As youngsters, many of us scoffed at the idea of going to bed at a reasonable hour and being up by daybreak the following day. Such behavior is typically dismissed as something that “old-timers do.”
But as we grew older, we began seeing the logic behind such habits and how practicing them can actually add efficiency to our lives. Many shared this realization in a recent Reddit thread about “old person habits” that make the most sense.
Whether it’s doing grocery shopping before noon to beat the throngs of people or sewing as a meditative activity, you may relate with at least one of these.
#1
Closed captioning on anything I watch.
Darth_Krios:
I can't hear without my subtitles!
Image credits: taylorado
#2
All weekend errands are done before noon to beat the crowds. If I can’t get there before then, I’ll wait.
Oldachrome1107:
The proper old person errand hack is doing them on a Wednesday at like 1:30 pm.
Image credits: StumblinThroughLife
#3
Sewing / crocheting it’s literally meditation 🧘♀️.
Image credits: Few-Housing-8452
#4
I have started shutting up lol. I was advised, by an older, wiser supervisor, to talk less. I never paid attention to the fact that some people take advantage of what I just considered friendly openness, but may be considered over-sharing. Not everyone is your friend. Some people have an agenda, and are waiting for you to give them something they can use.
#5
Pill organiser. SO convenient.
Image credits: alexi_lupin
#6
Wanting to stay home. Have them come to me.
Image credits: Cultural_Wash5414
#7
Carrying ibuprofen in my pursue always. You never know when one might need.
Image credits: BaseballSwimming5274
#8
Spending time in a peaceful and quiet home instead of partying.
Image credits: Ashamed-Reporter3171
#9
Going out with my husband for lunch instead of dinner. No overly stuffed belly before bed, can get in your pjs and relax at night and talk about the lovely lunch, and you can enjoy the views or gardens at the pub or restaurant.
#10
I get to the airport plenty early for flights and don’t care about waiting around if the lines are short. I’m 27. I’ve had enough close calls for one life.
#11
Comfy pants. Comfy shoes. Life's too short for uncomfortable pants and shoes.
Image credits: PersonalityTough6148
#12
Gardening….
And as my grandfather said, learn to age gracefully and accept the changes as they come.
LizardPossum:
It's wild how gardening just snuck up on me. I got a couple of herbs, then a Venus flytrap - just a couple. And it exploded from there. Now I have a whole "tea garden" full of herbs I make tea with plus a bunch of veggies and cool, weird plants that just look cool.
Image credits: Soggy_Beautiful8076
#13
Earplugs at concerts and movie theaters, thank me in a few decades.
Image credits: reecord2
#14
Granny trolly. Life saver.
batteryforlife:
Seconded. Looks stupid, friggin lifesafer for the big weekly shop with no car.
Image credits: FigTechnical8043
#15
Sitting in the shade and enjoying the breeze when I am by the water. You are hidden in plain sight and you see and hear a lot.
Image credits: Large-Comfort5757
#16
Ignore the clock, eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired.
#17
You know those "grabber" things that they market to "old people" so they can reach stuff up on h**h shelves? Those are really handy at any age, I've got a couple around the house. They're really useful when the dog rolls his favorite ball under the bed and sits there whining at you to get it for him.
#18
Not caring about my looks/body image! I still struggle with that, especially the culture we live in, but since I hit 50 I just care so much less! I'm definitely not going to judge my worth by what someone else thinks. Especially when they're trying to sell something!
Image credits: Motor_Relation_5459
#19
Hold the railing when walking up or down stairs.
#20
Resting my eyes!
My grandma used to just sit there with her eyes closed and I’d always ask if she was asleep. But I get it now, sometimes they just need a little break.
Image credits: Different_Net_7608
#21
Taking my shoes off at the door and stepping straight into my slippers.
#22
Drive slower than usual in parking lots - it can save a life or prevent a serious injury.
#23
Early bed time/Early rising.
FortuneTellingB**bs:
This! I think I just am old, because one day I went to bed at 9pm and it just stuck. It's the greatest.
the_owl_syndicate:
It dawned on me the other day, I LIKE to sleep, so why am I fighting going to bed? Went to bed early, slept through the night, felt so relaxed and calm the next day.
Image credits: Lilith_Learned
#24
Going to eat at a nice place at reasonable non busy hour of 4:30.
Image credits: Accurate-Law-555
#25
Taking naps. Never felt better. No wonder my grandparents have lived so long.
#26
Not everything needs to be rushed. I’ll get there when I get there.
Also, be yourself and don’t worry so much about what others think.
Image credits: big_heart_912
#27
Keeping a running grocery and to do list. "Writing it down later" is a young man's thing.
#28
Pay attention when walking down stairs.
#29
So this may just have been my personal perception, but I always associated recliner chairs with the aged.
When I was couch shopping with my husband we tested one in a jokey “let’s see our future” kind of thing and OMG I’ve never known comfort like it. We’ve been recliner people ever since. We have an electric twin seater with drink holders and a compartment storage for remotes etc. I love it!
Image credits: Lizzy_Tinker
#30
Paper printouts on my vacation itinerary. As someone with a common name it helps if I have the confirmation number handy. Having a piece of paper with the information for my flight/hotel/rental car means I don't need my phone.
#31
Washing and reusing zip lock bags.
Image credits: New_Schedule8886
#32
Showing up to vote.
#33
Grunting when I stand up. Actually, I didn't adopt it, it adopted me!
#34
I got into knitting last year, and now I'm like, ok I get the appeal now. I recently started trying crochet, too.
#35
Lap blankets. I got a heated blanket last year for Christmas (for myself), and it's amazing. I don't have to switch out the blankets by which one is warmer, I can just set the blanket to whatever heat level is right and I'll be toasty.
Image credits: the_scar_when_you_go
#36
Slippers and a blanket for watching TV with my partner.
Why bother heating the entire room when you can both snuggle under a blanket with the dog?
#37
I won’t buy any clothing that doesn’t have a little bit of stretch. I accidentally bought a denim jacket without, and had to get rid of it because it made me feel claustrophobic. I wonder how I ever tolerated all the 'cute but uncomfortable' outfits I used to wear.
Image credits: Taminella_Grinderfal
#38
There’s always room for ice cream at least according to all my grandparents.
#39
A place for everything and everything in its place. If I bring in something new, something older goes. Makes you think before buying and clutter way down.
#40
Carrying a plastic bag full of other plastic bags. You never know when you’ll need one, and somehow, it just feels like the responsible thing to do.
Image credits: Intrepid-Zebra-7311
#41
Sitting on my porch is rather nice.
#42
Changing straight into pajamas the second I’m home. You won’t catch me hanging out in the house in my street clothes. I’m either n***d or in my jammies.
#43
Moving carefully. Arthritis struck me before I hit my 40s and I very quickly learned that moving very carefully keeps the pain down a bit.
#44
Getting a pair of those ugly a*s white new balances. They’re SO comfy.
Image credits: TheBrinkOfHorny
#45
A box of tissues in every room.
#46
Before standing up, repeat keywords for things you aim to accomplish. ‘Laundry’, ‘Window’, ‘Computer’. After you close the window, repeat ‘Laundry’ and ‘Computer’. It short-circuits that feeling of arriving in a room inexplicably.
#47
Shower chair. Should not have been so old people marketed.
Image credits: slaytician
#48
Not buying Starbucks lol. Just make coffee as home.
#49
Not spending money.
#50
Walking after meals. Even if it’s a block it still helps with not only digestion but weight loss.
#51
Heated seats in the car. Soothing to the sore back, and warming to the chilly a*s.
#52
Moderate breakfast, moderate lunch (avoid food comas) and light dinner for better sleep.
Image credits: AlaskaRoc
#53
Packing tea bags when I go on holidays!
#54
Wearing socks to bed in winter turns out warm feet, making it way easier to fall asleep.
#55
Avoiding social media like facebook, IG, twitter.
i use reddit, but it feels different here. reddit feels like i'm with my people.
all the other social media feels like insane people just screaming at each other.
#56
Birdwatching. All the time and wherever I’m at, too.
Image credits: HopefulWanderer537
#57
I always carry a clean handkerchief in my pocket.
#58
Keep my insurance and registration in a wallet in the glove box of the car. I feel so grown up.
#59
Driving exactly (or 5mph under) the speed limit and generally being a very safe and cautious driver.
I adopted this habit when I was driving for a living almost twenty years ago since my income at the time depended on a clean driving record, and it stuck. Almost everyone who rides with me complains that I'm a grandma driver. Jokes on them, I have k****r low insurance rates, never get tickets and haven't had an accident (knock on wood) in decades.
Y'know how much you have to speed and how far you have to be going for it to actually save you significant time? People are just out there risking their own lives and everyone's around them for all of 3 minutes. So dumb!
Image credits: CG_1313
#60
Yelling at kids to get off my lawn after manicuring my grass.
Image credits: Rare-Company-2668
#61
Lower the volume when I’m parallel parking.
#62
Complaining about young people.
Image credits: Paddlinginpoon
#63
Collecting cats.
#64
Getting out of bed properly lol. Roll onto your side and push yourself up that way. Your back will thank you.
#65
We do not buy it if we do not have a coupon. Also, we have McDonald's at home.
Image credits: Superb-Ag-1114
#66
Taking fiber.
#67
I’ve been eating dinner earlier. Gotta give food a chance to properly digest before bed.
#68
Staying at the airport hotel before or after a poorly timed flight (if I can afford it). Better sleep is a genius move.
#69
Stretch before you get out of bed.
#70
Wearing those straps on your glasses so you can wear your reading glasses around your neck when not using them.
#71
An older lady recommended flipping the garbage bags inside out so the seam is on the inside and your garbage bags won’t rip open as often. I still put my garbage in like this years later.
#72
Two meals a day. Breakfast at a civilised time (not 6am) and dinner early. Allows time for light evening snacks and a sensible bedtime to read for an hour or so. 3 full meals is actually too much most of the time.
#73
Using shower caps to keep my hair dry when I’m showering.
#74
Drinking mad tea all day long.
