I don’t think it’s up for debate: most of us wouldn’t mind looking a little younger.

Not in a desperate, trying-too-hard sort of way. Just healthier. More vibrant. Like we’ve still got some pep in our step and sparkle in our smile.

And here’s the truth I’ve learned over the years: looking younger often has less to do with potions and serums, and more to do with what you stop doing.

Some habits creep in so slowly, you don’t even notice them at first. But give them time, and they start to dull your spark. Drain your energy. Age your appearance in subtle but powerful ways.

Want to look more youthful in the next 60 days? You don’t need a miracle. Just start by ditching these habits.

1. You stop moving your body every day

When we think of youth, we often picture movement—walking, stretching, laughing, dancing.

But as people get older, they tend to move less. They sit more. And that sedentary lifestyle slowly stiffens the joints, weakens the muscles, and adds years to the way you look and feel.

Back when I first retired, I found myself spending too many mornings in my armchair. One day, my granddaughter asked, “Grandpa, do you still go for walks?”

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I started small. Just 10 minutes a day. Now, I walk every morning with Lottie (my dog) and it’s made a world of difference. Not just in how I look, but in how I feel.

2. You don’t drink enough water

I know, I know. Everyone says it. But most of us still don’t do it.

When you’re dehydrated, your skin looks dull. Your eyes look tired. And over time, it starts to show in your posture and energy.

Start sipping water throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just consistent.

3. You hold onto resentment

Stress ages us—and nothing stresses the system quite like holding onto old grudges.

Whether it’s a friend who wronged you years ago, or a sibling you don’t speak to anymore, that emotional weight takes a toll. On your sleep. On your posture. On your expression.

You don’t have to forgive overnight. But letting go, even just a little, lightens your emotional load. And that lightness? It shows.

4. You don’t laugh enough

Laughter’s not just good for the soul. It softens the face. It brightens the eyes. It brings energy back into your presence.

People who laugh easily often look more youthful—not because they’re wrinkle-free, but because they radiate vitality.

One of my neighbors is pushing 80 and has more laugh lines than anyone I know. And let me tell you—she looks more alive than most folks in their forties.

5. You eat like you did in your twenties

I’m not here to demonize comfort food. But if your diet is mostly processed snacks, sugar, and salt, it will catch up with you.

Back in the day, I could eat a burger and milkshake and feel fine. Now? I look and feel puffy the next day.

What we eat shows up in our skin, our eyes, our waistline, and even our attitude. More greens. More real food. Less stuff that comes in a bag.

6. You avoid the mirror

Here’s the thing: when people feel old, they start avoiding their reflection.

They stop grooming. Stop experimenting with clothes. They say, “What’s the point?”

But the point is: when you stop paying attention, you start fading from yourself.

Even just putting on a shirt you like, combing your hair a new way, or spritzing on a scent you used to wear—these little things reconnect you with the younger version of you still living inside.

7. You keep saying “I’m too old for that”

This one always breaks my heart.

People say it about trying new hobbies. About dating. About travel. About going to concerts. Even about dancing in their own kitchen.

You know what’s truly aging? That mindset.

I met a man last summer at a gardening workshop. He was 76 and just started learning how to grow bonsai trees. “I figured I needed something new to care about,” he said.

That’s youth.

8. You surround yourself with energy drainers

I don’t care how good your skincare routine is—if your daily company is made up of people who complain constantly, criticize others, and drain your spirit, it will show on your face.

Energy is contagious.

Choose to spend time with people who uplift, not deflate.

9. You skip sleep and call it normal

Lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you groggy. It leaves you looking older.

Dark circles. Puffy eyes. Slower reaction times. Low mood.

I know a lot of people who pride themselves on “getting by” on five hours a night. But over time, it takes a toll you can see.

Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a fountain of youth we keep walking past.

10. You stop doing things that make you feel beautiful

This one’s personal.

There was a time when I stopped putting much effort into how I looked. I wore the same three shirts. I didn’t trim my beard. I let myself blend into the background.

One afternoon, my daughter pulled me aside. “Dad, when you take care of yourself, you glow.”

She wasn’t talking about vanity. She was talking about pride. About energy. About presence.

So I got a haircut. I polished my shoes. I pulled out the watch I hadn’t worn in five years.

And you know what? People noticed. More importantly, I noticed.

Final thoughts

I’m not here to sell you on the idea that looking younger is everything. But I do believe that how we show up physically is often tied to how we’re feeling inside.

You want to look more youthful in 60 days?

Then start feeling more youthful. Let go of what weighs you down. Reclaim what makes you feel vibrant. And say goodbye to the habits that age you quietly, day after day.

You don’t need to chase youth. Just stop running from yourself.