The following list of sites (compiled at the end of 2018) focuses on education and sharing information about positive aging and retirement. They also offer current and interesting news on an ongoing basis. None of them are commercially focused. Perhaps best of all, I find each of these sites interesting, fun and informative to read.
What is my SMART criteria? I have attempted to focus on sites that:
- Share thoughts that engage, inspire, or encourage us as we age and/or retire.
- Puts the perspective on the benefits, good news, and opportunities surrounding aging and retirement, rather than the detriments.
- Aren’t overly technical or financial—and instead puts the focus on the mental, physical, emotional and sometimes spiritual evolution of aging.
- Avoids commercialism along with annoying ads or lots of self-promotion.
- Regularly and consistently adds content (If a blog hasn’t posted anything in a month or more—it won’t be on this list.)
Positive Aging No Matter What Your Age
Senior Planet Celebrates aging by sharing information and resources that support aging with attitude and helps people stay engaged and active by bringing focus to a range of topics.
Blue Zones–The Blue Zones Story is a website devoted to sharing insights into ways we can all stay healthy, happy and active as we age.
Next Avenue Where grown-ups keep growing. Their daily content delivers vital ideas, context and perspectives on issues that matter most as we age.
The Third Age—Healthy Living For Women + Their Families Health and wellness site targeted to women 45 and older.
Encore.org—Their motto is, “Second Acts for greater good” with a focus on building a movement to tap the skills and experience of those in midlife and beyond to improve communities and the world.
WOW—Women’s Older Wisdom—A conversation started by Pat Taub for older women who are fed up with the ageism and sexism in our culture and are looking for cohorts to affirm their value as an older woman.
Agei.st—A site that celebrates living fast and dying old. Encouraging stories of people who are thinkers, creatives and researchers, dedicated to promoting a better understanding of an emergent age.
A Boomer Girl’s Guide—a personal blog written by Juhli who writes about health, happiness and a life that fits as she ages.
Boomer Café Now in its 17th year, Boomer Café is the original digital magazine (ezine) for baby boomers with active lifestyles and youthful spirits.
Changing In Aging ChangingAging™ is a pro-age movement from Dr. Bill Thomas that challenges conventional views on aging. They believe aging is a strength, rich in developmental potential and growth.
Living Better Fifty An online ezine that focuses on the positive attributes of aging (there are lots!) and looks for opportunities to encourage women to make healthier choices through articles, stories, and testimonies.
Growing Bolder—A site that is attempting to “rebrand” growing older by changing the way the world looks at aging by smashing stereotypes and delivering hope, inspiration, and possibility to everyone who continues to age.
Sixty and Me Produced to empower and motivate women to find their own voice and value in a transitional time of life that offers so much new opportunity.
Still The Lucky Few A blog written by Diane Dahli about what made “the greatest” generation unique, why their place in history is so important, and what they still have to offer.
Life Lived Forward—a website with a combination of contributors on how to live happy and healthy into the future.
Unfold & Begin is written by Jennifer Koshak who is a mid-life blogger who writes about creative inspiration, starting over in midlife, trying new things, and embracing life.
Baby Boomster is written by Rebecca Okowski with a focus on active women over 50 who like to have fun, explore the world, be healthy and want to stay vibrant for as long as possible. She believes that like many Baby Boomers, her goal is to help make the world a better place for future generations.
Squared Away Blog is written by Kimberly Blanton who is a veteran financial and economics reporter. She writes about anything related to financial behavior, psychology and our U.S. money culture as we age.
Paint Your Landscape–a blog where LuAnn and Terry share their retirement adventures while doing what makes their hearts sing and coloring their world with broad brushstrokes.
Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond–A site that aims to help women 50+ embrace life with with an ageless attitude!
My Life Lived Full a blog where Joanne Sisco reminds us to live life full–AND she believes that if we aren’t living on the edge we are taking up too much space!
Blogs & Websites For A Positive Retirement
A Satisfying Retirement Offers Bob Lowry’s passionate perspective about living a Retired life with purpose and joy.
Sightings Over Sixty Where Boomer Tom Sightings looks at health, finance, retirement, grown-up children and … how time flies.
Olderhood— provides Education, Advocacy, and Research to help people from all walks of life transition from their careers to a new life beyond work.
Living Richly In Retirement A blog where Barb shares ideas about living and loving life and retirement on a fixed income.
Retire In Style Blog—is written by Barbara Torres who covers all sorts of topics about retirement and positive aging—in style of course!
Crafting My Retirement–Laura Smith’s journey of retirement.
Retirement—Only The Beginning Offers ideas about how to create a fun and financially stable retirement by author Dave Bernard.
Retirement Reflections A blog about retirement, new chapters, new discoveries and new adventures.
Retirement Confidential is a written by Donna Pekar, writer and speaker, who is a two-time cancer survivor in hot pursuit of a long, healthy and happy life.
The Retirement Manifesto A canvas for sharing ideas to help others create a great retirement.
U.S. News On Retirement Retirement planning ideas and advice from a number of personal finance and lifestyle bloggers.
A Retirement Blog by Caree Risover—Caree is from the U.K. and writes about retirement—from planning to implementation to the eventual enjoyment.
Victory Lap Retirement—written by Michael Drak who retired in 2014 and is busy helping others transition into their own person versions of “A Victory Lap Retirement.”
Retirement Transition—One woman’s journey (Pat) as she transitions into the next part of her life without a plan in place.
Retirement Wisdom Blog—While this website promotes “Retirement Coaching” they also have an interesting blog that provides thought-proking articles of interest to anyone before or after retirement.
Baby Boomer Retirement with useful information for ALL retirees and the 10,000 Baby Boomers who turn 65 every day.
Cracking Retirement that explores living life in retirement to the full by sharing ideas on making the most of our money, traveling far & wide and making the most of retirement.
Terri LaBonte—Reinventing Myself In Retirement shares thoughts and ideas from a woman who retired from the federal government and began writing about her retirement experiences—much of it with a great sense of humor.
As I have said many times before, I realize we are all very busy these days. But if we are going to be reading or staring at any “screen” then let’s be reading things that are positive, uplifting and life-affirming–especially when it comes to getting older. I think all of these websites fit those needs. So, please accept this list as my year-end gift to all my SMART Living 365 readers for 2018.
Regardless of our age, I think it is beneficial to continually read and absorb information that reminds us that thinking in a positive and optimistic way about aging and retirement is good for us and those around us. Join me, and help to make the years ahead positive and SMART!
Please Note: I also provide links to other SMART sites I read and enjoy regularly HERE. Be sure and check these out as well.