Turning 70 can feel like entering a new chapter of life. Some things may change—our energy, our priorities, our bodies, our work, and even our relationships. But your 70s don’t have to be a time of slowing down and simply looking back.
They can be some of the most meaningful and rewarding years of your life.
You have something now that you didn’t have when you were younger: experience. You’ve learned from successes and failures. You’ve weathered storms. You’ve made mistakes, raised families, built relationships, worked hard, and hopefully gained some wisdom along the way.
So what advice would you give someone entering their 70s?
Here are a few things worth remembering.
1. Take care of your health
You can’t control everything about getting older, but you can influence many things.
Keep moving. Walk. Stretch. Play a sport. Ride a bike. Work in the garden. Do some strength training appropriate for your ability.
You don’t have to exercise like you’re 30. You simply need to keep your body moving.
Pay attention to your sleep, nutrition, medical appointments and medications. Don’t ignore small problems and hope they’ll disappear.
Your health is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your family.
2. Don’t let your age define you
There is a big difference between saying, “I’m 70,” and saying, “I’m 70, so I can’t do that anymore.”
Age brings limitations, but it also brings perspective.
You may not be able to do everything you once did. That’s okay. Find new ways to do the things you love.
Learn something new. Take up an instrument. Travel somewhere you’ve never been. Read a book you’ve been putting off. Take a course. Try a new hobby.
Don’t stop growing simply because you’ve reached a certain birthday.
3. Keep your mind active
Your brain needs exercise too.
Read. Write. Learn. Play music. Do puzzles. Have meaningful conversations. Learn new technology. Memorize Scripture. Study subjects that interest you.
One of the best ways to keep learning is to remain curious.
Instead of saying, “I’ve never done that before,” try saying:
“I’d like to learn how.”
4. Invest deeply in relationships
At this stage of life, relationships become increasingly valuable.
Spend time with your spouse. Call your children. Talk to your grandchildren. Have coffee with a friend. Join a small group. Stay connected to your church and community.
Don’t wait for people to call you.
Make the call.
Don’t assume people know you love them.
Tell them.
Don’t allow old disagreements to rob you of precious years that could be spent enjoying one another.
People are more important than possessions.
5. Give your time away
One of the greatest dangers of retirement is becoming completely focused on yourself.
You may have more free time than you did when you were working. Use some of it to help somebody else.
Volunteer. Mentor a younger person. Teach what you know. Serve at church. Help a neighbour. Encourage someone who is going through a difficult season.
You have accumulated decades of knowledge and experience.
Don’t take all that wisdom with you. Give it away.
6. Keep serving God’s purposes
If you’re a follower of Jesus, retirement doesn’t mean retirement from God’s purposes.
Your assignment may change, but your calling to love God and love people doesn’t.
You may not preach or lead worship every week anymore. You may not have the physical energy you once had. But you can still pray, encourage, teach, mentor, worship, serve and share your faith.
Psalm 92:14 says:
“Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”
That’s a wonderful picture of growing older.
Older doesn’t have to mean less fruitful.
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can offer isn’t your strength—it’s your wisdom.
7. Stop worrying about what other people think
By your 70s, you should have learned that you can’t please everybody.
Someone will disagree with you.
Someone won’t understand your choices.
Someone may criticize you.
That’s life.
You don’t need everyone’s approval.
Live according to your values. Follow God’s direction. Treat people well. Admit your mistakes. Keep a clear conscience.
And then let some of the criticism go.
8. Simplify your life
Your 70s can be a wonderful time to simplify.
You don’t need to accumulate more and more stuff.
Clean out the garage. Get rid of things you haven’t used in years. Organize your finances. Simplify your schedule. Deal with unfinished business.
Ask yourself:
“What really matters to me now?”
Then make room for those things.
A simpler life often creates space for a richer life.
9. Make memories instead of just making plans
Don’t spend all your time waiting for the “perfect time.”
Take the trip.
Have the family dinner.
Go for the walk.
Take the grandchildren somewhere special.
Visit an old friend.
Watch the sunset.
Enjoy the cup of coffee.
Life is happening now.
We can become so focused on tomorrow that we forget to enjoy today.
10. Don’t live in the past
Your past matters, but it isn’t your present.
You may have wonderful memories. Enjoy them.
You may also have regrets. Learn from them.
But don’t spend the rest of your life wishing you could go back and change what happened.
You can’t.
You can, however, decide what you will do with today.
Paul wrote:
“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”
There is still something ahead.
11. Be willing to ask for help
Independence is wonderful, but there comes a time when we all need other people.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.
Let your family help. Accept assistance when you need it. Talk to your doctor when something doesn’t seem right. Ask someone to teach you something you don’t understand.
Needing help doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you human.
And remember that allowing someone to help you can actually be a gift to them.
12. Be grateful
One of the greatest habits you can develop in your 70s is gratitude.
Every morning, think about what you still have rather than focusing exclusively on what you’ve lost.
Thank God for your family.
Thank Him for friends.
Thank Him for another day.
Thank Him for the ability to walk, think, laugh, worship, learn and love.
Gratitude changes the way we see life.
13. Keep a sense of humor
Growing older can be challenging.
Things don’t always work the way they used to. Technology gets more complicated. Names sometimes disappear from your memory at exactly the wrong moment. Your body occasionally reminds you that you’re not 30 anymore!
Laugh.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
A good sense of humor can make difficult seasons much easier to navigate.
14. Leave something behind
Your greatest legacy probably won’t be your possessions.
It will be the people you’ve influenced.
What have you taught your children?
What have you taught your grandchildren?
Who have you encouraged?
Who became a better person because you invested in them?
What will people remember about you?
Perhaps the greatest legacy is simply this:
“He loved God. He loved people. And he made a difference.”
15. Keep looking forward
Perhaps the best advice for your 70s is this:
Don’t spend the decade looking backward.
There is still life to live.
There are still people to love.
There are still things to learn.
There are still places to see.
There are still prayers to pray.
There are still songs to sing.
There are still people who need your encouragement.
And if you belong to Christ, there is ultimately still eternity ahead.
The number of candles on your birthday cake doesn’t determine your usefulness.
God can use you at 70.
He can use you at 75.
He can use you at 80.
Your life still matters.
Your experience matters.
Your wisdom matters.
Your story isn’t over.
So embrace this season. Take care of yourself. Love your family. Stay curious. Keep serving. Give generously. Walk closely with God.
And when you wake up tomorrow morning, don’t simply ask, “How much time do I have left?”
Ask a better question:
“Lord, what can I do with the day You’ve given me?”
There may be more adventure, more purpose and more joy ahead than you realize.
