If you still do these 5 things in your 60s, you are truly winning at life

I’m not 60 yet—I’m still navigating my late thirties—but watching my parents move through their late sixties and seventies has taught me something profound about what it really means to age well.

Society loves to tell us that getting older means slowing down, becoming irrelevant, or just waiting for the inevitable. But that’s complete nonsense.

The people I know who are truly thriving in their 60s aren’t the ones who’ve accumulated the most wealth or achieved the highest status. They’re the ones who’ve figured out how to stay curious, connected, and engaged with life.

They’ve cracked the code on something most of us are still struggling with: how to live with intention and joy, regardless of what the calendar says.

If you’re doing these five things in your 60s, you’re not just getting by—you’re absolutely winning at this whole life thing.

And honestly, the rest of us could learn a thing or two from your playbook.

1. You’re still learning new things

Here’s what I’ve noticed about the people in their 60s who seem most alive: they never stopped being students.

The folks at Harvard Health back this up noting that “Research has long shown that new knowledge pays off. For example, a study in the June 2014 issue of Annals of Neurology found speaking two or more languages, even if you learned the second language in adulthood, may slow age-related cognitive decline.” 

Whether it’s learning a new language, picking up an instrument, or finally understanding how your smartphone actually works, the act of learning keeps your brain flexible and engaged.

The moment you stop being curious about the world is the moment you start getting old—regardless of your age.

2. You prioritize your relationships

“Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies; they protect our brains,” said Robert Waldinger, Director of Harvard Study On Adult Development.

This means more than just having people around. It’s about investing in deep, meaningful connections. It’s calling your friend just to check in, not because you need something. It’s being the person who shows up—for birthdays, for tough times, for random Tuesday conversations.

If you’re still making time for coffee dates, long phone calls, and genuine conversations in your 60s, you’re doing something right. Because at the end of the day, it’s not what you’ve accomplished that matters most—it’s who you’ve shared the journey with.

3. You haven’t lost your sense of play

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing,” said George Bernard Shaw, playwright .

This hits different when you see it in action.

I know a 65-year-old who still builds sandcastles at the beach with his grandkids—and genuinely enjoys it. Another who takes salsa dancing classes and doesn’t care that she’s not perfect at it.

There’s something magical about people who refuse to let society tell them they’re “too old” for fun.

Play doesn’t have to mean acting childish. It’s about maintaining that spark of curiosity and joy that makes life interesting. Maybe it’s trying a new hobby without worrying about being good at it. Maybe it’s being spontaneous and saying yes to adventures.

The people who are winning at life, old or young, understand that dignity doesn’t require being serious all the time. They’ve figured out that laughter, curiosity, and a willingness to look silly sometimes are actually signs of wisdom, not immaturity.

Stay playful. Life’s too short not to.

4. You’re still moving your body

Here’s something I’ve noticed: the people in their 60s who seem most vibrant aren’t necessarily the ones who look youngest—they’re the ones who keep moving.

My neighbor is 67 and still goes for morning walks every single day. Not because she’s training for a marathon, but because she knows her body needs it. And honestly? She has more energy than most people half her age.

Again, this is well-supported by experts. According to Linda P. Fried, dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, “Exercise is the closest thing we’ve found to a magic pill for combating the effects of aging” .

This doesn’t mean you need to be hitting the gym like a 25-year-old. It’s about finding movement that works for your body now—whether that’s swimming, gardening, dancing, or just taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

5. You’re comfortable with who you are

This might be the most important one on the list.

If you’re winning at life, you’ve stopped trying to be someone else. You know your strengths, you’ve made peace with your flaws, and you’re not wasting energy pretending to be perfect.

I’ve watched people in their 80s who still feel the need to impress everyone, and honestly,  it’s exhausting just watching them.

But the ones who’ve figured it out? They’re magnetic in a completely different way.

They say what they think (respectfully). They dress how they want. They pursue interests that genuinely excite them, not because it looks good on social media.

There’s this incredible freedom that comes with age when you realize that other people’s opinions of you are really none of your business. You’ve lived long enough to understand that authenticity beats approval every single time.

Final words

Look, I’m not saying life in your 60s is supposed to look exactly like life in your 20s. That would be ridiculous—and honestly, kind of sad.

But there’s a difference between aging gracefully and just giving up. The people who are truly winning at this stage aren’t trying to turn back the clock—they’re making the most of where they are right now.

They understand that getting older doesn’t mean becoming irrelevant. It means having the wisdom to focus on what actually matters: learning, connecting, playing, moving, and being authentically yourself.

If you’re doing these five things in your 60s, you’re not just surviving—you’re showing the rest of us what it looks like to live well at any age.

And if you’re not there yet? Well, the beautiful thing is that it’s never too late to start.

Whether you’re 30, 50, or 70, these principles work because they’re not really about age—they’re about choosing to stay engaged with life.

The calendar might keep moving, but how you show up each day? That’s entirely up to you.