News
February 2008
Making the most of life
According to research, by the One Life Live event, 88 per cent of people aged between 50 and 65 would like to make a big change in order to lead more fulfilling lives. Amongst the over 50s:
- nearly half would like to take a gap year
- 23 per cent dream of starting their own business
- 62 per cent would like to go back to college
- 76 per cent would like to take up a new hobby
Tessa Mills, 55, founder of Show Me The Way Travel, took a year off in 2005 to travel around the world. When she was planning her trip she found the advice for over 50s disappointing, which gave her the idea to start her own business. Now she helps other people over fifty to plan their gap years.
Twelve years ago, Edward Chapman says he was: 'desk bound, did no exercise and was seriously overweight.'
His doctor told him to get fit or his life could be at risk. Chapman decided to take up jogging and progressed from only managing a couple of minutes to running marathons.
When he was made redundant Chapman set up his own company, Run the Country, which publishes maps for runners and organises trips for people to run marathons.
More about becoming self-employed if you are over 50 on the Directgov website
More about travelling at home and abroad on the Directgov website
More about health and fitness for over 50s on the Directgov website