I recently ran into my former neighbor at a café in Vila Madalena. Maria must be close to 65 now, but I swear she could pass for someone in her early forties. Her skin glowed, her movements were light and energetic, and she had this relaxed confidence that made her even more striking.
We sat down for coffee, and I couldn’t help but ask her secret. She laughed and said there wasn’t one magic trick. Instead, she pointed to a bunch of small daily choices she’s been making for decades. The conversation stuck with me because it wasn’t about expensive treatments or extreme routines. It was about what she didn’t do.
Here’s what I’ve noticed about people like Maria who seem to age in reverse.
1. They don’t skimp on sleep to get more done
I used to think cutting sleep was the answer to fitting everything in. Work, family time, personal projects. Something had to give, and sleep felt like the easiest sacrifice.
But the people who look decades younger than they are? They protect their sleep like it’s sacred. Maria told me she’s been going to bed at the same time for years, and she wakes up without an alarm most days.
Sleep is when your body repairs itself. Your skin regenerates, your brain clears out toxins, and your cells recover from daily stress. Skipping that process shows up on your face faster than you’d think. The bags under your eyes, the dullness in your skin, the fine lines that seem to deepen overnight. It all adds up.
I started prioritizing seven to eight hours a night, and the difference was real. My skin looked brighter, and I felt more patient with Emilia during the day. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
2. They don’t hold onto grudges or unresolved anger
Stress ages you. That’s not just something people say to sound wise. It’s backed by science.
Research from the American Psychological Association shows that chronic stress accelerates cellular aging and weakens your immune system. When you carry bitterness or anger for years, it shows up in your body. Tension in your jaw, tightness in your shoulders, and yes, even in the lines on your face.
People who age well tend to let things go faster. They don’t stew over old arguments or replay painful memories on a loop. They process what happened, learn from it, and move forward.
I’m not saying they’re saints who never get upset. They do. But they don’t let negative emotions set up camp in their minds. They clear the air, have the tough conversation, or simply decide the grudge isn’t worth the energy anymore.
3. They don’t eat the same way they did in their twenties
Your body changes as you age, and what worked for you at 25 won’t necessarily work at 50. The people who look young at 60 figured this out early and adjusted their eating habits accordingly.
They don’t follow extreme diets or cut out entire food groups. They just eat more whole foods, drink plenty of water, and pay attention to how different meals make them feel. They notice when sugar makes them sluggish or when skipping breakfast leaves them irritable by noon.
Maria mentioned she started eating more vegetables and lean proteins in her forties. Not because someone told her to, but because she felt better when she did. Her skin cleared up, her energy improved, and she stopped dealing with the afternoon crashes that used to drag her down.
I’ve noticed the same thing. When I cook fresh meals at home and skip the processed snacks, I feel lighter and more energized. My skin looks better too. It’s not about perfection. It’s about consistency.
4. They don’t avoid the sun completely, but they don’t worship it either
Living in São Paulo, I see both extremes. Some people avoid the sun entirely, staying indoors or covered up no matter what. Others spend hours baking on the beach without any protection.
The people who age well fall somewhere in the middle. They enjoy the sun, but they’re smart about it. They wear sunscreen daily, even when it’s cloudy. They seek shade during peak hours. They wear hats and sunglasses when they’re out for long stretches.
Sun damage is one of the biggest contributors to premature aging. It breaks down collagen, causes dark spots, and creates those deep wrinkles that are hard to reverse. But you don’t need to hide from the sun like a vampire. You just need to be intentional about protecting your skin.
I started using sunscreen every morning, even on days when I’m just walking Matias to work and running errands. It’s become as automatic as brushing my teeth.
5. They don’t smoke or hang around people who do
This one’s straightforward. Smoking destroys your skin from the inside out. It reduces blood flow, depletes oxygen, and breaks down collagen faster than almost anything else.
Every person I know who looks impossibly young has either never smoked or quit decades ago. There’s no way around it. If you want to age well, smoking has to go.
Even secondhand smoke has an impact. The toxins get into your system and damage your skin over time. People who prioritize their appearance tend to avoid environments where they’re constantly breathing in smoke.
6. They don’t sit still all day
Movement keeps you young. Not intense workouts at the gym five days a week, though that’s great if you enjoy it. Just regular, consistent movement throughout the day.
Maria walks every morning. She takes the stairs when she can. She stretches while watching TV in the evening. Nothing extreme, but she never stays in one position for too long.
The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week for adults. That’s just over 20 minutes a day. When you move regularly, your circulation improves, your muscles stay toned, and your posture stays strong. All of that contributes to looking and feeling younger.
I’ve built movement into my routine by walking Matias to work each morning and playing with Emilia throughout the day. It doesn’t feel like exercise, but it keeps me active and energized.
7. They don’t ignore their mental health
Your mind and your body are connected. When you’re anxious, depressed, or burnt out, it shows up physically. Your face looks tired, your shoulders slump, and you carry tension in ways that make you look older than you are.
People who age gracefully take care of their mental health just as seriously as their physical health. They talk to someone when they’re struggling. They set boundaries. They take breaks when they need them. They don’t push through stress and pretend everything’s fine until they crash.
I’ve learned to check in with myself regularly. Am I feeling overwhelmed? Do I need a quiet evening to recharge? Am I holding onto stress that I need to release? Those small check-ins help me stay balanced and avoid the kind of chronic stress that ages you fast.
8. They don’t overdo alcohol or caffeine
A glass of wine with dinner or a morning coffee isn’t going to age you overnight. But when alcohol or caffeine becomes a daily crutch, your body starts to show the effects.
Alcohol dehydrates your skin, disrupts your sleep, and causes inflammation. Over time, that leads to puffiness, redness, and fine lines. Caffeine can do the same if you’re drinking it all day long. It dehydrates you, interferes with your sleep, and keeps your body in a constant state of alertness.
The people who look young at 60 are mindful about how much they consume. They drink water throughout the day. They limit alcohol to special occasions. They don’t need three cups of coffee just to function.
I used to rely on coffee to get through the day, especially during those early months with Emilia. But I noticed my skin looked dull and my sleep was terrible. Cutting back helped more than I expected.
9. They don’t compare themselves to others constantly
Comparison steals your peace. It also makes you look older because it keeps you stressed, anxious, and dissatisfied.
People who age well have a quiet confidence about them. They’re not trying to keep up with anyone else’s timeline or standards. They’re focused on their own journey, their own goals, and their own version of success.
When you stop comparing yourself to others, you stop carrying the weight of unrealistic expectations. Your face relaxes. Your energy shifts. You become more present and at ease. That ease is what makes people look youthful, even as they get older.
10. They don’t skip moisturizer or basic skincare
You don’t need a ten-step skincare routine or expensive serums to age well. But you do need to take care of your skin consistently.
The people who look young at 60 have been moisturizing for decades. They cleanse their face every night. They use sunscreen every morning. They keep it simple, but they never skip it.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it shows everything. Stress, dehydration, poor sleep, sun damage. If you’re not taking care of it, all of that will show up faster than you’d like.
I keep my routine simple. Four steps in the morning, four at night. It takes less than five minutes, but it’s consistent. That consistency is what makes the difference over time.
Final thoughts
Looking young at 60 isn’t about luck or good genes, though those help. It’s about the daily choices you make and the habits you avoid. The people who age gracefully aren’t doing anything extreme. They’re just being consistent with the basics.
Sleep well. Manage your stress. Move your body. Protect your skin. Let go of what weighs you down.
It’s not flashy, but it works. And the best part? You can start today, no matter how old you are right now.
