Excitement takes on different forms as you get older. This doesn’t mean that your taste in life’s pleasures disappears. It’s just that “fun” acquires a new definition. What was thrilling is now a chore, and what once energized now saps your spirit. We polled a group of adults over sixty, and while all of them claimed to still “love” these activities in theory, they explained that they lacked the time, energy, or will to do them in practice. Here’s what they had to say.
Decorating for holidays
Holiday decorations used to feel fun and festive; Christmas lights, Halloween pumpkins, Easter eggs, etc. But multiple people said they still do it because they feel like they should. One woman even said, “I already dread having to take it all down.”
Trying new restaurants
Going to a new restaurant used to be an adventure. One woman said, “Now I just want to go somewhere I know, where I already know what to order and know I’ll like it.” Going to the trouble of researching a new place and risking ordering something bad doesn’t sound fun anymore.
Shopping for new clothes
Shopping for clothes used to be a thing many did for fun. Now one person told us, “I used to spend hours at the mall just window shopping. Even ordering online feels like a chore I keep putting off.” There’s trying on, returns, and finding things that actually look good. It’s all become a source of stress instead of relaxation.
Scrolling on social media
Some people were of the opinion that social media felt too busy and noisy. Many admitted they would open up their feeds, scroll for a minute, and then shut it all off, feeling mentally exhausted. They told us that their feed is now a constant barrage of opinions, ads, and filters.
Keeping up with new music/discovering new artists
The music slump hit a lot of people hard. Music discovery used to be one of their joys, but now one person told us, “I pretty much listen to the same stuff I listened to 10 years ago. Keeping up with new music sounds like homework to me.” Constant new releases, the effort it takes to actually listen and have an opinion on things has just become another chore to keep up with.
Weekend nights out at bars/clubs
This one was the main response from nearly everyone we spoke to. Nights out used to be the weekend highlight. However, most now find, “The idea of going to a bar on a Friday night is exhausting.” The loud music, the crowds, the required energy output: it’s all become way too much work.
Traveling/planning trips
Most people complained that travel planning has become overwhelming. One guy told us, “I used to get excited about trips, but now I stress out for weeks beforehand. I think about everything that can go wrong and all the things I have to remember.” The actual trip might still be great, but all the things required to get there feel like a massive chore.
Birthday celebrations (theirs, in particular)
Many people brought up their own birthdays used to be exciting but now have become a stressful obligation. One woman said “I used to love my birthday. Now all I want is for it to quietly pass without anyone making a big deal.” There’s the expectation to do something, to be excited about it, to coordinate with others who also want to celebrate. The whole process has become stressful.
Learning new technology/apps
New technology used to be cool and novel to figure out. Now, it’s just another thing to learn when you barely remember the last major update. When one person’s phone automatically updated to a different version, he said, “I was genuinely annoyed by it. I don’t want to learn another new interface.”
Meeting new people/new friendships
Meeting someone new used to be exciting. There are new perspectives, new people to know, and potential new friendships. But it seems once you hit a certain age, this novelty wears off. The initial excitement has been replaced with knowing how much work it is to befriend someone and keep a friendship going.
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