Two years ago I began publishing a list of the best blogs and websites on positive aging and retirement I could find. Now, for the third year in a row I want to continue to promote and provide exposure to those sites that I believe deserve recognition. Like most of us know, it is very easy these days to get lost in the shuffle of the blogosphere. But what I’ve also discovered is that most of the authors and blog publishers in this field especially, are passionately committed to spreading the word about how great it can be to get older. This year I am even more excited and enthusiastic because the research and news continue to show that nearly every single person who ages (no matter what their current age) can look forward to a longer, more meaningful and yes, happier life as they grow older—retired or not. Want to know more? Then check out my updated list below of the best resources I’ve found from 2018.
What are my criteria? Like in years before, I’ve 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 informs 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.)
While I realize there are other blogs and websites out in the blogosphere that focus on aging and retirement, these are ones that I regularly read, find helpful, and believe fit the SMART mission. FYI…they are listed in no particular order.
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.
Like 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. I will be keeping this list on its own “SMART Page” in the right-hand column of my homepage, so if you don’t have time today, please refer to it in the future. Also, if you know of other blogs or a website that should be included, please list them in the comments below. (Remember, any recommended sites must fit the guidelines I have posted above.)
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.
Okay, your turn. Do you follow and/or read other sites that I may have overlooked that should be added? If yes, please post them in the comments below.
Kathy, this is my first blog post reading on your site and it’s an amazing compilation that I will definitely want to explore. Thank you! I look forward to reading more on your site.
Kathy, what a wonderful resource your list provides. There are quite a few “new to me” websites that I look forward to exploring, as well as some old favourites. Thanks as well for including “Dr Sock Writes Here” on your other list; I’m honoured.
Jude
Thanks so much for including me Kathy. And now I will be checking out these interesting blogs that you have included in your post. I am grateful to have found your blog. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Wow, Kathy, what a list! Thank you for including Still the Lucky Few here—among all of these stellar people! In giving it a quick read, I can see I have missed one or two, and will be back to read and subscribe.
Hi Diane! You’re welcome! I know that many of us read a lot of the same bloggers but I also do my best to find new and other interesting (AND positive) sites so they can get the exposure they deserve. It’s not always easy to keep a blog going so it is wonderful when we help and support each other. ~Kathy
Thank you for the list, Kathy! I have found that I really enjoy a lot of the middle-age blogs. 🙂
Hi Bethany! I know you are not yet in middle age but I so admire you for reading and being open to all that lies ahead for you. I sure hope that I, and these other bloggers and websites, show you that getting older can be awesome! ~Kathy
A great list. Thank you! So far I have subscribed to your blog and Sixty and Me. Love them both!
Hi Verla! Welcome to SMART Living and I LOVE your blog name–Trees Mend Us! I too am a tree (nature) lover and know how important they are for good health. I’m looking forward to reading your blog. ~Kathy
Brilliant! Thanks for this, Kathy! Can’t wait to dig in.
Hi Lynne! Glad you think so! I always enjoy other people’s compilations so I’m hoping this one is as well received. Enjoy! ~Kathy
Wow–many thanks Kathy. I will try to let you know in 11 months which I have been reading and following besides yours!
Hi Gary! I would love your feedback during the next 11 months! It’s true it does take time to cover all of these but like I said in the post, if we are going to stare at a screen let’s make sure it is a screen with good content. I hope I’ve introduced you to a few you like. ~Kathy
Kathy – Thanks for this list… I’m going to “check it twice” to see if there is any new sits/blog to add to my regular reading. And thanks for including me on it as well. 🙂 Pat
Hi Pat! Let me know what you think! I know many of us get around and check out different blogs so I’d love it if I introduced you to some new ones. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy – this is a very comprehensive list! I also highly recommend a book written by the CEO of AARP: Jo Ann Jenkins, entitled DISRUPT AGING – A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age. So much positive and affirming information!
Hi Mindy. Yes, isn’t it exciting that there are so many blogs that share great information like this? And as for Jenkin’s book, I actually did a review of it a while back. Here’s a link: https://smartliving365.com/10-reasons-need-disrupt-aging-retirement/ Lots of great reminders in it. Thanks for pointing it out. ~Kathy
Kathy – now I know why it sounded familiar 🙂
The co-author is a new client and he gave me a copy. Thank you for posting your review again!
Mindy
Thank you for including A Retirement Blog in your list and, therefore, the accolade of considering it to be positive. It’s ever so good to know that I have at least one reader who finds it so. PS Your own blog is pretty awesome and oozes positivity too.
Hi Caree! I do consider your blog to be positive. Of course, my definition of positive isn’t some giddy, silly perspective either (although at times it can be!) I think a fresh, thoughtful, and honest approach is also extremely relevant. And I’ll bet I’m not your only reader that thinks that! ~Kathy
Just wanted you to know that I so look forward to Friday’s with Kathy. Keep on blogging!
Enjoy the Holiday Season!
Hi Susan! THANK YOU! I so appreciate you saying that. Please don’t hold it against me that I will be on vacation over the holidays because I’ve invited some great guest writers to fill in for me. Have a wonderful Holiday Season and I’ll see you in 2019! ~Kathy
Thanks, so much for creating such a great list of positive aging and retirement websites. You rock!
Hi Rebecca. You are welcome. It is always a fun thing to go through and check out all the blogs that are sharing the good news about aging. And I also like including a wide variety of approaches. Even though so many of us write about much of the same things–it ALWAYS sounds different because we are all unique. I trust that anyone would find some of these blogs on the list to be PERFECT for them. ~Kathy
Hi, Kathy – Thank you for including Retirement Reflections on your list again this year. I have already copied the badge onto my website! I greatly look forward to reading many of the links that are new to me. See you there!
Hi Donna! Of course you are included. 🙂 I enjoyed your perspective on retirement–not as a “to-do” list but rather as an experience. I believe I have included a wide variety of approaches to retirement on this list. That makes it far more fun and interesting don’t you think? ~Kathy
A great comprehensive list Kathy, thank-you. All the ones I read are listed. Hmmm, they could be because I started reading them from your previous recommendations!
Hi Haralee! It is true that I have my favorites and I hope that they are ones that others enjoy as well. I do my best to read them all at least on some sort of regular basis just to make sure they continue to fit the guidelines–but I also take time to try and discover some new ones that deserve notice as well. I was pleased to add a number of new ones that you might like as well. And as you know, connecting with other bloggers who resonate with us makes the journey of blogging so much more fun. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy — thank you for including Retirement Confidential on your list. What a nice surprise! I look forward to checking out the other blogs you’ve shared.
Hi Donna! I was very happy to find your site and appreciate your “fresh” approach to aging well. There are tons of blogs out there so it’s always fun to find new ones–especially ones that are a please to read. ~Kathy
Wonderful list! We are empty nesters and not ready for retirement. My blog will evolve into that eventually!
Hi Suzanne! Yes one of these days I am going to do a list of SMART Travel sites and you will definitely be on it! Thanks for stopping by! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Would it be cheesy to ask if my own site can be on your list? I follow many of the blogs noted, and share the same audience! 50 Shades of Aging – “Sharing the Peaks and Pitfalls of Loving Our Aging Parents”.
I write most of the posts myself, but also feature a number of other great writers who share their own experiences of caring for their aging parent(s). There are certainly a LOT of us!
Thank you for considering, Kathy!
Emily
(PS – Almost done with your book and will post a review. Good stuff!)
Hi Emily! It’s not cheesy at all to ask for what we want. Of course, with that said, I spend a lot of time going through the hundreds of websites and blogs I read regularly and it’s a tough choice. I think your site would better fit a caregivers list rather than one that comes from the person experiencing aging themselves. However, with that said, I will still check out your blog and see if it should be included for the future. Thanks for checking in though! ~Kathy
Kathy – thanks for this great list! Since I don’t believe I’m anywhere near retirement — despite my continued aging 😉 I will be checking back on this list as time passes. I follow some of these folks already, hoping that I can clean insight even while I am still working!
Hi Janet! I agree. That’s why I have you listed on my “SMART & Favorite List” on the sidebar of my front page rather than this one. Of course, while your writing doesn’t focus exactly on aging yet, I STILL think it is valuable for everyone (regardless of how young they are!) to consider what aging means to them and how they intend to experience the final third of their life. Trust me, it comes faster than you think it does!!!! ~Kathy
Kathy – I didn’t realize you have listed me on your favorites – I’m honored and humbled. And yes — I know aging comes quickly — I’m 55! It is the retirement that isn’t coming as quickly given our current finances. But I am focused on making it happen as quickly as possible – even though I do enjoy my current work! Given that I’ve experienced 2 midlife crises already, I think I do have some insight to offer….:)