Your 70s don’t have to be about winding down—they can be about becoming more you than ever before.
When we think about getting older, it’s easy to assume life naturally slows down—and maybe gets a little smaller.
But I’ve noticed something interesting in the people who genuinely thrive in their 70s: they’re not holding onto outdated ideas about what aging “should” look like. They’re actively choosing habits that make them feel alive, relevant, and deeply connected.
And just as important? They’ve said goodbye to a handful of small, sneaky habits that quietly drain joy, energy, and momentum.
If you want your 70s to be rich with meaning, growth, and good company—start by letting go of these behaviors.
1. Letting routines become ruts
There’s a difference between comfort and complacency.
I once met a retired teacher who told me her entire week was scheduled around TV shows. Same programs, same meals, same exact walks. She wasn’t unhappy, exactly. But she felt stagnant. “I feel like I’m just running out the clock,” she admitted.
Tiny tweaks—like learning a new recipe, taking a different walking route, or joining a local class—can infuse novelty into your day. Neuroscience backs this up, too.
Engaging in unfamiliar tasks boosts dopamine levels and cognitive flexibility, especially in older adults.
Your routines should ground you, not trap you.
2. Saying yes out of guilt
People-pleasing doesn’t age out. In fact, it can become even more ingrained as we grow older—especially if we’re used to being the caregiver or the "reliable one" in the family.
But overcommitting to things you don’t truly want to do—just to avoid disappointing others—drains energy that could be used for things that light you up.
In your 70s, protecting your time isn’t selfish. It’s essential. It’s okay to say, “Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m going to pass.” Boundaries create space for joy.
3. Avoiding technology altogether
I get it—tech can feel overwhelming. But when you shut it out completely, you also shut yourself off from connection.
One woman I volunteer with at our local market recently asked me to show her how to use FaceTime so she could read bedtime stories to her granddaughter across the country. Her eyes lit up when it worked. “I feel like I’m in the future,” she said, laughing.
You don’t have to master every app, but learning the basics can dramatically reduce isolation and open new doors for learning and community.
4. Ignoring small aches and pains
Brushing off discomfort might feel tough and resilient—but it can also be quietly destructive.
That nagging knee pain? The shortness of breath you keep blaming on age? They’re signals, not background noise.
Tiny declines often go unchecked until, eventually, they snowball into crisis.
Checking in with your body, staying curious about changes, and being proactive with your health doesn’t make you fragile—it makes you wise.
Your 70s can absolutely be vibrant, but only if you’re tending to the machine that gets you there.
5. Making aging the punchline
“I’m just old.” “I forget everything these days.” “My knees are shot—welcome to 70!”
We say these things to laugh it off, but they quietly reinforce a mindset that we’re in decline.
Of course, aging comes with changes. But when you constantly frame your age as a problem, you limit yourself—and invite others to do the same.
I once heard someone at a book club say, “I’m too old to start anything new.” That was followed by silence... until another woman in her 70s replied, “Funny, I just started oil painting last week.” Don’t narrate yourself into a corner.
6. Eating purely for convenience
As our schedules loosen and metabolism shifts, it’s tempting to default to what’s easy: toast, takeout, or whatever’s in the freezer.
But your body still needs fuel—especially if you want to maintain strength, brain health, and energy.
A Mediterranean-style diet (rich in whole grains, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins) is strongly associated with longevity and reduced cognitive decline.
Food is not just sustenance in your 70s. It’s preventative medicine.
7. Letting friendships fade
It doesn’t take a dramatic falling-out for a friendship to wither—just neglect.
A quick check-in turns into months of silence. Lunch plans get postponed until next season. And slowly, your social circle starts to shrink.
But the people I’ve met who are most alive in their 70s? They make the effort. They initiate. They call. They show up. Even when it’s inconvenient.
I've seen it time and time again: Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism in reducing lifespan.
Tiny habit to drop? Waiting for others to reach out first.
8. Skipping movement because it’s “too late to start”
If you haven’t been active for decades, starting now might feel intimidating. But it’s never too late.
I once taught a beginner yoga class for older adults, and a man in his early 70s showed up, visibly nervous. By week three, he was beaming. “I didn’t think my body could feel this good again,” he told me.
Movement doesn’t need to be intense. A brisk walk, gentle strength training, swimming, or dancing in the kitchen all count. The goal isn’t to be a triathlete—it’s to keep moving so you can keep doing.
9. Letting curiosity shrink
When’s the last time you tried something new, asked a big question, or got lost in a topic just because?
Stagnation starts when curiosity stops.
I know a retired engineer who’s teaching himself to play the ukulele through YouTube videos. Another woman I met recently has started writing travel essays—even though she hasn’t left her hometown in years. “I write as if I’m there,” she told me, “and it transports me.”
Curiosity isn’t about productivity. It’s about staying mentally alive.
10. Saying “it’s too late” for your dreams
This one’s personal for me.
My mom went back to school in her 60s. In her 70s, she published her first children’s book. She said it was something she’d dreamed of as a young woman but never thought she was good enough.
I watched her transform—not into someone new, but into someone more fully herself. It reminded me that dreams don’t expire. We just forget to dust them off.
If you’ve been carrying around a quiet longing—to write, to travel, to mentor, to learn—don’t let it fade. The best time to begin may have been earlier. The second-best time? Now.
Final thoughts
Your 70s don’t have to be about winding down—they can be about becoming more you than ever before.
But that only happens when you’re intentional. When you let go of habits that dim your spark and replace them with choices that energize, connect, and challenge you.
Start small. Don’t overhaul your life. Just begin noticing: what tiny habits am I holding onto that don’t serve me anymore?
Then release them. One by one. Make space for something better.
Because the best years of your life don’t arrive by accident.
They’re built—one thoughtful choice at a time.
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