Happiness is a fountain of youth.

From numerous studies, our expert Sven Voelpel knows: You are truly as old as you feel! And: Being happy can add up to 7.5 years to your life. Here's how:

It's never too late. If we view stress as positive, we can live up to 7.5 years longer. Other top anti-aging methods include a healthy diet and exercise. We should always tell ourselves: The older we get, the happier we become, because we become emotionally more stable and benefit from experiences and beautiful moments. Great prospects, right? 1. Nothing is impossible! What's stopping us from climbing a 3000-meter peak at 75 or finding a new professional challenge? Nothing, as long as we feel fit and ready for new tasks. With the right preparation, we can implement plans at any age. The keyword is self-efficacy. Let's ask ourselves: What do we dare to do? We should focus only on that and not let others convince us that we are too old for something. Calendar age has limited significance. What matters is how old we believe ourselves to be. 2. Curiosity makes us wise People who age have a strong zest for life. Gathering new experiences, learning something new, and challenging the mind is a balanced fitness program. The brain is like a muscle that weakens if not used and excels when continuously stimulated. Complex tasks like learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, or engaging in volunteer work provide holistic challenges. 3. It's never too late If we view stress as positive, we can live up to 7.5 years longer. Other top anti-aging methods include a healthy diet and exercise. We should always tell ourselves: The older we get, the happier we become, because we become emotionally more stable and benefit from experiences and beautiful moments. Great prospects, right? 4. Optimism keeps us young! We can think of positive thinking as a mental muscle that we can train. We initiate a process in which we change our basic attitude. When something negative happens to us, we accept it as a given. This brings us into harmony with life, giving our daily lives a positive touch. 5. Change course instead of hitting the brakes! Active retirement is the magic formula. Either continue working or seek new challenges. This increases blood flow to the brain. Passively sitting on the couch is literally deadly. 6. Live as desired, not as usual! The question of living situation is essential for quality of life in old age. Therefore, we should clarify our own wishes in advance. Home or Hawaii, alternative concepts like senior shared housing or owning a house? The most important thing that must be at the forefront of these concepts is that we are not alone. 7. Fitness first Exercise is a true fountain of youth that we can let flow effortlessly – bike instead of car, stairs instead of elevator. Practically, by training our body, we automatically train our mind. Starting the TV evening regularly with half an hour on the exercise bike works wonders. 8. We are the creators of our age Age is no longer a brief elegy to life before. It is a time of possibilities and challenges because we know much more about health than our grandparents. With the right attitude, we can play at the forefront. We have "age" in our hands, so we can also decide how to make it vibrant. 9. Social contacts Insurance for retirement is recommended. Equally important for a good old age are social contacts: As soon as we communicate, we are mentally challenged. This dampens stress, brings joy, and gives life meaning. Through social interaction, the brain forms new synapses – and that keeps us young. 10. Sex? Not just for the young Enjoying life also means expressing your sexuality and freeing yourself from moral beliefs that suggest nothing happens in bed after 60. What you enjoy is allowed. The right to sexual self-determination should not end at the door of the nursing home.