26 Surprising Habits of Happy Older Women (#18 Might Catch You Unprepared)
The beauty of aging is that we get to take time to reflect on who we are and what we want out of the rest of our life. It can be a time when our lives blossom. Here are some observations from the many conversations I have had with aging women.
The thoughts below are just thoughts. Happiness is experienced in the moment. For a thought to become a habit, it requires awareness, intention and dedicated action. If you choose to embrace any of these thoughts and make them habits, it will definitely create space for a happy and thriving life.
1. They feel comfortable in their own skin. They have “come into their own being.”
Read It’s Ok to Be a Butterfly.
2. They never stop learning.
Read 8 Top-Rated Free Online Classes for Women Over 50.
3. They feed their intellect and soul with a new, beautiful awareness of themselves and the world, every day.
4. They don’t sweat the small stuff. They see the larger picture.
Read Why the Search for Perfection After 60 Is the Enemy of Getting Things Done.
5. They are always trying new things. They don’t believe in the saying that “curiosity killed the cat!”
Read Are Your Passions Changing?
6. They appreciate “alone time.” They understand the difference between lonely and alone.
Read Alone But Not Lonely, Why It’s So Important.
7. They live for the journey, not the destination.
Read How Life Is a Journey of Just Walking Each Other Home.
8. They spend time in nature because they know nature is a reflection of their own beauty and gives them a larger context in which they live and love.
Read Did You Know You Are More Beautiful When You Are Outside in Nature.
9. They know the value of friendship and are always growing and seeking new friends.
Read The Bonds of Women’s Friendships: A Testament to Strength, Support, and Lifelong Evolution.
10. They are not afraid of emotions. They feel deeply and definitely don’t see emotions as a sign of weakness.
Read The Art of Owning Your Emotions After 60.
11. They do not sit in judgment of others or of themselves.
Read Stoicism: A Timeless Philosophy for a Balanced Life.
12. They understand the sacred nature in each person that makes up their world.
Read Connection Not Perfection: How to Forge Bonds with the Young People You Love.
13. They do not spend their time on relationships where people do not nurture and nourish one another.
Read How Estranged Mothers Can Find Acceptance and Healing.
14. They have healthy personal boundaries, not walls.
15. They respect their children’s boundaries and admire their successes.
Read What Are Boundaries and How Do We Set Them?
16. They do not blame others because in doing so they give away their power.
Read Empowered Aging: How to Feel Fabulous as We Grow Older.
17. They seek love.
Read How to Date Differently in 2025 So You Can Find Love.
18. They take care of their bodies and leave the shame of not having the ‘perfect’ figure for the younger generations. If possible, they are physically active.
Read Fitness After 50 Isn’t About the Number on a Scale.
19. They are invested in the greater good and seek to make some kind of contribution in the world.
Read Volunteering Abroad Destinations for Active Women Over 50.
20. They know their wisdom and speak it.
Read Intuitive Journaling – Finding Your Own Wisdom.
21. They have a creative aspect of their life – be it writing, music, a hobby or craft.
22. They don’t sweat the small stuff. They always trust they will find a way through or around a troubling issue.
Read Tips for Making the Right Decisions at Life’s Crossroads.
23. They understand that it is okay to ask for help.
Read Do You Have Trouble Asking for Help?
24. They see the glass as half-full and not half-empty.
Read How to Be Grateful for All of Life’s Lessons.
25. They laugh, sing, dance, read and celebrate every moment of their life.
Read Rediscovering the Joy of Dance.
26. They have a vision and intention for each day, week, year and decade. They set an intention each day for thriving.
Read I’ve Decided to Set My New Year Intentions.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you have habits that bring you happiness? Which ones are you especially proud of? Please share in the comments below.
Tags Finding Happiness
I like my hobby of candy-making in the summer time and goodie baking in the winter time. I expecially enjoy the way I display gifts of my craft. marlenejking17@gmail.com by the way I will turn 86 years old this December!! I say “come on age 90, it’s gonna be a wild ride!! Marlene
This is so powerful, thank you! I’m struggling to manage distressing thoughts, but I gather insight & hope from these articles. My deep thanks & gratitude!
I love this list as well. As I went through it I noted some things I need to work on and others describe me as I am. Very Blessed. I love reading your posts.
At 60, I retired from Nursing and decided to take care of me! Started out walking,lost 60 pounds and was running 5 miles a day. Four years later, I have to readjust do to a back that says “nope”. D and L4. And L5. Gotta get creative. I still plan on being active with my “visiting angel” when I get to “old age” .
#17. They seek love. How about, “they give love.” Do at least one thing every day that brightened the day for someone else. A frazzled store clerk: “You have such pretty hair.”
It doesn’t even have to be true. One day, a store clerk admired my tiger’s-eye necklace
(from a garage sale). I took it off and put it around her neck. It is these small kindnesses that make a difference in our lives.