Aging isn't what it used to be, and staying sharp past 60 is no longer rare, it's becoming the norm for those embracing curious, active lifestyles. I’ve seen this among elder entrepreneurs in my network as well as my own family. While society often equates aging with slowing down, research and practice prove that maintaining certain habits can keep cognitive functions intact and thriving well into later life. Let's explore eight actions that indicate not just mental agility but also a zest for life.
Staying Sharp with Eight Behaviors That Defy Age
1. Staying Curious Through Continuous Learning
Learning isn't just for school; it’s a lifelong tool. Picking up a new language, trying out a hobby, or exploring new tech platforms are signs that your brain is active. Research found that adults who actively challenge their brains with new knowledge experience better memory retention and mental flexibility. Platforms like Duolingo or classes on Coursera make access to new skills possible from your living room.
Tip: Start small. Dedicate 15 minutes daily to expanding your knowledge base.
2. Social Connections Are Anchors
Strong social networks, friends, colleagues, family, aren’t just comforting; they are also crucial for slowing mental aging. Regular interaction, laughter, and genuine conversations stimulate more brain regions than you might think. Isolation, on the other hand, is a silent contributor to cognitive decline.
How to keep social? If physical meetups are hard, consider joining virtual groups or leveraging weekly video calls with loved ones. You’d be surprised how much energy human connection brings.
3. Moving Your Body for a Moving Mind
Physical activity isn't just about muscle; it directly benefits the brain. Activities like yoga, daily walks, or even ballroom dancing boost blood flow to essential brain regions. According to a study on exercise and aging, participants over 65 showed improved memory and concentration after routinely exercising for just 30 minutes each day.
Pro-Tip: Experiment with combining physical and mental exercise. For example, Nordic walking while listening to a business podcast doubles the benefit.
4. Reading Widely and Often
Books remain one of the most accessible ways to keep expanding your mind. Whether it’s fiction, biographies, or industry-related material, reading nurtures empathy, problem-solving abilities, and mental agility. A recent survey shared by Scientific American even highlighted that regular readers show increased neural connectivity when processing information.
5. Engaging with Mental Challenges
This includes puzzles, games, or crosswords, anything requiring you to strategize or think critically. Cognitive stimulation helps create new neural pathways, strengthening memory and problem-solving abilities. A chess match over coffee, for example, does wonders for both memory and mood.
Mistake to avoid: Don’t become monotonous with challenges. Switch it up, Sudoku one day, Wordle the next.
6. Having a Strong Why or Purpose
Purpose doesn’t just get you out of bed, it contributes to mental and emotional resilience. Entrepreneurs, even in retirement or semi-retirement phases, often thrive because they're still investing energy into meaningful projects, whether it’s mentoring or creating something for their community. Research from the journal Psychological Science found that a sense of purpose is closely associated with a longer and healthier life.
7. Managing Stress Effectively
Stress can wreak havoc on memory, concentration, and mental clarity. Prolonged stress shrinks areas in the brain linked to learning and emotional regulation. Practices like deep breathing, meditation, or even walking in nature can dramatically reduce stress levels over time.
Personal Insight: Meditation apps such as Headspace are particularly helpful for beginners who want guided sessions without any distracting complexity.
8. Prioritizing Good Sleep
You often hear people say, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” and poor sleep leaves you running on fumes. Deep sleep stages, particularly REM, are essential for the consolidation of memories and learning. Regular bedtime routines, like sleep-friendly drinks (chamomile, anyone?) or limiting screen exposure, solidify this habit.
Common Mistakes to Watch Out For
- Overloading Your Schedule: A packed calendar can mean less time for quality reflection or exercise. Keep your commitments intentional.
- Neglecting the Basics: Don't overlook hydration, balanced meals, and sunlight in favor of gadgets or tech trends.
- Focusing Solely on Work: Purpose is great, but striking balance prevents burnout.
A Quick Guide to Start Implementing the Above Habits
- Day 1-5: Track how often you engage in social or cognitive activities. Use this as a baseline.
- First Week: Begin pairing habits. For example, start a podcast while walking to add layers to your learning.
- After Two Weeks: Reflect on which habit resonates most. Double down on it while adding one small adjustment each.
Seeing These Traits in Action
One of my investors, now in her mid-60s, demonstrates this perfectly, balancing international travel, daily workouts, and even launching a consultancy in emerging tech. On top of all that, her adaptive mindset helps her constantly learn about the markets she’s entering. It’s no surprise she’s still at the top of her game despite transitioning into what most would call “retirement age.”
By building intentional habits, you can reshape how aging looks, and feels, for you. Whether you're an entrepreneur choosing to keep evolving or simply someone enjoying life far away from deadlines, keeping your cognitive health vibrant is like investing in your future self. Life doesn’t end at 60; for many, it starts.
FAQ
1. What activities can help seniors maintain cognitive health?
Seniors can adopt habits such as continuous learning, social engagement, physical activity, reading, and mental challenges to retain cognitive sharpness. Explore habits for aging well on Silicon Canals
2. How does continuous learning benefit the brain?
Engaging in activities like learning new skills or languages enhances neuroplasticity, keeping the brain active and adaptable. Learn about neuroplasticity in aging on VeryWell Mind
3. Why are social connections important for seniors?
Strong social networks combat isolation and stimulate brain regions responsible for memory and emotional regulation. Read about the impact of social connections on mental health
4. Can physical exercise improve brain health?
Yes, exercise like walking or yoga boosts blood flow, improves memory, and enhances concentration. Discover exercise benefits for the brain on NCBI
5. How does reading contribute to cognitive function?
Reading increases neural connectivity and stimulates problem-solving skills, nurturing the mind's agility. Dive into the benefits of reading paper materials on Scientific American
6. What types of mental challenges promote cognitive resilience?
Activities such as puzzles, games, or learning new technologies create neural pathways and adapt the brain to novelty. Stay sharp with mental challenges
7. How does having a sense of purpose impact aging?
A strong sense of purpose fosters emotional resilience, motivation, and longer life expectancy. Explore the role of purpose in aging on Silicon Canals
8. Why is stress management critical for seniors?
Effective stress control prevents damage to memory-related brain areas and improves overall brain health. Learn about managing stress on the American Brain Foundation
9. How does sleep affect cognitive health?
Quality sleep consolidates memories and aids learning; poor sleep can accelerate cognitive decline. Explore tips to sleep better
10. What role does physical and social activity play in aging well?
Combining physical activities like walking with social engagement leads to improved mood and better mental health outcomes. Discover aging habits at Meadow Ridge
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.