If you want to be pleasant and easygoing as you age, say goodbye to these 8 habits

Aging can be a bit like standing in quicksand, wouldn’t you agree?

It’s inevitable and the more you struggle against it, the faster it seems to pull you down. But does it really have to be that way?

I used to think so too. I used to believe that as we age, we naturally become grumpier, less flexible, more set in our ways. But what if I told you that’s not entirely true?

You see, as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized one important thing. It’s not so much about the years in your life but the life in your years – and that, my friends, depends largely on our habits.

And no, I’m not just talking about the big ones like eating healthy and exercising regularly. There are smaller everyday habits that can make a huge difference in how pleasant and easygoing we are as we age.

In this article, I’ll share with you eight habits that you need to say goodbye to if you want to keep your spirit young and your temperament easygoing as you age.

Trust me, letting go of these habits won’t be easy – but it will be worth it.

1) Holding onto grudges

Let’s face it, we all get hurt at some point in life.

Someone says something harsh, someone else does something thoughtless, and before you know it, you’re carrying around this heavy bag of grudges that just keeps getting bigger and heavier with time.

But here’s the thing – that bag? It’s not hurting anyone else but you.

Every grudge you hold onto is like a stone that weighs down your spirit, making you less pleasant, less easygoing. It saps your energy and steals your joy.

If you want to be that person who is still full of life and laughter as they age, you need to start letting go of those grudges today.

Yes, it’s easier said than done. But remember, every journey begins with a single step. And trust me, each step you take towards forgiveness will make you feel lighter and happier.

After all, the only person who benefits from your forgiveness is you.

2) Resisting change

Change is a part of life. As much as we might want things to stay the same, they never do, do they?

I used to be one of those people who resisted change with every fibre of their being.

If there was a comfortable routine, I clung to it like a lifeline. If something threatened to shake up my world, I fought against it tooth and nail.

But then I realized something crucial – resisting change was making me unhappy and stressed out. It was turning me into someone I didn’t want to be.

I remember the day clearly. I was sitting on my porch, watching the leaves change color and fall from the trees. And it hit me – just like those leaves, I too needed to let go and embrace the changes in my life.

Because change isn’t just about loss. It’s also about growth, about new beginnings and opportunities. It’s about becoming a better version of ourselves.

If you want to be pleasant and easygoing as you age, it’s time to say goodbye to your resistance to change. Embrace the new with open arms and watch how it transforms your life for the better.

3) Overthinking everything

Mark Twain once said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

Isn’t that the truth?

We spend so much time worrying about what might happen, about what could go wrong, that we often miss out on the beauty and joy of the present moment.

I used to be a chronic overthinker. I would lie awake at night, my mind racing with a thousand ‘what ifs’. I would worry about things that hadn’t happened yet and might never happen.

But all that overthinking never changed anything. It only stole my peace and happiness. It made me anxious and irritable – certainly not the pleasant and easygoing person I wanted to be.

So, if you want to age gracefully, it’s time to say goodbye to the habit of overthinking. Take things as they come, live in the present moment and let go of worries about the future. You’ll be amazed at how much lighter and happier you feel.

4) Neglecting self-care

Did you know that prolonged stress can actually age you faster?

It’s true. Chronic stress can lead to physical changes in your body that make you age more quickly. It can also lead to a host of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

For a long time, I was guilty of neglecting self-care. I would push myself to the brink of exhaustion, always putting others’ needs before my own.

But what I’ve learned is that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. To be pleasant and easygoing as we age, we need to prioritize self-care.

This means taking time for relaxation and recreation, eating healthy meals, getting regular exercise, and making sure we get enough sleep. It also means saying no when we need to and setting healthy boundaries.

If you’ve been neglecting self-care, it’s time to change that habit. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first and you’ll have more energy and positivity to share with others.

5) Living in the past

We all have our stories, our memories, and our past. They shape us, they mould us, they make us who we are. But sometimes, they can also hold us back.

I’ve seen it happen so many times – people get stuck in their past, reliving their mistakes, their regrets, their missed opportunities. And they forget to live in the present.

But the truth is, no matter how much we wish we could, we can’t change the past. We can only learn from it and move forward.

And that’s the key to being pleasant and easygoing as you age – you have to let go of the past and live in the present.

Don’t let your past define you. Learn from it, grow from it, but don’t let it hold you back. Because life is happening right now, in this moment. And it’s too precious to waste on what might have been.

6) Fearing the future

Just as living in the past can hold us back, fearing the future can paralyze us.

Whether it’s worrying about our health, our finances, or what will happen to our loved ones, fear of the future can consume us and rob us of our joy in the present moment.

I’ve been there. I’ve spent sleepless nights worrying about what might happen, imagining the worst-case scenarios. It was exhausting and it didn’t make me pleasant or easygoing.

But then I decided to change. I decided to stop fearing the future and start embracing it.

The future is unknown and that can be scary. But it’s also full of possibilities and opportunities. It’s a chance for growth, for new experiences, for joy.

So if you want to be pleasant and easygoing as you age, let go of your fears about the future. Embrace the unknown with open arms and a hopeful heart. Trust that whatever happens, you have the strength to handle it.

7) Neglecting relationships

As we age, it’s easy to get caught up in our own worlds and forget about the people around us.

But no man is an island. We are social creatures, and our relationships with others play a huge role in our happiness and well-being.

I remember a time when I was so focused on my own problems that I neglected the people who cared about me. I wasn’t pleasant or easygoing, I was self-absorbed.

But then I realized that my relationships were suffering. I was pushing away the very people who could help me through my struggles.

So, if you want to be pleasant and easygoing as you age, don’t neglect your relationships.

Spend quality time with your loved ones. Listen to them, support them, show them that you care. Because at the end of the day, it’s the relationships we have with others that give life meaning.

8) Forgetting to laugh

Laughter is the best medicine, right?

But as we age and life gets more serious, it’s easy to forget to laugh. We get so caught up in our responsibilities and worries that we forget the joy of a good belly laugh.

I’ve been there myself. I was so focused on all the serious stuff that I forgot to enjoy the funny, silly, and downright ridiculous parts of life. And let me tell you, it wasn’t doing me any favors.

But then I made a conscious decision to bring laughter back into my life. I started watching funny movies, reading humorous books, and spending time with people who made me laugh.

And you know what? It made a world of difference. I was happier, more relaxed, and yes, more pleasant and easygoing.

So if you want to age gracefully, don’t forget to laugh. Find humor in everyday situations, surround yourself with people who make you smile and laugh out loud every chance you get. Because when you’re laughing, you’re living.

The final note

There it is, eight habits to say goodbye to if you want to be pleasant and easygoing as you age.

But here’s the thing – change isn’t easy. It’s a journey, a process. It requires self-awareness, patience, and consistency.

And yes, there will be setbacks. You’ll stumble and fall. You’ll revert back to old habits. But that’s okay.

Because every stumble is a chance to learn. Every fall is an opportunity to get back up stronger than before. And every time you choose to let go of an old habit, you’re taking a step towards becoming the person you want to be.

So start today. Start with one habit, one small step at a time. And remember, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about becoming better.

And as you embark on this journey, know this – you’re not alone. There are millions of people out there just like you, letting go of old habits and embracing new ones.

So keep going, keep growing, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey along the way.