Reflections on Boomer Resolutions

Our first aha moment was learning that a significant number of boomers did not have any resolutions because they had resolved to do away with them We talk often about how aging leads to an accumulation of experience and wisdom and in this case it would seem that too many years of good intentions that never materialized have had an impact For these boomers the act of setting resolutions that never happen has become a trivial folly that39s best done away withFor those boomers who are still motivated by resolutions here39s what39s on their listPractical Wellness For as long as people have been making resolutions exercising more and losing weight have traditionally topped the list While boomers continue to feel that these are worthy ambitions they39re taking a more practical approach to wellness Instead of committing to specific targets such as losing 10 pounds or exercising 30 more minutes each day they39re embracing more viable goals such as eating in the healthy ways that actually work for them or exercising in reasonable ways that fit their daily routine Many told us that once they had discovered a personal wellness routine that worked for them there was no longer a need to resolve to do something that was already being done successfullyThere are some very real implications here for brands that typically market new diet programs or workout regimens in the aperture of the New Year Boomers don39t need a chronological prompt instead they39re open to practical wellness advice on a yearround basisPurging Versus Splurging After years of materialistic living and the accumulation of belongings boomers are finding joy in simplifying and streamlining They39re noting that the younger generations are valuing experiences over tangible possessions and they39re starting to question whether they still have a sentimental attachment to a whole bunch of stuff that39s just taking up space Near the top of their resolution list is the intention to get rid of their junk Purging is the new splurging At this age getting rid of things is the most fun you can have without spending moneyMore Naps The same boomers who say that they would rather be tired than retired are discovering the restorative value of a few minutes of afternoon shuteye Although they once criticized older napdevoted folks for being idle now that they39re the ones of age they39ve redefined nap time as productivity time amp8212 ie a few minutes of welltimed rest buys you hours of energy throughout the rest of the day If that helps you feel better for more of your day then go for it There39s a good reason it39s being said that nap time is the new happy hourBeing More Involved While aging and retirement used to be a mostly sedentary stage of life many boomers are now embracing an energetic orientation to life It39s widely held that the more active you are even if that requires a nap the more likely it is that you will lead a better life longer Boomers are resolving to get more actively involved in the world around them and that39s manifesting itself physically socially and intellectually This isn39t simply about being active it39s about being involved in activities that allow you to take action on your life and that of othersLess Connectivity Boomers love the convenience of technology but they39re also telling us that they39re fatigued by constantly being connected As such more than a few of the boomers we spoke to have resolved to spend less time being dependent on their mobile phone to help free up more solitude space As boomers39 quantity of life remaining decreases they39re placing a corresponding increase on quality of life to help get more better days They want to unplug more often so they can stay fully wired to the precious moments at handGoing Someplace They39ve Never Been As much as boomers claim they39re not living their lives with a bucket list mentality they do seem much more intentioned about pursuing the experiences that they39ve given lip service to all these years It39s widely accepted that boomers have the time money and interest to travel but now there39s the new criteria of visiting a virgin destination If I39m a boomer I39m surely on the lookout for a travel operator that39s promising to get me someplace I39ve never been to to do something I39ve never done Nothing makes you feel younger than still having a lot of firsts in your lifeReducing Box Waste Though we didn39t hear this from most boomers and it feels random on this list it39s interesting enough to pass along There39s no disagreement that the ease of Internet shopping and home delivery is fantastic but it39s coming at the expense of increased cardboard waste in our lives As the boxes pile up it39s easy for boomers to remember how we managed to survive just fine before we had Internetenabled convenience This has at least a few of them rethinking their shopping choices while eagerly awaiting Amazon39s promise of more quotnaked shippingquot It may take a drone but it may just be worth itAfter years of realizing that most of their New Year39s resolutions didn39t even last until February many boomers are wising up and opting for a more successful approach to positive change With age you come to appreciate that change is a good thing because it keeps life interesting and dynamic If change has so much to offer then it sure seems foolish to limit your commitment to a periodic and arbitrary date on the calendar Instead boomers seem to be embracing a spirit of continuous change and improvement with the goal of getting to a better life sooner so it can last longerSo in the end maybe the best resolution is to resolve to not have resolutions Who said age isn39t liberatingPhoto courtesy of BoomAgersClick the social buttons to share this story with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated 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Reflections on Boomer Resolutions

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Peter Hubbell

Jon Miller | Cofounder Marketo, Engagio | The Gumball Machine is Broken - Rethinking B2B Marketing - By Mike Linton

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Peter Hubbell

Jon Miller | Cofounder Marketo, Engagio | The Gumball Machine is Broken - Rethinking B2B Marketing - By Mike Linton

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