7 tiny habits of boomers who make their 70s the best era of their life

There’s a vast difference between simply existing in your 70s and truly living in them.
This difference boils down to habits. Some boomers just let life happen to them, while others proactively embrace their golden years.
Embracing your 70s means adopting tiny habits that enhance your life, making this era the best it can be.
Successful boomers know that there are certain small habits that can make a big difference. And I’m here to share those secrets with you.
Get ready for a sneak peek into the lives of boomers who make their 70s the best era of their life. Here are the 7 tiny habits they swear by.
1) Daily exercise
It’s no secret that physical activity is crucial, regardless of your age.
And boomers who are rocking their 70s know the importance of regular exercise.
Often, they are faced with a choice – to give in to the temptation of a sedentary lifestyle or to keep moving. Guess which one they pick?
Let’s introduce you to the habit of daily exercise.
This doesn’t mean hitting the gym for intense workouts. It could be as simple as a brisk 30-minute walk, a few laps in the pool, or a yoga session.
Think about it. It’s the secret behind their vitality and youthful spirit, despite their age.
When faced with the choice between an active or passive lifestyle, these successful boomers always choose to keep moving.
2) Lifelong learning
I’ve always admired the curiosity and zest for knowledge in some boomers I know who are thriving in their 70s.
And I’ve noticed one thing they all have in common – they never stop learning.
Let me share a personal example. My neighbor, Mr. Johnson, is 72 and one of the most active individuals I know. He recently started taking Spanish lessons online.
“Why Spanish?”, I asked him one day. With a twinkle in his eye, he responded, “Why not? Learning keeps me young!”
That stuck with me. The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and staying updated can seem like a daunting task. But Mr. Johnson’s attitude towards learning is not only inspiring but also infectious.
So, if you want to make your 70s the best era of your life, don’t shy away from picking up a new book, enrolling in an online course, or even learning a new language!
After all, as Henry Ford put it, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.”
3) Embracing mindfulness
One of the most transformative habits I’ve seen successful boomers adopt in their 70s is mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present, engaged in the moment and accepting it without judgment. It’s about not letting your life pass you by while you’re lost in thought or distracted by the past or future.
In my book, “The Art of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Living in the Moment”, I delve deeper into how this practice can transform your life, especially in your later years.
This doesn’t mean you need to sit in a lotus position and meditate for hours. Mindfulness can be as simple as really tasting your morning coffee, listening to a friend without planning your response, or taking a moment to feel the breeze on your face.
What’s more, research supports the benefits of mindfulness for both mental and physical health, especially as we age. So why not give it a try?
If making your 70s the best era of your life is your goal, incorporating this tiny habit of mindfulness can make a significant difference.
4) Nurturing relationships
In this digital age, it’s so easy to feel isolated. Despite the numerous ways to connect, true connection often feels elusive.
One habit that successful boomers have mastered is the art of nurturing relationships. They understand that life’s richness often comes from the depth of their relationships, not the breadth.
It can be as simple as a regular phone call to an old friend, a handwritten letter to a loved one, or a weekly coffee meet-up with a neighbor.
Once, after a particularly challenging week, I spent an afternoon with my granddaughter. We laughed, baked cookies, and she taught me how to use TikTok. The joy from that afternoon carried me through many tough days thereafter.
In essence, if you want your 70s to be the best era of your life, make it a habit to nurture and cherish your relationships. After all, humans are social creatures. We thrive on interaction and connection.
5) Embracing solitude
Now, this might seem a bit counter-intuitive, especially after discussing the importance of nurturing relationships. But hear me out.
One habit that successful boomers have adopted in their 70s is embracing solitude.
Yes, relationships are important, but so is spending quality time with oneself. It’s in these quiet moments that you can reflect on your life, your dreams, and even find solutions to problems that have been bothering you.
In fact, solitude can be incredibly rejuvenating. It gives you space to breathe, to be with your thoughts, and to simply be.
Contrary to popular belief, solitude isn’t about being anti-social or lonely. It’s about appreciating your own company and using that time for introspection and personal growth.
If you want your 70s to be the best era of your life, don’t shy away from solitude. Embrace it. You might be surprised at how rewarding these moments of quiet can be.
6) Adopting a positive mindset
Aging is inevitable, but how we perceive it can make all the difference.
Boomers who make their 70s the best era of their life have one thing in common – a positive mindset.
They view aging as a natural part of life, not as a decline. They celebrate their experience and wisdom, rather than lamenting the passing years.
This positive mindset doesn’t mean they ignore the challenges that come with aging. Instead, they approach these challenges with resilience and optimism, believing in their ability to adapt and grow.
And this isn’t just anecdotal. Research supports the idea that a positive outlook can improve health and longevity.
So if you want to make your 70s your best years yet, work on cultivating a positive mindset. It might just be the game-changer you’re looking for.
7) Prioritizing health
If there’s one thing successful boomers in their 70s understand, it’s the importance of prioritizing health.
They know that without their health, all the other habits don’t mean much. This goes beyond just eating a balanced diet and staying active.
It’s about regular check-ups and listening to their body. It’s about managing stress, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated. It’s about treating their body with the respect it deserves.
Because at the end of the day, your body is your home. It’s been with you from the start and will be with you till the end.
Taking good care of it is not just a habit – it’s a necessity.
Final thoughts: It’s all about choice
The habits and preferences we adopt often have deep-rooted connections with the choices we make.
One such connection is the relationship between successful boomers in their 70s and the habit of choosing to make each day count.
This choice, prevalent in many who enjoy this era of their life, acts as a catalyst for their happiness and contentment, playing a pivotal role in various aspects of their life.
For these boomers, making mindful choices might be a key factor in their ability to make their 70s the best era of their life.
The choice to be active, to keep learning, to nurture relationships, to embrace solitude and positivity, and above all, to prioritize health, could potentially induce a sense of fulfillment and joy.
Whether it’s choosing to go for a walk, picking up a new book, spending time with loved ones or enjoying some quiet time with themselves, the power of choice might be enhancing their experience.
In my book, “The Art of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Living in the Moment”, I explore how the power of choice combined with mindfulness can transform your life at any age.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, you always have a choice. And these choices can shape not just your day or year, but your entire life. So why not choose to make every moment count?