Aging Well

2/26/09. Psychiatrist George Vaillant, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, offers advice for aging well:

• A good marriage before age 50
• Ingenuity to cope with difficult situations
• Altruistic behavior
• Stop smoking
• Do not use alcohol to the point where your behavior shames you or your family
• Stay physically active. Walk, run, mow your own grass, play tennis or golf
• Keep your weight down
• Pursue education as far as your native intelligence permits
• After retirement, stay creative, do new things, learn how to play again