Middle-aged Asian woman smiling

Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte talk about aging a lot (almost to an unrealistic degree) in the Sex and the City reboot. In real life, no one really brings it up that much. Gray hair, hearing loss, and the fine lines on your face are just things that happen, not hot topics over brunch or at someone’s kid’s piano recital. 

Thankfully, normalizing aging, which is still feared and frowned upon, could benefit from the show’s performative impetus. After all, when Carrie, the original influencer and a very cool tita, tells us gray hair is cool, or Maldon salt is the best, or falling in Dior is du jour, you believe it. 

Still, there’s more to aging gracefully than not dyeing your hair and making jokes about your lower back pain. If you still can’t help but wonder what it takes to age gracefully or what that even means, read on.

What Does Aging Gracefully Mean?

First things first: “aging gracefully” means different things to different people. Some people use the term to mean “not letting oneself go” physically and looking young despite their years.

To others, it means owning one’s age and everything that comes with it. It means going full-on gray, rocking the fine lines on your face, admitting that Gen-Z concepts confuse you, and how you’d much rather read a heavy textbook than a Kindle — like Miranda.

There’s no right or wrong definition. How you age is something that you and only you can define. But for the article, “aging gracefully” will mean owning your age while staying physically, mentally, and emotionally at your prime. Here’s how to do it.

Keep dreaming, keep creating.

The poet May Sarton said, “Real old age begins when one looks backwards rather than forward.” At whatever age, contributes greatly to mental health. Growing older and feeling the aches and pains that come with can lead you to think that there are certain things that you can no longer do, such as running a marathon or climbing a mountain.

Instead of fixating on what you can’t do, start setting realistic goals. This not only keeps you mentally agile and future-oriented but also helps keep you in shape. According to researchers at Harvard University, having a purpose leads to a longer, healthier life. Results from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study state that adults with a sense of purpose in life have decreased risk of weakened grip and slow walking speed as they get older.

Keep taking care of your skin.

You don’t stop needing skin care when you get older. If anything, you’ll need to take even better care of your skin at this point. Find the best anti-aging serum mask or the best anti-aging facial foam.

While it’s advisable to start practicing an anti-aging routine at the age of 25, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them when you’re 45. , for example, is the most promising available treatment for aging, states the Journal of Clinical Interventions in Aging. 

Incorporate retinol in your skincare routine via POND’S Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Essence. It has niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that boost collagen production and help hydrate and even out the skin tone. For undereye brightening, use POND’S Age Miracle Anti-Aging Eye Cream. It visibly reduces dark circles and instantly smoothens the fine lines on your face and undereye area with niacinamide, prebiotic complex, and blur technology.

Have an attitude of gratitude.

It sounds preachy, but it’s true. According to Harvard Health, in a more mindful, purposeful manner can help you feel happier and even boost your immune system. It helps you make the most of good experiences and not take anything for granted while strengthening your relationships and improving your health.

While you may already feel grateful on the inside, according to a joint study by the University of California and University of Miami, writing it down in a journal can reinforce these feelings. The study found that people who did this feel better about their lives. As a bonus, they also exercised more regularly.

Having fine lines on your face doesn’t make you old — take them as a reminder of the life you’ve already lived and as motivation to shape the life that’s yet to come. How you age — or don’t age — is your prerogative.