I’m going to tell you something right now, you’re not 25 anymore, and you can’t do the things you used to do at 25 and still expect to be strong, healthy and vibrant. Not gonna happen.
Newsflash for you – we’re getting older and our bodies and minds have special needs. You MUST give them lots of TLC. Especially if you want to slide into your 60s strong and healthy.
I fear too many people don’t take their health seriously enough, and then illness, sickness and disease hit them when they could have prevented it if they just took better care of their health! Ok that kinda sounded like a rant, but still.
I’m no saint, by the way. I just quit smoking at the age of 62 after having smoked for almost 50 years. I just stopped eating sugar and changed my diet. You can learn more about that over on my YouTube channel here.
And on this list, I probably still do 3 or 4, not gonna tell you which ones. I know there is still lots of room for improvement in my life, and I know it’s never too late to start taking care of my health. I’m doing my best. Are you?
Skipping Breakfast (or Surviving on Coffee Alone)
You’re not “being good”—you’re starving your brain. Now, if you are intermittent fasting, I get it. Eat breakfast later, that’s good! But if you aren’t IF and not eating breakfast at all? No bueno!!
You need nutrients. Your body and brain need nutrients.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Your brain runs on glucose, and in the morning, it’s running on fumes. No fuel = poor focus, brain fog, irritability, and no energy.
Do this instead:
Start with protein + healthy fat. Eggs, a smoothie with protein powder, or Greek yogurt with berries. Even bone broth is better than running on caffeine fumes.
Doomscrolling First Thing in the Morning
Wake up. Open phone. Scroll, read messages from 1 am, see what everyone else is doing. Fill your brain with anxiety and sometimes anger before you even get out of bad. Oh, please stop doing this.
What a horrible way to start the day.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Your brain gets hijacked by stress chemicals (cortisol, adrenaline) before it even has a chance to boot up properly. That messes with memory, focus, and emotional regulation all day long.
Do this instead:
Give your brain 30 minutes tech-free in the morning. Hydrate, stretch, breathe. I like to start with gratitude, though my cats would like me to start with all my attention on them and feeding them.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Water, water, water!! YES you need to drink water, and lots of it, even though you aren’t a world class athlete sweating your ass off every day or running marathons and sweating.
You.need.water. Period! This is the one I have a really hard time with. I just don’t drink enough of this clear, boring wet stuff. I’m going to work on that.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Even mild dehydration can shrink brain tissue. That’s right—shrink. Cue foggy thinking, poor short-term memory, and sluggishness.
Do this instead:
Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Add lemon, cucumber, or mint if plain water bores you to death.
Multitasking Like a Maniac
Emails, texting, scrolling, cooking, worrying—all at once. Trust me when I say, you are bound to forget or f*ck something up somewhere in all that chaos.
Breathe in, breathe out….ohmmmmmm.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Multitasking isn’t a skill, it’s a brain drain. It fries your focus and weakens your memory over time. You don’t have to do everything for everyone all the time, Susan. Start saying no.
Do this instead:
Try the Pomodoro technique. I’ve been using it a lot in the last 2 months, and wow, what a difference. My entire day and life is way more organized, productive and calm.
Ignoring Gut Health
Your gut is basically your second brain—except it’s louder and moodier. And I’m now learning this, at 62 years old. Remember that old saying, ‘you are what you eat’? It’s true.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Bad gut health = inflammation, which travels to your brain and screws with mood, memory, and cognition.
Do this instead:
Eat fibre, fermented foods, and ditch ultra-processed garbage. Bone broth? Yes. Gut-loving probiotics? Hell yes. Sugar? Good-bye!
Sitting All Day
Your brain needs movement like your body needs oxygen. Just because you’re using your brain doing work, you still need to move your body some and get a little bit of exercise in. Your brain, body and mental health will thank you.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Sedentary life shrinks your hippocampus (the memory center of your brain) and tanks circulation to your noggin.
Do this instead:
Move every hour—even if it’s just stretching or walking to the mailbox like you’re on a mission. Strength training and brisk walks are gold. Just get moving!
Not Getting Enough Sleep
And not doing anything about it. Your brain needs sleep. Good, solid sleep. Without it, it not only gets foggy and delirious, but your mood will go from happy to the Spawn of Satan in 60 seconds.
Why it wrecks your brain:
Sleep is when your brain detoxes. No sleep = build-up of waste, slower thinking, worse memory, and higher risk of dementia.
Do this instead:
Create a bedtime routine. Magnesium, a dark room, no screens, and consistent sleep/wake times. You can also try nighttime aids like Melatonin or another natural sleep aid.
final thoughts
It’s important to take care of your health, no matter how old you are, all the time. Our golden years show up sooner than you think, and if you haven’t taken any preventive measures to stay healthy and strong, well, your brain and body will let you know.
Make a few small shifts, and you won’t just feel sharper—you’ll feel stronger, healthier and happier moving into your 60s and beyond. Here’s to your health!
