Older Yet Still Productive
- IADE25040001
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
Mahathir Mohamad’s tips for reaching 100
n 2025, Tun Mahathir Mohamad turns 100 years old and is still known for being productive. His secret isn’t one grand strategy, but simple habits practiced consistently. Here is a summary of lessons often associated with his lifestyle that we can start emulating today.
Keep the Mind “In Training”
Clear thinking is trained, not something you wait for. Get used to testing ideas, read to broaden your perspective, then write to organize your thoughts. Teaching, giving talks, or joining healthy debates helps keep your reasoning sharp. Physical health is necessary, but inner well-being is just as important, because a calm heart allows the mind to work more clearly.
The Body Must Move
Don’t sit still for too long. Stand up every few dozen minutes, stretch, and fit in light walks while reflecting on the day’s plans. A tidy sleep pattern—enough sleep at night, a set time to wake up, and making time for a short midday nap, can help us better maintain focus, mood, and immunity so they stay steady.
Eat What You Need, Not What You Want
Disciplined eating means portions that are just enough. Choose simple, fresh foods and be consistent with mealtimes. Not smoking and not drinking alcohol give breathing room to the heart, the brain, and improve your quality of sleep. A reasonable, non-excessive lifestyle matters more than extreme regimens. The key lies in small habits repeated every day.
Manage Your Energy, not Just Your Time
Not all fatigue must be fought. When your body asks for rest, pause for a moment. Then, once refreshed, continue with work that matters. Avoid chasing shortcuts, because lasting results are born from quiet discipline. Be grateful for simple things; if today you can still walk, enjoy good food, and laugh, take good care of that.
Quality Over Quantity
A long life is a good, but what fills that life determines its value. We may not know how long we will live, but we can choose how to live. Live in an orderly way, be useful, and bring happiness to those around you. Life is not merely about pursuing years, but about seeking meaning. When your life is of use, the desire to keep living grows day by day.
In short, pick one habit to start today: a 20-minute walk, reading a few pages, or going to bed a little earlier. Tomorrow, add one more small thing, and with consistency, the benefits will find us instead.
