If You Don't Want To End Up Sad, Old And Lonely, Say Goodbye To These 12 Behaviors

Stop doing these things to avoid being grumpy and lonely as you get older.

Elderly man with a long gray beard and serious expression, resting his chin on his clasped hands. He is gazing intently into the distance, with a soft, blurred background that suggests an indoor setting. He appears deep in thought.

The grumpy old man is a stereotype that has some truth in it—plenty of old men (and women) are bad-tempered, difficult to deal with, and lonely as a result. But you don’t have to end up that way. If you’re guilty of any of the following things, it’s time to make a change and put those behaviors behind you.

1. Stop focusing on the negative.

A middle-aged man with short dark hair and expressive eyebrows is wearing a light blue polo shirt. He has a serious and slightly furrowed expression on his face. The background is plain and gray.

It’s healthy and necessary to examine, analyze, and resolve issues within yourself and your family as they arise, but constantly going on about them—while doing nothing to fix those situations—does a curmudgeon make. Change what you can, when you can, and try to focus on positivity for personal growth.

2. Stop living a sedentary life.

A man with a beard lounges on a white couch, holding a remote control in one hand and a green beer bottle in the other. He is wearing a red plaid shirt over a grey t-shirt. A bookshelf filled with books is blurred in the background.

Your body needs to be moved and stretched on a regular basis in order for it to remain limber. If, for whatever reason, you allow your body to “set” into a static position for too long, pain and immobility will follow, along with irritability. In short, movement is life, so make sure you stay active.

3. Stop avoiding new things and experiences.

A man with short brown hair wearing round glasses, a denim jacket, and a white T-shirt stands against a plain light gray background. He has one hand resting on his chin and looks to the side with a thoughtful expression.

Do you have a set schedule in which you always eat the same breakfast, watch the same TV shows, and so on? Mix that up by stepping out of your routines and trying new things. Start small, by trying new and interesting foods or music genres, and explore outwards from there.

4. Stop making less-than-ideal dietary choices.

A man with a beard, wearing a blue shirt, sits at a table with an open pizza box and a bottle of soda. He looks uninterested as he rests his head on one hand and reaches for a slice of pizza with the other hand. The background is a bright room with curtains.

If you want to be at optimal health, performance, and appearance when you get old, then start now by ensuring that you’re building yourself with health and vitality on a cellular level. Eat the highest-quality food you can afford, with plenty of nutrient density, and reduce your intake of unhealthy or inflammatory items.

5. Stop being afraid of new technology.

An elderly woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a white shirt with blue polka dots, is seated and holding a tablet. She looks puzzled and is scratching her head as she examines the screen. The background shows a softly blurred indoor setting.

How annoyed do you get when your parents (or grandparents) print out emails for you to read, or call you to make the BlueTooth work for the YouTube? Aim to keep up with new (or not so new) technologies and you’ll feel less frustration working with them in the future.

6. Stop neglecting your goals and dreams and then complaining about it later.

A middle-aged man with graying hair and a serious expression on his face stands in a dimly lit environment. He is wearing a dark jacket over a checkered shirt, with shadowed surroundings that make his face the primary focus.

We all know at least one older person who complains at length about all the things they dreamt of doing when they were younger, but couldn’t, and the regrets that go with unrealized dreams. Make your goals and wishes a priority, or create more attainable goals that you can pursue instead.

7. Stop insisting that others do things your way because that’s the “right” way.

An elderly man with a white beard and thinning hair wearing a red and black checkered shirt stands against a plain white background. He has an expressive face and is holding up his right index finger, as if making a point or giving advice.

Just because someone else does something differently than you doesn’t mean they’re doing it “wrong”. In fact, you may learn new, more efficient techniques than the ones you were taught if you open yourself up to that possibility instead of clinging to the “your way or the highway” mentality.

8. Stop resisting change.

A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a beard covers his mouth with both hands. He wears a gray t-shirt and appears to have a concerned or worried expression. The background features a white wall and window frames.

You might feel that various things were better when you were young—entertainment, community, and so on—and as such, you may feel resistance to modern changes. If you can learn to accept or even embrace them, you may discover that some things are far better now than they used to be.

9. Stop feeling resentment/bad feelings toward the youth.

An elderly person wearing glasses with hands clasped over the handle of a wooden cane. The background is slightly blurred, focusing on the hands and cane. The person is wearing a necklace with a cross pendant.

The next generations are going to do things differently, dress differently, and so on. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re out to cause you harm, or that they’re lowlifes who don’t have values or decency. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover just how great (and fiercely hardworking) young people can be.

10. Stop generalizing people and things.

A woman with short brown hair, wearing a light blue knit sweater, leans her head against a blue tiled wall. She gazes off to the side with a thoughtful expression. The background is blurred and suggests an outdoor setting.

Many older people who have a bad experience with a person of a particular culture will end up generalizing and assuming that everyone who shares that culture is inclined the same way. Don’t do this. If you’ve met one person, you’ve met that one person—they don’t reflect their entire ethnicity. The same goes for generalizing experiences based on one bad situation.

11. Stop being critical of others.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair is seated on a grey couch, making a frustrated or angry facial expression while pointing her finger forward. The background includes a lit floor lamp and a brick wall.

Nobody is ever in a position to judge another for their life choices, personal preferences, or actions that don’t hurt others. If someone else’s choices or behaviors don’t affect you personally, then mind your business and let them live life on their own terms, the same way that you like to do.

12. Stop isolating yourself.

A man with glasses and a beard is standing by a window, looking outside. He is wearing a gray sweater over a collared shirt. Natural light is illuminating his face, creating a thoughtful expression. The background shows a blurred view of trees and outdoor scenery.

Many old people get grumpy because they’re isolated and lonely. Avoid this potentiality by getting involved with your community and establishing roots now. This way, by the time you get old, you’ll have friends and supportive neighbors to enjoy life with.