‘I don’t want to waste my days’: Eva Longoria on thriving in your 50s

Eva Longoria, 51, has come a long way from being a Desperate Housewife on Wisteria Lane over 20 years ago. After becoming a star on the hit show, she says she’s continued to rely on hustle, passion and versatility to be wildly successful in a range of pursuits, from advocacy to entrepreneurship.

“I always ask myself what defines success for me,” Longoria said to AARP. “As I get older, it’s not some superficial thing. I’m at a point where I don’t want to waste my days.”

These days, she’s busy as a mother of a seven-year-old son, host of CNN’s Eva Longoria: Searching For, a foodie-travel show, and she’s also directing the anticipated Netflix comedy The Fifth Wheel, starring Kim Kardashian. Longoria is also a successful entrepreneur: More than 20 years ago, she founded a production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, with an emphasis on producing documentaries about farmworkers and food, which has produced such iconic projects as John Wick. She’s launched ventures in philanthropy for Latinas in education and entrepreneurship, fashion, hospitality, restaurants and fragrances, and she’s an investor in four soccer teams.

Speaking to AARP: The Magazine in an interview last week, the native Texan talks about her hustle—from flipping burgers at Wendy’s and working at oil change place as a teen while being head drum major, to moving to LA after winning Miss Corpus Christi USA in 1998, to earning a master’s in Chicano studies while shooting Desperate Housewives. “Everyone in my family had a master’s degree. I didn’t want to be the disappointment,” she told AARP.

Today, she’s keeping busy as ever, and diversifying her business interests is something she plans to continue with passion and intention.

“We only have so many years left. How are you going to spend them? What are you going to do in this moment? That focus makes getting older exciting,” the entertainment and business trailblazer continued. 

The Science Factor

Like Longoria, middle-aged individuals grow and redefine their goals through new interests.

Clinical research has shown that fulfillment in work pursuits can lead to well-being, happiness, and positive psychology, and can foster a meaningful, well-lived existence. Plus, the data reveals that living with intention can foster “wholeness, congruence, and value towards one’s self, life, and impact.” The intersection of job satisfaction and self-discovery can promote creativity, self-growth, and a sense of confidence for adults in their 50s and beyond. 

The science behind setting intentions is powerful. A 2018 study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found that setting clear, achievable intentions boosts satisfaction when we surpass them. This highlights the value of aligning our actions with intentions for greater purpose and emotional well-being. 

Additionally, older adults are becoming a more significant segment of the workforce. Understanding how to support or boost older workers’ job satisfaction is key, as it relates to positive work outcomes. Promoting a push toward happiness whether in work, or in life is something that Longoria touts.  She believes each person has to find their own journey and their own path. 

“I don’t think there’s a uniform formula for satisfaction,” Longoria told AARP. “You could do exactly what I did and not have the same outcome. I think everyone needs to find their own way.”

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