Older is the wisdom, the perspective, and the power to know what truly matters. The American Psychological Association reports that adults over 50 are 23% more satisfied with their lives than younger adults, largely because they have developed a clearer sense of what is most important to them and where they need to draw the line.
More than three out of four adults age 45 and older (78 percent) have purposefully abandoned a behavior, relationship, or commitment that didn’t serve their well-being. This transformation isn’t just about getting older — it’s about becoming a more genuine version of yourself. Below are the 17 things you can outgrow as you grow older.
Keeping Up With Every Social Media Trend
I recall vividly crafting status updates every hour, anxiously attempting to keep up with every new platform that emerged. According to a 2019 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, adults over 50 spend 40% less time on social media compared with 80% of younger age groups, yet feel far more satisfied with their online experiences.
You understand that chasing the next viral moment and keeping tabs on TikTok dances is exhausting when you’ve got mortgage payments and career development to think about. The endless grind of keeping up appearances online melts away when you realize that meaningful connections come from quality time, not the number of posts.
Toxic Friendships and One-Sided Relationships
My twenties were marked by friendships that drained all my energy without the slightest return. Interestingly, older adults are more likely to report being very satisfied; 77% of those aged 50 and older say this, compared to 67% of younger adults.
You no longer make excuses for a friend who cancels plans at the last minute, never offers emotional support in return, or brings drama to everything. According to the American Psychological Association, older adults are 45% more likely to abandon relationships that don’t support good mental health.
Staying Out Until 3 a.m. on Work Nights
The nights I would stagger home at dawn, knowing I had an 8 a.m. meeting, now seem like a distant tale of poor judgment. The Sleep Foundation finds that 7-9 hours of sleep is 78% more likely to be caught up on by adults over 35 than it is by 20-somethings.
Your body starts speaking to you in no uncertain terms that it takes longer to recover, and your career is too valuable to be compromised by chronic fatigue. The adrenaline rush of late-night adventures is replaced by the satisfying feeling of waking up rested and effective.
Buying Clothes Just Because They’re On Sale
I used to stuff my closet with marked-down clothes that never quite fit right — or fit my life. Households led by adults aged 35–44 spent the most on apparel, with an average of $78,385 in 2013, followed closely by those led by adults aged 45–54 at an average of $78,879.
You figure out to invest in higher-quality pieces that’ll last — and that speak to your style — under budget, as opposed to accruing a pile of cheap buys that collect dust. There’s a psychology of scarcity at work here, which pushes you to buy things that you really should be buying (or wanting) when you understand your true needs and tastes.
Eating Junk Food Without Consequences
My metabolism once looked the other way at midnight pizza and breakfast energy drinks. Between 2010 and 2018, on any given day, 19.2% of adults aged 40–59 and 19.3% of adults aged 60 and above were on a “special diet” (e.g., for weight loss or diabetes), compared to 13.3% of adults aged 20–39.
Your body begins to provide almost instant feedback on poor dietary choices through energy swings, digestive issues, and slower recovery times. “We often hear from people that after they have eaten a low-PROC meal that delivers sustained energy and mental clarity, they are less inclined to want to go back to processed foods.
Worrying About What Others Think of Your Decisions
I had spent years second-guessing big life decisions based on advice from people who didn’t even know my full context. An analysis by Stanford University found that adults 50 and over, on average, report 52% less social approval–related anxiety than younger adults.
You understand that other people are too preoccupied with their own lives to analyze your decisions in the depth you think they do. This freedom, which comes with making choices based on your own values rather than someone else’s appreciation of you, becomes one of the most liberating aspects of being an adult.
Overcommitting to Every Social Event
I had previously filled my calendar with things I didn’t want to attend because I was afraid I was missing out. AARP found that people aged 45 and above who engage in volunteering clubs or religious services tend to feel less lonely and more satisfied when socially engaged.
You learn the value of the preciousness of time and become more choosy about who and what you include in your life. The expectation to say yes returns to you less and less as you realize you only connect meaningfully when you mean to be there rather than being obligated to be there.
Ignoring Your Physical Health
I used to take my body for granted, acting as if it were invincible, avoiding doctors, and neglecting warning signs. In a 2011–2012 CDC review, fewer than 30% of adults aged 50 to 64 and fewer than 50% of adults aged 65 and older were found to be up to date on recommended core preventive services (e.g., screenings, flu shots).
You move from reactionary to prevention when you see the people you love most in the world struggle with health issues. What Youth perceives as invincibility becomes a more pragmatic realization that maintaining one’s health is an ongoing process, one that is done with the help of professionals.
Impulse Buys That Will Break Your Budget
I recall mindlessly spending thousands on flashy gadgets and designer products without any thought to their long-term value or budget impact. A study by Kacen and Lee (2002) found that older shoppers appear to control their emotions better than younger shoppers do; indeed, the elderly exhibit greater self-regulation.
You establish a pause button when it comes to big purchases, stopping to question whether something offers real value in your life or only produces momentary excitement. The rush of dopamine from buying things subsides, and it’s not nearly as satisfying as the security and satisfaction that comes with building wealth to reach financial goals.
Drama-Filled Romantic Relationships
When I was younger, my relationships involved what now looks in retrospect to have been little more than emotional roller coasters — confusing intensity with passion. One study of middle-aged adults (40-59) found that when compared with younger adults, those who date online (and are not millennials) are more interested in dating for emotional security and relationship compatibility, rather than searching for a thrill.”
You know that a good relationship is supposed to add to your life, not be a source of anxiety and confusion at all times. Emotions run hot and cold, and the life where drama seeks to rescue and begs forgiveness stops to attract when you experience the gratification of soul partnership and the simplest way of being.
Competing with Others for Status
I used to wear myself out attempting to keep up with peers who appeared more successful and always comparing achievements and goods. According to a study in Harvard Business Review, we might feel less career envy. The study found that love it or hate it, adults over 45 experience 71% less status competition at work than their younger colleagues.
You accept that at any given time, people are on their timelines, and aesthetics are never the full picture of someone’s life. The energy once wasted on comparison is instead used to become all the person you were meant to be and achieve the success He has in store for you.
Neglecting Your Mental Health
For years, I had been struggling through stress and emotional challenges without getting the resources or learning to cope. Any mental illness was reported by 13.9% of adults aged 50 and older, 29.4% of adults aged 26–49, and 36.2% of those aged 18–25.
You become better at identifying the symptoms of burnout and those of anxiety and depression before they become overwhelming. There is a reduction of mental health stigmatization as you realize emotional health is of equal value to physical health.
Working a Job Where You Don’t Believe in Its Values
I had prioritized career, salary, and status over purpose and meaning. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 54% of adults over 45 have changed career paths at some point to honor their values, even if that decision initially resulted in a loss of income.
There’s a limit to how long you can sit in a workplace where you’re subject to an environment that contradicts your fundamental values for more than 40 hours a week. The certainty of a paycheque matters less than knowing you’re doing something that you care about.
Hating on People Who Done You Wrong
I used to hold grudges for years, replaying hurtful situations over and over in my head, and have fake confrontations that never actually happened. According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, adults aged 50+ who forgive are 68% less likely to have anger and mental health issues.
You realize that the person who caused the original pain, you are only hurting yourself by holding on to anger. And you no longer waste the energy that used to go into resentment as you reapply it to create positive relationships and experiences.
Saying Yes When You Mean No
I had issues with boundaries, which often meant I’d give in to requests that left me bleary-eyed and off balance. According to the American Psychological Association, people over 40 are 59% more likely to decline requests that don’t align with what matters most.
You find out that it’s a little better to let somebody else down sometimes than it is to let yourself down all the time. The underlying tendency that leads to over-commitment begins to let go, and honest communication around ability and boundaries becomes the story.
Perfectionism That Paralyzes Progress
My younger self would waste hours refining projects that I could have done well in far less time. Stanford Research Institute discovered that adults over 45 are nearly 73% more likely to accept “good enough” solutions that support progress than they are to seek out perfect answers.
You learn that Perfection comes not from the need to be perfect but from the want to be perfect and is often the result of being overly critical. The focus on achieving a perfect result decreases, and the commitment to constant progress and learning from failures increases.
Trying to Change Other People
I wasted much of my energy on helping people who were not ready to change, believing that with enough support and encouragement, anyone could change. According to the American Counseling Association, people aged 50 and older are 82% more likely to accept individuals as they are, rather than trying to change them.
You realize that sustainable change must begin from the inside and that your role is not to direct but to support another person’s process. A focus on your responses and growth replaces the anger at what you can’t control.
Being everything for everyone
I would make choices weighing how it would reflect on my parents, friends, or society, not what worked for me. Adults older than 45 report 76% higher life satisfaction when making decisions based on their values, as opposed to decisions made in response to external expectations, according to a University of Michigan study.
Key takeaways
Aging teaches you that life is too short to labor on in that which doesn’t serve your highest good. The evidence is clear that adults who shed these old patterns experience greater happiness, better relationships, and a more fulfilling life.
You learn to trust your gut, you learn to start serving yourself first, and you invest your time, energy, and mind in those things that count. Outgrowing these habits isn’t a walk in the park, but it does make for a more deliberate and enjoyable life. Most of all, you realize that being the real you is the best gift you can bestow on yourself – and on the people around you.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Don’t Swipe Until You Read This: The 7 Best Credit Cards for 2025 Ranked by Rewards
The 7 Best Credit Cards for 2025 Ranked by Rewards
There’s this moment that sticks with me—standing at a checkout line, swiping my old card like I always did, and thinking, “Wait… why am I not getting anything back for this?” I wasn’t traveling on points. I wasn’t getting cash back. I was just spending. Sound familiar?
Look, the truth is, credit cards can work for you—if you choose the right one. And in 2025, you’ve got some seriously rewarding options that can actually boost your bank account. From travel lovers to grocery haulers, there’s something for everyone.
Let’s break down the best credit cards out there this year—the ones that actually give back.
12 Kitchen Hacks You May Not Know
12 Kitchen Hacks You May Not Know
Sometimes, preparing meals and just dealing with food can feel like a bore and a chore, or just plain frustrating! We’ve got the best food hacks to pass down to you to get you in and out of the kitchen fast. Not more drudgery, and dare we say it, some of these hacks are kind of fun. Save money, too. Win-win!
Do you have a kitchen hack we should know about?
