Researchers are starting to understand why this boost in late life happens, and it’s not because of luck or money.
People who get happier in their 50s, 60s, and beyond usually do the same things on purpose every day, and these things are almost too simple to be interesting. These habits get stronger over time.
The small shift from “staying young” to “living well”
A lot of people in the West think that getting older is a problem that needs to be fixed. The message is clear: use anti-wrinkle creams, take selfies at the gym, and do biohacking rituals to fight the clock. But the people who really say they are happier as they get older take a different path. They don’t care as much about looking young as they do about feeling alive.
Also, this fruit lowers cholesterol and helps with weight loss and memory.
Older people who are the happiest don’t see getting older as a decline; they see it as a long-term project to make their lives better.
This project isn’t about making big changes in your life at 70. It starts with making small decisions over and over again in middle age that slowly change how the brain reacts to stress, loss, and change. Seven habits keep coming up in long-term studies and real-life stories.
1. They are thankful on purpose.
People who are happy as they get older don’t just “feel thankful” once in a while. They teach their minds to focus on the good things that are happening, even on bad days. That change, over time, changes how people feel.
Psychology studies show that older adults who practice gratitude in some way have fewer signs of depression, sleep better, and have stronger social ties. The method is usually simple:
- Write down three things that went well before you go to sleep.
- Sending a short note of thanks every day
- Stopping for a moment during meals to say something they are thankful for
Being thankful doesn’t have to wait for happiness; it can make you happier by changing the way you think.
Being consistent is the most important thing. Your brain learns to look for resources instead of threats when you do a small thing every day for years. Your brain learns to look for resources instead of threats.
2. They tend to look at the bright side of things without ignoring the dark side.
Older people who are happy don’t cheer for everything. They still have to deal with being sick, having money problems, and fighting with family. The difference is in how they talk about them.
Psychologists call it “positive reappraisal,” which means looking for meaning, lessons, or even small benefits in tough times. A busy week of doctor’s appointments is a good time to catch up with an adult child who offers to drive. You can learn something new when you have to retire. Looking for meaning in tough times.
This way of thinking doesn’t help with pain. It won’t let pain be the only thing that matters. It won’t let pain be the only thing that matters.
Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” you should ask, “What can I do with this?” What can I do with this?
3. They are mindful every day, which helps them stay in the moment.
People often sell mindfulness apps and cushions, but the happiest older people tend to use it in a more normal way. They do this on purpose to focus on one thing at a time. Focus on one thing at a time.
That could mean really tasting the first sip of coffee in the morning instead of just reading the news. It might mean paying attention to what a friend is saying instead of planning what to say next. These little things help you not to worry about the past or the future all the time. Paying attention to what a friend is saying.
How to be aware every day as you age
| A habit that isn’t aware | An alternative that is aware |
|---|---|
| Noticing the food while eating and watching TV | Eating one meal a day at the table and paying attention to how it smells and tastes |
| Remembering old fights | Recognizing the thought, calling it “memory,” and going back to what you were doing |
| Talking to people while doing other things | Taking the phone away and looking at the other person’s face |
This kind of presence makes people less anxious and makes normal days feel more full and less rushed over time. This kind of presence makes normal days feel more full.
4. They try to make their relationships stronger
Many studies, from Harvard to New Zealand, show that having close relationships is a better predictor of happiness later in life than having a lot of money or a good job. Having close relationships is a better predictor of happiness.
Strong, supportive relationships help us deal with our feelings as we get older. Strong, supportive relationships help us deal with our feelings.
People who get happier as they get older don’t leave their relationships to chance. They made calls every week. They eat dinner in peace. They show up at birthday parties and at the hospital. When they need to, they say they’re sorry. They got rid of some bad feelings. Don’t leave their relationships to chance.
You don’t have to have a lot of friends, though. Many people only need two or three good relationships. The most important thing is that both sides trust each other. Two or three good relationships with both sides trust.
5. They don’t see change as a threat; they see it as an opportunity to learn.
As we get older, our bodies change, our roles change, and some of our friends die or move away. People who don’t want things to change often get stuck and angry. People who can change more easily tend to feel better over time. People who can change more easily tend to feel better.
This is what psychologists mean by “psychological flexibility”: the ability to change your mind and actions when things don’t go as planned. People over 50 who have this trait are less likely to be stressed all the time. Psychological flexibility means the ability to change your mind.
Also, Psychology notes that people who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s had nine unusual mental advantages. Nine unusual mental advantages.
This could mean in practice:
- Learning how to use basic tech to keep in touch with family who live far away
- Instead of sticking to the same schedule, make new ones after you retire.
- Instead of giving up on moving altogether, try different kinds of exercise that are good for your joints as they change.
Sometimes change still hurts. The difference is that it becomes a teacher instead of just a threat. Becomes a teacher instead of just a threat.
6. They spend money on their health on a regular basis, not to make it perfect.
People often think of marathon runners in their 70s when they hear the phrase “healthy aging.” In truth, older people who are the happiest don’t usually try to get in shape. They focus on staying skilled so they can keep following their interests. Focus on staying skilled to keep following their interests.
The strongest proof comes from three main pillars:
- Regular exercise, such as swimming, walking, gardening, and light strength training
- Mostly whole foods, with lots of plants, enough protein, and not too much alcohol.
- Having a regular sleep schedule, like going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and not using screens late at night,
It’s not so much about living longer as it is about making the years you already have more fun. Making the years you already have more fun.
Making even small changes when you’re 50 or 65 can lower your risk of becoming disabled and make you feel better. The body can still change in surprising ways. Small changes when you’re 50 or 65 can lower your risk.
7. They are nice and respectful to themselves.
The last habit sounds nice, but it has sharp edges. People who get happier as they get older usually learn to treat themselves the same way they would treat a good friend. Treat themselves the same way as a good friend.
This means saying no to things that wear them out, asking for help without feeling bad about it, and not being so hard on themselves. Researchers say that self-compassion has three parts: being kind to yourself, knowing that everyone has problems, and not getting too attached to your own thoughts. Self-compassion has three parts and being kind to yourself.
Later in life, self-respect often means being braver than you were when you were 25 and taking care of your time and energy. Taking care of your time and energy.
This way of thinking also changes how other people act. If you respect your own boundaries, people are less likely to take you for granted or push you away. Respect your own boundaries so people are less likely to take you for granted.
How these habits change as time goes on
These habits are helpful on their own, but they work best when they work together. Being grateful makes relationships better. It’s easier to stay positive when things go wrong if you have friends. Having a positive attitude helps you stay motivated to keep going and eat well. Being healthier lowers stress, which makes it easier to be aware and open-minded. They work best when they work together.
Psychologists sometimes call this a “upward spiral.” A small change in mood or energy makes it easier to make the next healthy choice, which starts a chain reaction that changes a whole life over time. A small change in mood or energy starts a chain reaction.
A simple way to try this in real life
Consider someone in their late 50s who has to find a new job. If you don’t have these habits, you might think about it all the time, stay away from people, and get worse health. They could lean on two old friends, start a simple walking routine to deal with stress, keep a list of good things that happened each night, and be open to working part-time or volunteering. Lean on two old friends and start a simple walking routine.
It’s still true that you lost money. It still hurts to lose who you are. But the damage to your emotions is lessened, and there is space for a new, sometimes better, phase of life. The damage to your emotions is lessened.
Hedonic and eudaimonic happiness are two terms that need to be explained.
There are two types of happiness that researchers often talk about. Hedonic happiness is based on pleasure and comfort, like good food, fun trips, and laughing with friends. Eudaimonic happiness is deeper; it includes the idea that life has meaning and that a person is using their abilities in a way that matters. Two types of happiness and life has meaning.
The seven habits listed above usually work for both. Hedonic joy grows when you are grateful and have good relationships. Being aware, adaptable, and treating yourself well can lead to eudaimonic happiness. Most of the time, people who get happier as they get older have a mix of the two instead of going after one at the expense of the other. Hedonic joy grows when you are grateful and have good relationships.
If this is too much, where should I begin?
People don’t often take on seven habits at once. Scientists who study behavior say to begin with something very small. One more five-minute walk. Send one text of thanks every day. One meal without a phone. The goal is not to change everything by next month, but to slowly change course. Begin with something very small and slowly change course.
You can’t stop yourself from getting older, but you can change how you do it in a lot of ways that most people don’t realize. You can’t stop yourself from getting older but you can change how you do it.
Long-term studies on aging come to the same quiet conclusion: you can’t just happen to be happy when you’re old. It usually builds up over time, with each small choice. Long-term studies on aging show it usually builds up over time.
