Wholeness Healing Center

Habits to Develop to Age Well

There’s an old adage: “We teach what we need to learn.” Perhaps, in writing, we explore what we most need to consider. As a baby boomer, I’m increasingly aware of how quickly life moves—and how suddenly we find ourselves in the “older generation.” With that realization comes a natural reassessment of priorities.

While I still enjoy my work, I’ve made intentional adjustments. I now follow a weight training program three times a week, even though it cuts into work hours. I take one day off completely and work one day a week from home via telehealth. I’m moving a bit slower, with more methodical choices, and I find this pace a welcome transition.

Other priorities include spending time with the people I enjoy and zeroing in on self-care. And let me say this clearly: self-care is not for the faint of heart. It takes real time and energy—and that need often grows as we age. Or maybe it’s simply that we finally realize how important it is, so we prioritize it.

To explore this further, I turned to an article by Laura Marbas, titled “Why Aging Is an Art—and How You Can Master It.” (Marbas, 2025). The author outlines habits that help people age well, many of which resonated deeply with me. I’ve taken her core ideas and added reflections and action steps that you might find helpful as you shape your own path toward aging with intention and grace.

Habits to Age Well
1. See aging as a privilege, not a curse.
Those who age well embrace it. They see this life stage as an opportunity for growth, wisdom, and deeper relationships. They own their accumulated experiences and lessons.
Action step: Celebrate your birthday as a milestone of mastery. Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown in the past year.

2. Move daily and with purpose.
Aging with grace means recognizing that movement isn’t optional. Walk, lift, stretch and stay strong. As my exercise coaches say, “Motion is lotion for the body.”
Action step: Choose movement that feels good, not just what you “should” do. For me, pilates became a nurturing and sustainable practice. It offered me continued focus on strong core strength, but it was a gentle practice of flexibility and strength.

3. Focus on muscle development, not the number on the scale.
Building strength is essential to maintain independence and quality of life. Use it or lose it, right?
Action step: Start resistance training, even if it’s just with bodyweight. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but don’t skip it.

4. Nourish your body instead of dieting.
Prioritize hydration, whole foods, fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Action step: Shift your focus from restriction to inclusion. Add more vibrant, nourishing foods to your plate each day.

5. Protect your brain like your life depends on it—because it does.
Learn new skills, stay socially connected, and prioritize sleep, stress management, and brain-boosting nutrition.
Action step: Challenge yourself to learn something new, whether it’s a hobby, a language, or a topic you’ve always wanted to explore.

6. Have a purpose that gets you out of bed.
Purpose fuels life. Those who age vibrantly are often guided by something meaningful.
Action step: Ask yourself what excites you and makes you feel alive. Experiment. Reconnect with passions or explore new ones.

7. Master your stress response.
Chronic stress accelerates aging. Cultivating calm is not just helpful, it’s necessary.
Action step: Build daily habits that soothe your nervous system. This could include mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation, or prayer. Even five minutes counts.

8. Nurture relationships like your health depends on it, because it does.
Loneliness has been shown to be more harmful than smoking. Strong social ties are essential.
Action step: Schedule time to connect—whether it’s coffee, a walk, or a phone call. Relationships are powerful medicine.

9. Make sleep a sacred priority.
Good sleep is restorative and critical to healthy aging. Check out my previous article on how napping can help with restorative sleep needs. (https://wholenesshealing.com/wholeness-healing-today/dont-lose-sleep-over-napping/)
Action step: Establish a calming nighttime routine and create a restful environment. Treat your sleep space as a sanctuary.

10. Stay open-minded and curious.
Growth doesn’t stop with age. In fact, it can deepen. Stay flexible in thinking and open to new ideas and experiences.
Action step: Each day, seek to approach something with curiosity and without judgment. Read, explore, or listen to a new perspective.

11. Seek Mental Health Support
Put mental health on the priority list. Aging brings a lot into our lives. We experience life transitions, grief, lonliness, unresolved trauma, health issues, or we may simply desire to better understand ourselves and our lives and be the best we can be. Therapy isn’t just for times of crisis. It can be a proactive step towards maintaining resilience, developing deeper self-awareness, and/or enhancing quality of life. Put mental health care as part of overall self-care. (National Council on Aging, 2024)
Action step: Take a moment to reflect on your current emotional well-being. If you notice persistent stress, sadness, or a desire for support, consider scheduling an appointment with a mental health provider.

Yes, there is a lot to consider—and incorporate—into this next stage of life. Yes, it takes time and effort. However, making yourself a priority and building habits that support your well-being can significantly enhance your quality of life and longevity.

The truth is, aging is a gift. It allows us to grow deeper, live fuller, and embrace who we are becoming. So let’s honor this stage by investing in ourselves—body, mind, and spirit—and by recognizing the beauty and wisdom that come with the years..

Works Cited:
Marbas, L (2025, March 1). 10 Powerful habits of people who age well – why aging is an art- and how you can master it. Retrieved from The Habits Healers Mindset.
National Council on Aging. (2024, September 11). 7 ways older adults can manage their mental health. Retrieved from https://www.ncoa.org/article/7-ways-older-adults-can-manage-their-mental-health/: https://www.ncoa.org/

Tags: Aging gracefully, habits to develop with aging, steps to work on with aging