideas, real life examples and links to additional websites which can help point you in the direction of a new activity. Experience may help us to determine when to let the smaller things that concern us go and when to sit up and take action but it’s important to remember that you can never have too many friends or stop learning.