50 Behaviors that Enhance Your Life After 50

I’m five years into my 50s and there are some things I’ve learned in the last five years that are helping me live better now than when I was in my 30s and 40s.

Below are 50 behaviors that have helped me in my fifth decade and I believe they can help my contemporaries too —

Smile at a stranger twice a week — Smiling opens up the opportunity to meet someone new and possibly develop a new relationship.
Initiate a conversation with someone you don’t know once a month — This is an extension of #1. Be intentional about building a new relationship with someone you don’t. This is fairly easy if you’re active on a social media platform — just DM to get started.
Laugh at yourself once a week — We all do silly (sometimes thoughtless) things. Don’t beat yourself up, take a moment to chuckle and move on
Learn both sides of an issue once a quarter — The US is becoming very divisive both socially and politically. I think that if people some learning what others think it would go a long way toward building bridges towards compromise.
Explore a new area of your town/state bimonthly — Your mind expands when you learn new things. There are a bunch of great ways to do that exploring unknown areas of your city/state is an easy and fun way to do that.
Live below your financial means — Develop the discipline to save and invest rather than spend and consume.
Try a new recipe once a week — Cooking fresh food rather than going out to eat is a way to become creative and break the cycle of eating the same old things.
Volunteer at a charitable organization once a month — Connect with your innate desire to help others and benefit your community
Read a nonfiction book every month — Commit to learning by reading
Read a fiction book every month — Commit to entertainment by reading
Go on a nature hike once a week — Exploring nature through a hike is one of the best things you can do to clear your head, get some exercise, and appreciate the beauty of our planet.
Every night before you go to bed write down what you experienced and what you accomplished — Capturing your daily experiences and thoughts is a great way to create a record of your life (who knows maybe that record could become a book)
Write down what you’re thankful for every day — There are a lot of things in your life to be thankful for (even if you don’t think so right now) — create a record by writing them down.
Visit a new state or country once a year — The world is a big place — make it smaller by seeing more of it.
Have a conversation with a distant friend or relative each month — Connect with friends and family members more frequently. Nurture those relationships and you may be surprised as they grow.
Exercise for 30 mins three times per week — As we get older our bodies need more care. Regular exercise is a great way to maintain and enhance your body as we age.
Eat fruit and vegetables every day — Fruit and raw and/or steamed vegetables are great for your diet and they taste pretty god too.
Drink 8 glasses of water each day — Drink more water and less of everything else (i.e., alcohol, soda, juice, etc.)
Watch the sunrise once a week — get up early to watch and appreciate the sunrise
Donate 10% of your income to charity monthly — Give to others that are less fortunate — it helps them and you.
Establish goals annually — at the beginning of each year create goals for what you achieve.
Track your progress to your goals monthly — Track your progress on the goals every month. Include what you accomplished and didn’t work on and determine how you’ll get back on track.
Don’t dwell on setbacks — We all fail. Don’t let failure stop you from ding what you want.
Become an optimist — Optimism represents hope — and hope is the foundation for creating a thriving life.
Stop planning to retire — Skip retirement. It’s a bad idea for a lot of reasons. Find or create work you love and do it until you no longer can.
Host a dinner party for at least 5 friends each month — Forming and growing relationships is easier over a good meal
Have lunch with someone you admire every two months — Meeting new people opens you up to all kinds of possibilities.
Learn at least 3 new skills each year — Learning new things keeps your life interesting.
Create a will and review it each year — If you have assets you need a way to distribute them after you’re gone.
Invest 10% of your earnings every month — Make saving and investing a lifelong endeavor.
Get an annual physical — Taking care of your health is a priority because it enables you to do everything you want to do.
Live below your means — Give yourself the gift of financial flexibility.
Reduce your debt — You don’t want to be a slave to the master of debt.
Go on a weekly date night with your spouse/SO — Prioritize the relationship with your life partner above all others.
Engage in daily self-care — Make fitness, skincare, and diet part of a daily routine of taking good care of yourself.
Keep your living and working spaces clean and organized — Organization creates the clarity you need to pursue your desired projects.
Work in a different location at least twice a week — Switch up where you to foster your inner creativity.
Develop a habit of journaling — There is no better way to deeply your thoughts and ideas.
Sleep a minimum of 7 hours every night — Recharge your body’s battery daily
Start and run a side hustle — Running a business (even a small one) enables you to develop a range of new skills and make some money.
Get a dental check-up every six months — This is one aspect of the self-care that you need.
Go for a walk every evening — Walking is a great way to get exercise and work through your thoughts.
Tell a family member or close friend that they are special to you and why once per month— telling someone that they’re special to you nurtures your relationship
Write and mail a handwritten letter to your child or close friend once a year — Handwritten letters are thoughtful and unexpected in the age of texts and emails.
Plan and host a birthday party for yourself, a close friend, or a family member every five years — Celebrating yourself or someone else is a great way to bring people together in a grand way.
Don’t smoke — There is very little upside to this behavior, so you’re just better off avoiding it.
Consume alcohol no more than twice a week — Limit your alcohol consumption as like smoking the upside to drinking is limited.
Invest in real estate once a year — this is an investment asset class that many people ignore because of its complexity and expense but REITs make it easier to invest than ever before.
Consume unhealthy snacks no more than once a week — Processed foods are high in sugar and saturated fat, these are the enemies of a good diet that is key to your health.
Adopt a growth mindset — Don’t be close-minded. The key to living a long fulfilling life is your ability and willingness to learn.

Behavior is the difference between productive and unproductive aging. If you approach your second half of life with an attitude of optimism and an eagerness to learn — you will thrive.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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