Older Americans Share Their Biggest Life Regrets

New data from a survey by Talker Research, commissioned by Mucinex, has revealed the quiet regrets of older Americans.

The survey, which polled 2,000 people across generations, found that for Boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—regret is often rooted in the personal.

Their biggest regret? Forty percent of Boomers wish they had spent more time with family and friends.

Relationships loom large in the list of regrets in older people. Thirty-eight percent wish they had spoken up in crucial moments, while 37 percent wish they hadn't fought with loved ones.

A file photo of a woman looking thoughtfully in a mirror. A survey has revealed the regrets of older Americans. shurkin_son/Getty Images

Breakups were another source of regret, with 14 percent saying they wished they hadn't ended a relationship.

But it's not just relationships that haunt Boomers. Almost a third (29 percent) regret not chasing their dreams—whatever they may be, while 32 percent wish they had traveled more.

Psychologist Dr. Eric A. Zillmer, a professor of neuropsychology at Drexel University explained that regrets likely have deep-rooted reasoning.

"Regret is a negative emotion that often hangs around longer than it should," Zillmer told Newsweek. "Indeed, as one gets older, one accumulates and carries these cognitions around like an unwanted backpack full of weight: 'I should have' or 'If only I had.'"

Lifestyle choices also weighed heavily with Boomers in the survey—30 percent wish they had gotten more sleep, 12 percent regret not striking a better work-life balance and 16 percent said that they wished they hadn't taken a particular job.

Some other regrets of the Boomer generation include not asking someone out on a date (9 percent) and not seeing their favorite band in concert (10 percent).

While regret is common, many older Americans seem to have learned to navigate these feelings successfully. According to the 2024 Happiness Report, despite any regrets they may have, the 60+ population is the happiest age group in the U.S., while those in their 20s report the highest levels of unhappiness.

When it comes to feelings of regret, Zillmer explained that it is important to confront them.

"The happiest people in the world live in the present, unburdened by their regrets of the past or their anxieties about the future," he said. "Most regrets are not logical and can be dismissed upon closer examination, or there is a compromise available."

Zillmer said that he encourages people to replace regret with thankfulness.

"The idea is to actively let go, visualize it, reset it, and focus on the present," he said. "That is, to replace regret with gratefulness, a main ingredient in happiness."