How I Stay Young at 48 – This is My Secret

People rarely believe me when I tell them my age. Here’s why.

I hear that a lot these days.

“What? You’re 48? You look like you’re 35 – at most.”
I always thank them politely, but deep down I think: this is no coincidence. There’s a reason I look younger than I am, and it’s not about genes or luck. It’s about what I do every day, all year round.

So now, for the first time, I’ve decided to write down my secret—or rather, my everyday habits, routines, mindset, and biohacks—for anyone who’s ever wondered how I manage to stay vital, energetic, and (obviously) younger than my actual age.

This isn’t a guide to stopping aging—it’s a guide to aging well.

1. I Exercise Every Day – Not to be Thin, But to be Strong

I’ve been running for decades. For me, it’s more than exercise – it’s therapy, stress management, and a daily dose of dopamine. I vary between running, strength training, mobility sessions, and long walks. It’s nothing excessive – but it’s consistent.

I’ve noticed that physical activity does more for my appearance than almost anything else:

• Blood circulation = fresh skin
• Sweat = detox
• Strength = posture and energy

People think youth is about a smooth face. I think it’s about how you move and how you glow from within. Over the past year, I’ve cut back a little on running and focused more on rowing and strength training at home. But the principle is the same – the most important thing is to move and be active every day.

Rowing machines are excellent exercise and provide natural strength training for the whole body.

The older you get, the more important it is to focus on strength training and take extra testosterone. Take a testosterone test at home to find out for sure. Especially at my age, it’s important to keep an eye on this.

I can also recommend health tests for home use to optimize your diet and find out which supplements you really need to add to your daily diet.

2. I Focus on Nutrition – Not on Diet

I don’t count calories. I don’t weigh my food. But I am very conscious of what I put into my body. I often have a green smoothie with eggs in the morning and/or evening. In my post about supplements that work, I have provided a more detailed recipe for my green smoothie.

Here are some of the most important supplements I take every day, such as spirulina, chlorella, creatine, and collagen. Further down, I have a list of additional supplements that I use regularly.

My basic philosophy is simple:

• Eat as clean as possible – avoid ultra-processed foods
• Prioritize protein and good fats
• Don’t be afraid of natural carbohydrates
• Eat colors – vegetables, berries, root vegetables

I often eat the same things: eggs, salmon, avocado, berries, almonds, chicken, potatoes, broccoli. It may sound boring. But the body loves predictability – and you can tell.

3. I Take Sleep and Recovery Seriously

If there is one true anti-aging elixir, it is sleep. When I started optimizing my sleep quality – not just the length – I noticed a huge difference in:

• Skin elasticity
• Mental focus
• Workout results
• Immune system

I sometimes use magnesium threonate or GABA supplements to wind down. I avoid screens after 9 p.m., and while I was living in Finland, I had blackout curtains. Here in Malta, however, it’s darker at night during the summer, so they’re not really necessary.

I also use one of my many massage devices daily. This could be my massage boots, massage gun, or massage bench, which I use to avoid stiffness in my back, neck, or legs. These have helped me a lot with recovery.

Periodically, I have trouble waking up too early and only get 5-6 hours of sleep a night. When that happens, I always make sure to get 1-2 power naps during the day to recharge.

4. Yes – I use Supplements (and Biohacks)

I love to experiment. But I only use supplements that I have tested myself over time, noticed an effect from, and that are supported by research.

My basic stack (daily):

I have also tried Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, PQQ and psychobiotics for periods of time.

And no, this is not about miracle pills. It’s about giving your body the right building blocks to repair itself, every day. I also believe that supplements work most effectively when you are otherwise taking care of your health in the right way.

5. I Manage Stress Before it Shows on my Face

Stress ages you. Period. It shows in your eyes, your posture, your skin, the way you talk.

I have daily routines for mental recovery:

• Long walks without my phone
• Meditation (10 minutes/day with Headspace)
• Gratitude reflection
• Writing in my journal

But perhaps most importantly, I don’t try to control everything anymore. It has changed my life.

6. What I don’t do

• I rarely drink alcohol and choose my occasions carefully.
• I use SPF year-round and avoid being in the sun during the hottest hours of the day
• I don’t jump on every new diet trend
• I don’t sleep 5 hours and call it a “productivity hack.” If I’ve slept poorly, I take power naps during the day.

This is boring. But it works. It’s the difference between looking fresh at 48 – or worn out.

My Secret? It’s not Really that Secret

“Youth is not a number. It’s a vibration.”

I believe that youthfulness is an effect of how you live. Not a goal in itself. When you move with energy, think clearly, recover well, and feed your body the right fuel—something happens. You glow. And it shows.

My skincare routine is pretty simple. My “anti-aging” strategy isn’t in my bathroom cabinet – it’s in my daily choices.

My skincare routine is pretty simple. My “anti-aging” strategy isn’t in my bathroom cabinet—it’s in my daily choices.

To be honest, though, I do use skincare products from the brand Augustinus Bader, which aren’t the cheapest. But I honestly don’t think skincare has much effect if you don’t take care of your health in other ways.

Final Words

I’m 48. I’m proud of that. But I don’t feel close to 50; in my body, I feel more like I did in my 20s. I feel curious, alert, alive.

And that’s perhaps the biggest trick of all: Never stop growing, developing, and taking care of yourself—inside and out.