Over 70s reveal their top tips for staying young in old age
A study of 1,000 over 70s found they swear by a varied diet, laughing daily – and an active sex life to stay young.
Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) feel years younger than their actual age and are far more active than they imagined they would be.
Socialising with pals, having a strong skincare routine, and keeping up to date with new tech are also among the things that help them feel young.
Others swear by hanging out with people younger than themselves (16 per cent) and keeping up with new music (nine per cent).
And one in 20 said they still lift their feet up and glide around on supermarket trollies every time they get the chance.
It also emerged 75 per cent reckon the old age stereotype no longer applies to their age group.
A spokesperson for Vitabiotics Wellman 70+ and Wellwoman 70+ vitamins, which commissioned the research, said: “Getting older no longer means you have to slow down and miss out on the things you love.
“For a long time, a popular phrase was ‘40 is the new 30’ – but now, as people are living longer, it’s probably fair to say in many cases 70 can be the new 40.
“Older adults are more informed and proactive to stay active and healthy, which enables them to keep doing the things they love and live their lives well.”
The study also asked respondents what age they’d have considered someone old, when they were a child – pinpointing that age at 53 years and four months.
But now pensioners don’t see themselves as old until they turn 78.
While 76 per cent of those polled believe people are reaching “old age” much later now, than in previous generations.
And 43 per cent think they are doing a good job of changing people’s perceptions of what “old” people are like.
More than four in 10 (43 per cent) tend to feel they age more physically than mentally, with just nine per cent feeling the strain in their brain.
In fact, 14 per cent of those polled, Via OnePoll, feel as many as 20 years younger than the figure on their birth certificate.
And 23 per cent believe their grandchildren don’t see them as “old”, with 29 per cent claiming they are even seen as in the know on current trends by their younger counterparts.
A spokesperson for Wellman 70+ and Wellwoman 70+ vitamins added: “Being young really is a state of mind, it seems.
“By making the effort to stay active both physically and mentally, as well as taking good care of your general health, it really is possible to stave off those feelings of being old for years, or even decades.
“However, a lot of it comes from humility gained with age – you’re much less likely to feel older, when you’re older yourself.”
How old are you really? Take this quiz to find out
Top 35 ways over the 70s stay young:
Eating well
Keeping your mind active with things like sudoku, crosswords and Wordle
Laughing at least once a day
Socialising with friends
Dressing how you please
Keeping an interest in what your grandchildren, nieces or nephews follow
Getting lots of sleep at night so you have enough energy for the day
Abiding by the rule of having ‘a little of what you fancy’
Keeping up to date with how to use latest technology
Playing with younger grandkids/nieces/nephews
Taking vitamin supplements
Actively avoiding things you feel are cliched for ‘old’ people like knitting or bingo
Exercising regularly
Having a good skincare routine
Watching new TV shows
Doing 10k steps a day
Walking the dog
Keeping up to date with popular culture such as museums and exhibitions
Having an active or regular sex life
Hanging out with people younger than you
Regular conversations about what’s ‘cool’ with younger people
Stretching/ yoga
Playing in the snow with the children or grandchildren
Regular trips to the pub
Dying your hair
Continuing education or learning something new
Sending a Valentine’s card
Keeping up with new music or what’s in the charts
Setting goals on your fitness watch/ tracker
Going out dancing
Playing video games
Using TikTok/ social media
Doing pranks on family members
Gliding around on supermarket trollies when I get the chance
Getting a tattoo
