On October 11, 2024, spirited senior citizens in Linyi city, East China's Shandong Province, bring the square alive as they undulated colorful ribbons in a mesmerizing dragon dance performance. Photo: VCG
A new vlog genre titled "high-energy lifestyle of a post-90s self-disciplined woman" has recently gone viral across Chinese social media. Notably, the term "post-90s" here does not refer to those born after 1990, but rather to "life after 90 years of age." The pioneer of this trend is a 90-year-old grandmother who starts her day around 7 am, preparing three meals, caring for children, watering plants, feeding stray cats and doing chores until 11 pm. Her videos, set to the upbeat track as background music, document her fast-paced daily routine in rapid cuts, the news portal 36Kr reported.The Global Times learned that since the account posted her first video in January, her followers, on Douyin, a Chinese video platform, have grown to 1.06 million, with two videos surpassing a million likes, while her Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, account has gained over 180,000 followers.
Inspired by her, an increasing number of youthful spirit agers have joined the "high-energy" video trend. Related hashtags on Douyin have garnered 6.8 million views.
Silver hair can gleam
80-year-old Yu Weiying from Lishui, East China's Zhejiang Province, is one of the golden-age go-getters. She began documenting her "high-energy elderly" life in February this year. Rising around 6 am daily, Yu meticulously styles her hair to perfect her look. After that, she tidies and arranges her grocery store each morning before opening. At 7 am, she prepares a nutritious breakfast for her family, followed by exercise. Most of Yu’s mornings are spent managing her shop, effortlessly delivering several brooms on her shoulder to her customers, and hauling nearly 100 bamboo hats from storage with undiminished vigor, according to her video.
At 11 am, Yu prepares lunch and takes a midday break. Her afternoons are dedicated to household chores and entertainment, such as preparing snacks for her granddaughter or cycling to visit friends and relatives. In the evening, after her daily dinner, Yu goes out for a walk or watches TV shows at home. Around 9 pm, her 14-hour day comes to an end as she gets ready for bed.
Regarding netizens describing her routine as "high-energy," Yu noted that while she’s accustomed to this rhythm, having lived this way for years, it’s also a deliberate choice to “spice up my golden years.” Yu told the Global Times that the minutiae of her daily life are infused with her passion and respect for every day. While some netizens joked, saying that "silver hair meets boundless energy," she truly believes that letting life slip away is where aging truly begins.
"True high-energy living isn’t about perpetual busyness, but about consciously choosing how to spend your time," she said. "I see myself as no different from the young. Age, to me, is just numbers flipping on a calendar."
When asked how she maintains such vitality in her 80s, Yu’s answer is straightforward: "Self-discipline brings order to life, and passion adds warmth to each day." She boasts the belief that silver hair can gleam and twilight years can shine - so long as one’s passion for life persists, every day becomes a fresh beginning.
Intergenerational healing
Nimble movements, robust vitality and vibrant lifestyle - embodied by these energetic seniors - stand in stark contrast to younger generations who often talk of "lying flat," sparking both admiration and self-deprecating humor among netizens. Some jokingly comment under their videos: "A 20-year-old ‘old person’ lying in bed watching a 90-year-old ‘youthful girl’ live her disciplined day," while others said "I struggle just to get out of bed, yet from dusk to dawn she doesn’t stop!"
These elderly individuals convey a philosophy that passion for life and exploration know no age limits, prompting many young people to reflect. Wu, a devoted fan of these "high-energy seniors," enjoys watching their videos to unwind. Once trapped in emotional exhaustion from work and daily chores, she had lost interest in everything. However, after watching their zest for life, Wu realized: "Life could, in fact, be lived in such an extraordinary way."
Inspired by this group of high-spirited “online grandparents,” Wu began hiking with friends on weekends, exploring niche shops and appreciating the beauty in ordinary life. She said she was deeply moved by the vitality presented by the elderly in the videos. Compared to self-disciplined bloggers in her own age group, these videos featuring energetic seniors didn't trigger anxiety - instead, they reignited her passion for life, she told the Global Times.
The younger generation's fascination with elderly vloggers constitutes a form of intergenerational psychological healing. In high-pressure society, where vulnerable youth grapple with physical and mental exhaustion, live-wires elders present an idealized life template through their endless vitality and perpetual exploration ethos. Their approach to living serves as a master key of wisdom, unlocking doors of self-reflection for younger viewers. In fast-paced modern world shrouded by anxiety and uncertainty, these silver-haired influencers paint an alternative life panorama through their unhurried composure and undimmed passion for living.
This vibrant philosophy of life not only inspires young people to reevaluate their personal trajectories, but also reveals that every life stage holds potential for radiance and "high-energy" existence. These elders demonstrate through lived experience that seniors are far from societal burdens - they can emerge as trendsetters of lifestyle, discoverers of subtle beauty and even spiritual mentors for younger generations. Their distinctive approaches to living effectively dismantle age-related barriers, injecting society with continuous vitality and hope.
