Here’s something I’ve noticed lately: some of my friends in their sixties are absolutely thriving, while others seem to be slowly shutting down, already talking like their best years are behind them. The difference? It’s not about money or health conditions—it’s about the habits they’re holding onto.
After retiring a few years back, I’ve had plenty of time to observe what works and what doesn’t as we approach our seventies. And let me tell you, there are some behaviors we need to ditch right now if we want to feel truly alive in the decade ahead.
1. Stop saying “I’m too old for that”
Every time you utter these words, you’re building your own prison. I hear it constantly at coffee with friends: “I’m too old to learn technology,” “I’m too old to travel somewhere exotic,” “I’m too old to start a new hobby.”
Really? Says who?
The moment you decide you’re too old is the moment you start dying inside. Your brain doesn’t suddenly stop working at sixty. In fact, research shows we can learn new skills at any age—it just might take us a bit longer. So what?
When I got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in my late fifties, I could have said I was too old to change my eating habits and exercise routine. Instead, I learned about nutrition, took up swimming, and completely transformed my health. Age had nothing to do with it.
2. Stop avoiding technology like it’s the plague
Look, I get it. Technology can be intimidating. But here’s the thing: avoiding it is isolating you from the world and from younger generations, including your own grandchildren.
My grandkids range from three to eleven, and you know what? They love showing me new apps and games. It’s become our thing. Sure, I’m slower at picking things up than they are, but that’s not the point. The point is connection.
Plus, technology opens doors. Video calls with distant relatives, online learning platforms, digital books when your eyes aren’t what they used to be—these aren’t just conveniences, they’re lifelines to staying engaged with the world.
3. Stop letting fear dictate your decisions
“What if I fall?” “What if something happens?” “What if I can’t handle it?”
These questions are keeping you stuck. Yes, we need to be realistic about our limitations, but there’s a huge difference between being cautious and being paralyzed by fear.
Three years ago, I lost my closest friend to cancer. You know what his biggest regret was? All the trips he didn’t take, all the risks he didn’t take because he was saving them for “someday.” Well, someday never came.
That loss changed how I think about making time for people and experiences. Now, when fear creeps in, I ask myself: “What’s the worst that could happen?” Usually, it’s not as bad as missing out on life.
4. Stop neglecting friendships
After retirement, it’s easy to let friendships slide. You’re not seeing coworkers daily anymore, everyone’s busy with their own lives, and before you know it, months go by without meaningful social contact.
This is dangerous territory. Isolation is one of the biggest health risks for people our age. I’ve seen it happen—people retire and gradually become hermits, then wonder why they feel depressed and disconnected.
Make the effort. Call that friend you haven’t talked to in months. Join a club. Volunteer. Say yes to invitations even when you’d rather stay on the couch. Your seventies will be infinitely richer with strong social connections.
5. Stop living in the past
“Back in my day…” How often do we say this? While nostalgia has its place, constantly comparing everything to how things used to be is exhausting for everyone, including yourself.
The world has changed. Some changes are good, some not so much, but dwelling on how things were forty years ago won’t bring them back. It’ll just make you bitter and disconnected from the present.
I’ve mentioned this before, but acceptance doesn’t mean you have to like everything about modern life. It just means you stop wasting energy fighting reality.
6. Stop ignoring your health until something breaks
We’re notorious for this, aren’t we? Especially men. We ignore symptoms, skip check-ups, and pretend everything’s fine until we can’t ignore it anymore.
This is playing Russian roulette with your seventies. Small problems become big problems when left unchecked. That weird pain you’ve been ignoring? That shortness of breath you’ve been dismissing? Get them checked out.
Prevention and early intervention are your best friends now. Regular check-ups, blood work, dental visits—these aren’t signs of weakness or old age. They’re investments in quality of life.
7. Stop postponing joy
How many times have you thought, “I’ll do that when I have more time,” or “Maybe next year when things settle down”?
News flash: things don’t settle down. There’s always something—health concerns, family obligations, financial worries. If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to pursue what brings you joy, you’ll be waiting forever.
Want to learn to paint? Start now. Dream of seeing the Northern Lights? Book the trip. Been thinking about reconnecting with an old flame from high school? Pick up the phone.
8. Stop being stubborn about asking for help
Independence is great, but stubborn pride will rob you of years of vitality. Can’t read the menu anymore? Get reading glasses. Struggling with yard work? Hire someone or ask for help. Feeling unsteady on your feet? Use a walking stick.
These aren’t admissions of defeat; they’re smart adaptations that let you keep doing what you love. The alternative—falling, injuring yourself, or giving up activities entirely—is what really ages you.
9. Stop thinking your learning days are over
Your brain needs challenges to stay sharp. When you stop learning, you start declining. It’s that simple.
This doesn’t mean you need to get a PhD, but you do need to keep your mind active. Learn a language, take up chess, join a book club, audit a college course, master a new recipe. The subject doesn’t matter as much as the mental engagement.
My wife and I recently started taking dance lessons after thirty-eight years of marriage. Are we good at it? Absolutely not. Are we having fun and keeping our brains and bodies active? You bet.
Closing thoughts
The difference between feeling alive at seventy and feeling like you’re just marking time isn’t about luck or genetics. It’s about the choices you make right now, in your sixties.
Every habit you break, every fear you face, every connection you nurture is an investment in a vibrant future. Your seventies don’t have to be about decline—they can be about discovery, connection, and joy.
So here’s my question for you: which of these habits will you tackle first?
