When I moved to Italy in 2024, the first thing I noticed was the special way Italian nonnas, or grandmothers, live. They walk everywhere, across the city, without any assistance. Many of them dress like they were nine years old, but they don’t even try to hide their age.
When I saw a new wellness trend trending on social media, I was happy and not surprised. “Nonmaxxing” is the idea that anyone can maximize their life if they adopt the habits of Italian grandmothers. This is sensible guidance.
There’s certainly a lot to learn from Italian grandmothers. Italy leads the European Union in terms of life expectancy and is a country where the number of centenarians is increasing. A group of villages in Sardinia is one of Five Blue Zones of the world. online guidance Involved giving up social mediaEating home-cooked meals, wearing cotton nightgowns and welcoming friends for leisurely lunches. Some of these suggestions match how I have seen Italian grandmothers live. But as a health and science journalist, I’ve seen that there’s more to it than what looks good on Instagram or TikTok. In fact, 96-year-old Italian nonna Licia Fertz, living in Viterbo, Italy, says, the truth is exactly the opposite.
“I do my makeup and wear cheerful colors, even if I’m not leaving the house, because presenting myself well is an act of self-love,” says Furtz.
It looks like Italian nuns are the health gurus we all need. Read on to learn their secrets to a happier, healthier, and longer life.
embrace aging
I rarely see Italian nuns who don’t look their age. In fact, it’s one of the first things I noticed when I came here. At pools and beaches, it doesn’t matter how old they are; Women, including none, often wear bikinis. Honestly, it’s refreshing and emphasizes the cultural mindset that aging is a natural part of life.
Furtz tells SELF this this mentality This is the key to his living a long and healthy life. “Never think of yourself as old,” says Furtz. “You were born young.”
It turns out that as you age, having a more positive outlook on aging may even help you live longer. A recent study A relationship was found between women’s thoughts about aging and their actual speed of aging.
Sonya LyubomirskyA distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of How to Feel Loved, tells SELF that a mindset is like wearing a pair of glasses or a coat. “It definitely matters a lot what our mindset is when we think about aging,” says Lyubomirsky. “Is it a gift? Is it about wisdom, maturity and richness of life, or is it about decline and loss?” Both could be true, she says. “But you can choose.”
