Your 60s could be the best years of your life if you say goodbye to these 5 habits

I’m not in my 60s yet, but I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

Why? Because I’m watching my parents move toward and through this decade of their lives, and it’s made me reflect on what it really takes to thrive during these years.

Look, there’s this narrative that once you hit your 60s, life starts winding down. That your best years are behind you. But I don’t buy it, and the research doesn’t either.

The truth is, your 60s could genuinely be some of the best years of your life—if you’re willing to let go of certain habits that no longer serve you.

Today, I want to share five habits that, according to research, can make all the difference between merely aging and truly thriving.

Let’s dive in.

1. Neglecting social connections

Here’s something that hit me hard: watching how my parents’ social circles have changed over the years.

Some of their friends moved away. Others got caught up in health issues. And slowly, without really noticing, their world got smaller.

But staying socially connected isn’t just about avoiding boredom—it’s actually crucial for your wellbeing as you get older.

The World Health Organization has pointed out that for older adults, maintaining social connections is super important for cutting down on loneliness and isolation. At this stage of life, meaningful social activities can really boost your mental health, life satisfaction, and overall quality of life. They’ve even found it helps reduce depressive symptoms.

Think about it. We spend our 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s building careers, raising families, and staying busy. But in our 60s, when work becomes less demanding or we retire altogether, suddenly we have this gap.

If we don’t actively work to fill it with genuine human connection, isolation can creep in fast.

So what’s the lesson?

Don’t wait for social connections to happen to you. Be proactive. Join that book club. Take up that hobby you’ve been putting off. Reach out to old friends. Make new ones.

Your future self will thank you.

2. Skipping exercise 

This one is huge, and the science behind it is pretty mind-blowing.

Professor Larry Tucker’s research shows that people who regularly do vigorous exercise can have cells that are up to nine years younger than folks who live sedentary lives. Yes, you read that right—nine years younger at the cellular level.

Basically, staying active could literally make you younger from the inside out.

I’ll be honest, I’ve always been someone who prioritizes exercise. Whether it’s hitting the golf course, working out, or just staying active, movement has been a non-negotiable part of my life.

But watching my parents navigate this, I’ve realized that maintaining that habit gets tougher as you age. Joints ache more. Recovery takes longer. It’s easier to just sit on the couch.

It’s not just about looking good or fitting into your jeans. It’s about maintaining independence, keeping your mind sharp, and yes, potentially adding years to your life.

I am not saying you need to become a marathon runner or hit the gym for two hours a day. Even regular walks, swimming, or gentle strength training can make a massive difference.

The key is consistency and finding something you actually enjoy enough to stick with.

3. Letting stress take over

Let me paint a picture for you.

You’ve spent decades grinding—building a career, raising kids, managing a household, dealing with all of life’s curveballs. By the time you hit your 60s, you might think you’ve earned the right to finally relax.

But for many people, that stress doesn’t just disappear. It becomes chronic.

And chronic stress? It’s an absolute killer.

Researchers have found that people who are exposed to chronic stress age rapidly. Letting go of chronic stress isn’t just good for your mind—it actually slows down the aging process in your body.

Think about that. Stress is literally aging you faster.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Easier said than done, Mal.”

And you’re right. Stress doesn’t just vanish because you want it to. But recognizing it and actively working to manage it is the first step.

Maybe it’s through meditation, which admittedly I’ve struggled with. Maybe it’s through spending time in nature. Maybe it’s learning to let go of things you can’t control—a lesson I’ve written about many times because it’s helped me immensely.

Whatever works for you, make it a priority. Your body—and your mind—will thank you.

4. Underestimating the importance of purpose 

Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: what happens when the thing that gave your life structure for 40+ years suddenly disappears?

I’m talking about retirement.

For many people, work provides more than just a paycheck. It provides identity, purpose, routine, and social connection. When that’s gone, some people struggle to find meaning.

But here’s the good news: research shows that having a sense of purpose in retirement is linked to life satisfaction, physical health, and longevity. 

Notice what I said there: it’s not about stopping work, it’s about finding what gives you meaning.

For some people, that might be volunteering at a local charity. For others, it might be finally writing that book they’ve always talked about. Maybe it’s mentoring younger people in their field. Or perhaps it’s dedicating time to a passion project that got pushed aside during their career-building years.

The specifics don’t matter as much as having something that makes you wake up in the morning with a sense of purpose.

5. Having a negative attitude about aging

Alright, this last one might be the most important of all.

Yale psychologist Becca Levy ran a study with 660 older people in Ohio and found something remarkable: those who had a more positive outlook on aging lived an average of 7.5 years longer.

Let that sink in. Your attitude about getting older literally affects how long you live.

It’s wild when you think about it. We live in a culture that’s absolutely obsessed with youth. Anti-aging creams. Botox. The message is clear: getting older is something to fight against, to be ashamed of.

But what if we flipped that script?

What if, instead of dreading each birthday, we embraced the wisdom, freedom, and opportunities that come with age?

I’m not saying we should lie to ourselves and pretend aging doesn’t come with challenges. Of course it does. But there’s a massive difference between acknowledging those challenges and defining your entire existence by them.

The people I know who are thriving in their 60s and beyond are the ones who see this decade not as a decline, but as a new chapter. They’re curious. They’re engaged. They’re excited about what’s next.

And honestly? That’s the kind of mindset I want to cultivate for myself as I get older, and the kind I hope my parents embrace as they move through this decade.

The bottom line

Look, I’m not going to sit here and pretend that your 60s will automatically be the best years of your life just because you want them to be.

Life doesn’t work that way.

But what I do know is this: the habits we keep and the ones we let go of make a massive difference in how we experience this decade.

Staying socially connected, keeping your body moving, managing stress, finding purpose, and maintaining a positive outlook on aging—these aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re essentials backed by solid research.

Your 60s can be a time of freedom, growth, and genuine joy. But only if you’re willing to do the work to make them that way.

So whether you’re approaching this decade yourself or, like me, watching loved ones navigate it, I hope this gives you something to think about.

As always, I hope you found some value in this post.

Until next time.