4 Ways Women Can Make The Most Of Their ‘Longevity Bonus’

“Recognizing and appreciating the many upsides of aging is an essential ingredient to approaching longevity with a more positive mindset, which we know can influence our healthspan and our lifespan,” Dychtwald writes. 

First, acknowledge the gifts of living a long life, Dychtwald says, which include self-awareness, wisdom, and the ability to interact with broader perspectives. 

Another upside? Dychtwald highlights the u-curve of happiness, which shows how people’s happiness peaks when they’re younger and older. She writes that the “sweet spot for happiness” is between age 50 and 75, when people on average have fewer caregiving responsibilities and feel more confident in their careers, according to a 2023 study from Age Wave. It’s a time Dychtwald’s team deems the “freedom zone,” and many women are embracing the growth mindset of trying new and exciting opportunities.  

But, women don’t need to seek another degree or make a massive life pivot to feel like they are embracing their bonus. 

“In fact, from the studies we’ve done at Age Wave, we found the number one way that people find a sense of purpose is by spending time with their family. And, the number one thing people are willing to try to have a sense of purpose is to adopt a pet,” she says. 

Lean into the domino effect of lifestyle changes 

There’s no magic pill to living a long, healthy life. However, we know more than ever that lifestyle factors—more than genetics—can influence how well we age and how long we live. It’s time to be the “CEO of our own healthcare,” Dychtwald writes in Ageless Aging.

Instead of making sweeping lifestyle changes, Dychtwald says to take advantage of the domino effect of healthy habits. Yes, it’s a combination of eating well, moving your body, having strong relationships, reducing stress, and getting quality sleep—but it’s also having faith that one will lead to the other. 

“There is this bouquet or holistic set of ingredients that work together,” she says, especially for women when going through perimenopause, menopause, and hormonal changes. “If you start to sleep better, you’ll have more energy and vitality to do the various tasks you’d like to do during the day, including exercise. You can see this cascading effect that it can have.” 

Look at role models embracing aging 

There’s no better place to look for aging wisdom than the women aging in positivity. “Aging is something to be embraced, not something to freak out about or run away from,” Dychtwald says, who notes that Toni Morrison wrote her first novel at 40, and Dr. Ruth Westheimer was 52 when she had her own show on the air. 

In a recent YouTube interview series called “Moments That Make Us,” Melinda French Gates, who just celebrated her 60th birthday, interviewed Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey about the upsides of getting colder. 

All three women have set examples for the upsides of aging. 

“Women used to not talk about their age as if we should be ashamed to be our age. But I’m really proud that I’m about to turn 60,” French Gates said in the interview. “Shouldn’t we celebrate? I hope by this age we have some wisdom, right?”

As for CBS anchor Gayle King: “Aging is another word for living. I think if we are all lucky, we can get to that stage.” 

Lengthen your brainspan 

Women are twice as likely to suffer from cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. While fate is not entirely in your hands, “there are steps we can take to prevent and delay cognitive decline,” Dychtwald says. 

While lifestyle factors play a role in brain and physical health, there are more precise ways to strengthen your memory and brain power. 

This includes being a lifelong learner who continues challenging the brain, connecting with others which may help reduce the risk of dementia, and practicing gratitude and mindfulness. 

These tips are a place to start, but Dychtwald recognizes that financial, socioeconomic, and social inequities don’t give everyone the same opportunities to reap the benefits of the longevity bonus. 

For more, here is a recap of four ways women can reap the longevity bonus:

• Embrace learning new things at any age 
• Connect with others, even for 10 minutes every day 
• Remember the upsides of aging, like wisdom and self-awareness 
• Stack healthy habits like sleep, exercise, and stress reduction