When I moved to Italy in 2024, one of the first things I noticed was the very particular way Italian nonnas, or grandmas, live. They walk everywhere, frequently across the city, without any assistance. Many of them are dressed to the nines, but they also don’t try to hide their age.
I was then delighted – and unsurprised – when I came across a new wellness trend making the rounds on social media. “Nonnamaxxing” is the idea that anyone can maximise their life if they just embrace the habits of Italian grandmas. It happens to be sensible guidance.
There’s certainly a lot to learn from Italian grandmothers. Italy leads the European Union in life expectancy, and it’s a country where the number of centenarians is growing. A cluster of villages in Sardinia is one of the world’s five Blue Zones. Online guidance includes ditching social media, eating homemade everything, wearing cotton nightgowns, and welcoming unhurried lunches with friends. Some of these suggestions line up with how I’ve seen Italian grandmas live. But as a health and science journalist, I’ve noticed there’s more to it than what looks good on Instagram or TikTok. In fact, Licia Fertz, a 96-year-old Italian nonna based in Viterbo, Italy, says, quite the opposite is true.
“I put on my makeup and dress in cheerful colours, even if I’m not leaving the house, because presenting yourself well is an act of self-love,” Fertz says.
It seems that Italian nonne are the health gurus we all need. Read on to learn their secrets to a happier, healthier, and longer life.
Nonnacore is going strong.
Embrace ageing
I rarely see Italian nonne who don’t look their age. In fact, it’s one of the first things I noticed when I moved here. At the pools and beaches, it doesn’t matter how old they are; women, nonne included, frequently wear bikinis. Honestly, it’s refreshing and emphasises a cultural mindset that ageing is a natural part of life.
Fertz says this mindset is key to her living a long and healthy life. “Never think of yourself as old,” says Fertz. “You are born young.”
It turns out that as you age, having a more positive attitude about getting older could help you live longer, too. A recent study found an association between how women view ageing and the actual pace at which they age.
Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of How To Feel Loved, says a mindset is like putting on a pair of glasses or a coat. “It certainly matters very much what our mindset is when we think about ageing,” Lyubomirsky says. “Is it a gift? Is it about wisdom, maturity, and the richness of life, or is it about deterioration and loss?” Both can be true, she says. “But you can choose.”
Lend a hand
At school pick-up for my daughter, I don’t only see other parents. I also see Italian nonne. That’s because Italian grandmas are very involved in their grandkids’ lives and take an active role in caregiving. In fact, for better or worse, the Italian economy is supported by the unpaid labour of Italian grandmothers.
Research shows that caregiving later in life may lead to better ageing and act as a buffer against cognitive decline. One recent study found that grandparents who provided childcare – ranging from caring for sick grandkids, helping with homework, or driving them to school –scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests compared with those who didn’t help with childcare.
“I live with my grandson,” says Fertz. “I’m a great-grandmother, and every day spent with my great-granddaughter is a gift that never ceases to amaze me.”
Even if you’re not a grandparent, helping others can yield similar health benefits. According to research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people who volunteered more than 100 hours a year – versus those who volunteered zero hours a year – had a reduced risk of mortality, more optimism, and purpose in their lives.
Walk daily
Italian cities and villages are highly walkable, meaning walking isn’t something people do for exercise; it’s just a way of life. Even if someone has a car, sometimes a destination is only reachable on foot because of Italy’s infamously narrow streets. Gas is also more expensive in Italy. While this might be inconvenient for some, a walking-first lifestyle is associated with longevity.
“Walking is the most fundamental form of human physical activity and many, many hundreds of studies confirm that walking helps people age slower and better,” says Daniel Lieberman, a professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. “Walking helps you age well.”
Paola Mariotti, a paediatrician and nonna based in Florence, Italy, says that walking is very important to her, and was very important to her own grandparents, who didn’t have a car and walked everywhere. Today, as a more modern nonna, Mariotti focuses on walking at least 5,000 steps a day – which she tracks on her phone – but strives to get 10,000 steps or more, if possible, each day.
A 2025 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that even 15 minutes of fast walking a day can reduce premature death.
No gym, no problem?
Live mindfully
At cafes in Italy, I’m always struck by how Italian nonne drink un caffè. Usually, she is just enjoying her coffee and watching people walk by, rather than scrolling on her phone or sending emails on her laptop. Some might call this the dolce far niente, which means the sweetness of doing nothing. While it’s true that these moments of pause and presence are more common in Italy, there’s something deeper to them. They reflect how, as a culture, Italians are content to live more mindfully. They appreciate quality over quantity and don’t feel the need to constantly multitask for the sake of being productive.
In fact, Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in New York, says that nonnamaxxing has less to do with actual Italian grandmothers and more about Gen Z’s desire to escape hustle culture. “The appeal here is the fantasy of a life that feels grounded, warm, and unhurried,” Alpert says. “A lot of younger people are burned out by the pressure to constantly optimise themselves, be productive, and turn their lives into content.”
While in the moment, multitasking can feel like you’re being more efficient, researchers say that it actually does the opposite and can lead to increased stress levels.
The antidote to hustle culture is a mindful one. This can be as simple as just enjoying a coffee without much else, as it’s been found that people who stay in the present moment age better and with more resilience.
Eat seasonally
In Italy, there’s an emphasis on eating what’s in season. In fact, my local market provides customers with a chart that identifies exactly what fruits and vegetables are in season each month. This lifestyle isn’t exactly optional – produce that’s out of season is harder to come by. Antonino De Lorenzo, professor emeritus of human nutrition at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, says the value isn’t in the variety of food, but in what’s gained when you choose seasonal produce, which is food that is less likely to have preservatives and industrial products.
“Freshness, variety, ripeness, and preparation methods can all exert a significant influence on a food’s nutritional profile,” De Lorenzo says. “A high-quality diet, maintained over time, promotes healthier ageing, characterised by better preservation of physical, mental, and cognitive functions, as well as reduced exposure to major chronic diseases.”
Indeed, the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on olive oil, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes – all popular in Italy – has been linked to longevity. As researchers tend to emphasise, the Mediterranean diet isn’t a fad diet. It’s a way of life.
Connect to your community
Italian grandmas are stereotypically known for being connected to their communities and neighbors – maybe even a bit too much, in the sense that it can veer into nosiness. Viral social media videos have joked that Italian nonne are Italy’s security system.
“The most important thing for living a long and happy life? Don’t isolate yourself,” Fertz says. “Always stay in touch with people, travel, plan outings, and get out of the house.”
According to a study in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, having a sense of purpose can help preserve cognitive function as you age. A separate study found that people with a higher sense of purpose had a reduced risk for depression and loneliness. Whether that is being in-the-know in your community, or finding a hobby to keep you busy, the key is to feel connected and busy.
Because boredom, Fertz says, is “the one thing that truly makes you old.”
This article was originally published on SELF.
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