KAREN BOYLE

Age: 56

Life after 50, how is it for you? Is this an enjoyable time of life?

Hitting 50, I took early retirement, I retired a few months after my 50th birthday and I am enjoying it. I never had time to do the things I wanted to do before and now I do.

What is the best part about this stage of your life?

I think the best part is that you’ve got over all of this idea of having to be a particular way, doing what people want – you do your own thing.

What age do you feel?

I never actually think about what age I am, I don’t really think about age that much. Some days I feel 70, some days I feel 30.

How do you relax?

I tend to do a lot of reading, I do enjoy that. I watch TV, meet friends, enjoy a nice meal with friends and go for walks. I like getting out and about into nature, I love that.

Do you try to look after your mental health?

I live on my own so when I gave up work, if you’re getting up in the morning and you’re not going out to work, you have to think about something. It’s very easy to fall into a trap of just getting down so I try to make sure that every day I get out and I speak to somebody face to face.

Do you embrace life?

I try to embrace life! It doesn’t always be like that. There are days when you say ‘I’m not doing that’, but yes I do. I love to learn new things, experience new things so to me that’s embracing life.