If you want your 60s to be some of the best years of your life, say goodbye to these 5 behaviors – VegOut

Looking at my parents navigate their sixties was eye-opening. 

Some of their friends seem to be absolutely thriving – traveling, starting new hobbies, deepening relationships, and genuinely enjoying what many consider to be their golden years.

Others? Well, let’s just say they’re struggling a bit more.

The difference isn’t always health or money, though those certainly play a role. It’s often about the behaviors and mindsets they carried into this decade of life.

I’m not sixty yet, but watching this play out has got me thinking about what I can do now to set myself up for success later. Prevention is better than the cure as they say.

With this in mind, today we dive into five behaviors that might be worth ditching if you want your sixties to be some of the best years of your life.

1. Holding onto a negative view of aging

Ever notice how some people start complaining about getting older the moment they hit 30?

They’re constantly talking about aches and pains, lamenting lost youth, and treating every birthday like a funeral.

Turns out this mindset can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yale psychologist and author Becca Levy led a study of 660 older Ohioans about their attitudes toward aging. The conclusion? Those with a more positive outlook went on to live, on average, 7.5 years longer.

Seven and a half years! That’s not just extra time – that’s potentially extra quality time.

Your attitude about aging literally shapes your experience of it.

2. Living without purpose

“Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to,” said pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick .

This hits hard when I look around at the retirees I know. The ones who are thriving? They didn’t just stop working – they found something meaningful to fill that space.

My neighbor Linda retired from teaching and immediately threw herself into literacy programs at the local library. She lights up talking about helping adults learn to read.

Meanwhile, another friend’s dad retired with no plan and has spent three years watching TV and complaining about being bored.

Research backs this up, too. For instance, in one study, older adults who had volunteered reported significantly better self-rated health than their non-volunteering peers. They also described feeling notably less depressed and isolated compared to those who did not engage in volunteer work.

Purpose doesn’t have to mean changing the world. It could be mentoring young people, tending a garden, writing that novel, or mastering a craft.

The key is having something that gets you up in the morning.

3. Neglecting real relationships

“Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies; they protect our brains,” said Robert Waldinger, Director of Harvard Study On Adult Development.

The keyword? “Good”. 

I’ve mentioned this before, but we’re living in an age of surface-level connections, and that becomes dangerous as we age. Liking someone’s vacation photos isn’t the same as having coffee and really talking about life.

My parents have a group of friends they’ve maintained for decades. They don’t just text – they show up for each other. When my mom had surgery last year, these friends organized meal trains and daily check-ins without being asked.

Contrast that with people who spend their golden years isolated, scrolling through social media, wondering why they feel lonely despite being “connected” to hundreds of people online.

Building deep relationships takes effort and vulnerability. It means having uncomfortable conversations, showing up when it’s inconvenient, and prioritizing face-to-face time over digital interactions.

Start investing in those relationships now.

4. Carrying chronic stress without addressing it

Here’s a fact that might surprise you: Stress isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s literally aging you from the inside out. Yes, researchers have noted that “people exposed to chronic stress age rapidly”.

Think about it: that coworker who’s been grinding 80-hour weeks for decades often looks older than their actual age, while someone who’s learned to manage stress tends to have that glow about them.

I watch some people approach their sixties still carrying the same stress patterns they’ve had for years. They’re worried about everything, constantly in fight-or-flight mode, and treating every minor inconvenience like a crisis.

My mom used to be like this until she started meditating in her fifties. Not the Instagram-worthy kind – just ten minutes of quiet breathing each morning. The change was remarkable. She stopped sweating the small stuff and started enjoying life more.

Whether it’s meditation, therapy, regular exercise, or simply learning to say no to unnecessary commitments, finding healthy ways to manage stress isn’t optional if you want to thrive later in life.

Your future self will thank you for learning this skill now.

5. Staying stuck in your comfort zone

When was the last time you tried something that made you genuinely nervous?

I’m talking about the kind of nervous excitement that comes with learning a new skill, meeting new people, or exploring unfamiliar territory. Not the stress-induced anxiety we just talked about, but the good kind of discomfort that signals growth.

Too many people hit middle age and essentially stop trying new things. They stick to the same routines, the same friends, the same hobbies, and wonder why life feels stagnant.

My dad’s guitar lessons are a perfect example of this. At 62, he could have easily said he was too old to learn an instrument. Instead, he embraces the awkwardness of being a beginner again. He laughs at his mistakes and celebrates small wins like finally nailing a chord progression.

The brain needs novelty to stay sharp. Your confidence needs challenges to stay strong. Your sense of adventure needs feeding to stay alive.

Whether it’s taking a cooking class, learning a language, traveling somewhere new, or even just striking up conversations with strangers, staying curious and open to new experiences is what keeps you young.

Comfort zones are comfortable, but nothing grows there.

The bottom line

Your sixties don’t have to be about decline, limitation, or just getting by.

The people I see absolutely crushing this decade of life? They started preparing years earlier – not just financially, but mentally and emotionally. They ditched the behaviors that drag us down and cultivated the ones that lift us up.

Start making those choices now. Your future self is counting on it.