If you want your 70s to be the most meaningful years of your life, say goodbye to these habits

It’s not easy to admit, but sometimes the way we live our lives can hold us back from truly enjoying them.

We all tell ourselves little stories about how life works—what we should do, how we should act—but as time goes on, some of those stories stop making sense.

They become old habits, comfortable but limiting, like a pair of shoes that no longer fit.

Hitting your 70s isn’t about coasting or settling; it’s about making this chapter of your life one of the richest and most fulfilling yet.

But to do that, you’ve got to let go of a few things that may feel familiar but are quietly weighing you down.

It’s not always dramatic, either. Sometimes it’s just a matter of recognizing those small, stubborn patterns that keep you from fully embracing what’s possible.

Here’s how to know which habits need to go if you want your 70s to be the most meaningful years of your life.

1) Stop holding onto grudges

At this stage of life, it’s easy to look back and replay moments where someone hurt you or let you down. Those memories can linger, and if you’re not careful, they can start to feel like permanent baggage.

But here’s the thing: grudges don’t punish the person who wronged you—they punish you.

They take up space in your mind and heart that could be used for something better, like joy, connection, or peace.

Letting go doesn’t mean what happened was okay or that it didn’t matter. It just means you’re choosing to free yourself from the weight of it. Forgiveness isn’t for them—it’s for you.

And if you want your 70s to be meaningful, carrying grudges into this chapter will only hold you back.

2) Stop waiting for apologies that may never come

For years, I carried a heavy knot in my chest over a falling out I had with an old friend. It wasn’t just what they did—it was the fact that they never said sorry.

I replayed our conversations in my head, imagining how it might feel if they finally acknowledged the hurt they caused.

But they never did. And one day, I realized they probably never would. It was like waiting for a letter from a mailbox I knew was empty.

That’s when it hit me: I didn’t need their apology to move on. I could decide to release the hurt on my own terms, not theirs.

Once I let go of the need for closure from them, something shifted in me. I felt lighter, freer, and more open to the people who were still very much in my life.

You don’t have to wait for someone else to give you permission to heal. The time you have now is too precious to waste on waiting for words that may never come.

3) Stop letting fear make your choices

Mark Twain once said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” That line has stuck with me because it reminds me how much of my life I spent letting fear hold the reins.

Fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of making the wrong decision—it was like an invisible hand steering me away from risks, even when those risks could have led to something wonderful.

The truth is, fear doesn’t go away just because you get older. It just gets sneakier, disguising itself as practicality or comfort. But the most meaningful moments in life rarely happen when you play it safe.

They happen when you step into the unknown, even if your hands are shaking while you do it.

Your 70s aren’t a time to shrink back—they’re a time to expand into everything you’ve been putting off because it felt too risky or uncertain.

Fear will always be there in some form, but it doesn’t have to be the one calling the shots anymore.

4) Stop believing it’s too late to grow

Your brain has the ability to create new neural pathways no matter how old you are. Scientists call this neuroplasticity, and it means you’re never truly stuck in your ways unless you choose to be.

For a long time, I used to think personal growth was something for younger people—people who still had “time” to change.

By the time I hit my 70s, I figured I was fully formed, set in my habits, and that was that. But that kind of thinking is exactly what keeps us from making this stage of life meaningful.

The truth is, every day is an opportunity to grow into someone new.

Whether it’s learning a skill, changing a mindset, or building a connection you never thought you’d have, your capacity for growth is still alive and well.

The only thing standing in the way is the belief that it’s too late. It isn’t. It never is.

5) Stop saying yes when you really mean no

By the time you reach your 70s, you’ve probably spent decades putting others first—your kids, your partner, your career, your community.

And while there’s a beauty in being generous with your time and energy, there’s also a danger in forgetting how to draw the line.

I used to say yes to things out of habit. A favor here, an obligation there. Sometimes I didn’t even pause to ask myself if I truly wanted to do it—it was automatic.

But every yes that didn’t come from a genuine place left me feeling drained and, worse, resentful.

The hardest part wasn’t saying no—it was learning to sit with the discomfort of disappointing someone else. But what I learned is that saying no isn’t selfish; it’s honest.

When you stop saying yes just to please others, you start saying yes to yourself.

6) Stop comparing your life to others

It’s easy to fall into the trap of looking sideways—at your friends, your neighbors, or even strangers—and measuring your life against theirs.

Social media hasn’t helped, either. Even in your 70s, it’s hard not to notice someone else’s family vacations, their active lifestyle, or their seemingly perfect health and wonder how your life stacks up.

But comparison is a habit that steals joy. When you focus on someone else’s story, you lose sight of your own.

The truth is, no one’s life is as flawless as it might seem from the outside. Everyone has their struggles, even if they don’t show them.

I’ve found that the best way to combat this is by practicing gratitude for what I do have.

My circle might be smaller than it once was, but the people in it are deeply meaningful to me. My body might not move as quickly as it used to, but it still carries me through each day.

When I focus on my own journey instead of someone else’s highlight reel, I see just how rich and unique my life really is.

7) Stop avoiding difficult conversations

By now, you’ve probably learned that sweeping things under the rug doesn’t make them disappear—it just makes the pile harder to ignore.

But even with this wisdom, it can still feel easier to avoid the tough conversations.

I used to avoid talking about certain things with my kids because I didn’t want to come across as a burden. I told myself they were busy, that they didn’t need me complicating their lives.

But the more I stayed silent, the more distance I felt growing between us.

Eventually, I took a deep breath and said what I needed to say. It wasn’t perfect—some moments were awkward—but something amazing happened: they listened.

And even when we didn’t see eye-to-eye, having the conversation opened a door that had been closed for too long.

The meaningful relationships in your life deserve honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable. Speaking your truth isn’t about conflict—it’s about connection.

It’s about creating space for clarity, understanding, and growth, no matter how old or established the relationship might be.

8) Stop putting off what truly matters

We all think we have more time. More time to call that friend we’ve been meaning to reconnect with. More time to take that trip we’ve dreamed about for years.

But here’s the truth: life doesn’t wait. The days ahead aren’t guaranteed, and the most meaningful moments don’t happen someday—they happen when you decide they will.

I remember a neighbor of mine who always talked about writing a book.

She had stories, incredible ones, and every time we spoke, she’d say, “Maybe next year I’ll finally write it.”

But she never did. She passed away with those stories still inside her, and it made me realize how often we let fear, procrastination, or the busyness of life keep us from what really matters.

Your 70s are not a waiting room—they’re the main event. Whether it’s pursuing something you love, deepening a relationship, or simply savoring the quiet beauty of your days, let this be the time you stop putting things off.

Start now. Whatever it is, do it while you can.

The bottom line

Your 70s are not a time to hold onto what no longer serves you. By saying goodbye to these habits, you create space for the things that truly matter—connection, growth, and joy.

Each step you take toward letting go is a step toward living more authentically and fully. It’s not about reinventing yourself; it’s about uncovering the best version of who you’ve always been, free from the weight of unnecessary burdens.

As Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

You have the power to shape this chapter of your life into something extraordinary by releasing what holds you back and embracing what moves you forward.

This is your time—make it meaningful.