Martha Stewart, 84, Shares Her Secret to Feeling Fabulous at Any Age: ‘Make Self-Care Part of Your Routine’
The lifestyle icon opens up about the keys to confidence, effortless hosting and more!
Key Takeaways
- Martha Stewart, 84, opens up about feeling great at any age. Hint: Stay active!
- Her newest book, The Martha Way, a guide to "elevating the everyday," is on sale now.
- Plus, she reveals the perfect drink and meal to serve at summer parties.
After four decades, Martha Stewart remains the true gold standard for entertaining— and living—with effortless elegance.From bestselling cookbooks to hit TV shows, housewares, magazines and beyond, the 84-year-old lifestyle icon has built a lasting empire—and she isn’t slowing down anytime soon. “I’m 100% active all the time,” Martha tells Woman’s World. “I always thrive when I’m working. You know, I’m not thinking about retiring at all.”
Between her newest book, The Martha Way—which marks her 102nd release—and her new restaurant, The Bedford, at Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, she’s certainly busy. But the magic of Martha lies in her ability to balance work and leisure seamlessly.
To kick off summer, she’s looking forward to her beloved tradition of gardening and gathering with friends. “We open the house for the summer and enjoy planting, hiking and the beautiful Maine landscape. It’s just a fabulous weekend—I’ve done it for 30 years,” Martha tells us as our new cover star this week (pick up your copy here). Here, Martha opens up about aging well, the key to fuss-free parties—and how her dad’s long-ago advice still fuels her confidence today.
Plan ahead for parties
“Making lists is very important when you’re hosting,” Martha advises. “Write down as much as you can so you don’t forget anything. Then after, you do your shopping and prep. I do a timed list of what to do when—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday—leading up to the event. I do it all chronologically. I’m good at it now because I know how long things take, but read your recipes, check times—make sure you have everything.”
Refresh your space—easily!
Surprisingly, Martha says it’s a cinch to enhance your space with small updates. “First off, simply being more organized elevates the everyday,” she says. “I’m redecorating the first floor of my house right now. I noticed some of my chairs looked oldish, so I’m reupholstering them—it makes me happy. Everything’s looking beautiful.” Her easy advice: Small tweaks can make a big impact. “Polish the brass, polish the silver, touch up the paint if there are chips on the woodwork. I just changed a rug in one room the other day because it looked worn—and now, the space feels fresh and prettier.”
Find calm in ‘me time’
Making self-care part of your routine instead of a luxury is one key to aging well, she says. “I go to the gym every day,” she adds. “Well, I actually go to Pilates or the gym every day and that helps a lot,” she continues. “I’m so busy, but you have to make time for yourself. I schedule foot reflexology appointments, too. I go to a nice place in Mount Kisco. Also, meeting a friend for a drink or a dinner can turn your whole week around. Those are all little things that alleviate stress.”
Believe in yourself
Encouragement at the right time can shape a lifetime of confidence and possibility—something Martha knows firsthand. “The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad,” she says. “He always encouraged me to reach for the stars. He said to me, ‘You’re an intelligent girl, Martha. You can do anything if you try.’ I think that was just the best. First, saying I was intelligent, then encouraging me to try anything—that was extremely helpful in my life.”
Don’t miss Martha’s newest projects!
Since 1982, Martha has released more than 100 books and her newest, The Martha Way, is a blueprint for daily living. “I’m so excited,” says Martha. “This is a guide to shaping a well-kept home and life, bringing beauty and order to every corner of your day.” In it, she shares easy-to-follow tips and advice on seasonal cooking, entertaining, organizing and gardening. She also just launched her first-ever kitchen electrics collection— from slow cookers to air fryers—available at Amazon.com.
Quick questions, honest answers—with Martha!
Woman’s World: What’s one thing that brought you joy today?
Martha Stewart: “Waking up to my cats’ beautiful faces. I do that every morning—it’s the best.”
Woman’s World: Where’s your happy place?
Martha Stewart: “At my farm with all my animals.”
Woman’s World: One thing that always makes any party better?
Martha Stewart: “A good drink.”
Woman’s World: Speaking of drinks, which cocktails are good to serve at parties?
Martha Stewart: “For Memorial Day, I’d say probably margaritas—fresh fruit margaritas. Or I’d serve Caipirinhas. These are my favorite drinks. They’re all in my 100th cookbook!” [Martha: The Cookbook: 100 Favorite Recipes]
Woman’s World: Is there a moment you were ever starstruck by a celebrity?
Martha Stewart: “Of course. Let me see. Who did I just meet that I really admire? Oh, I just met Guy Ritchie. I loved meeting him. His show MobLand was my favorite show to watch last year!”
Woman’s World: Most memorable concert?
Martha Stewart: “Eric Clapton.”
Woman’s World: Do you have a favorite—or a go-to— summertime meal?
Martha Stewart: “Yes. I love paella. Paella cooked outside over a wood fire.”
Woman’s World: What do you look forward to most at the start of summer?
Martha Stewart: “It’s the Memorial Day parade in Northeast Harbor. All the old cars come out. I drive my Edsel Roundup station wagon because the house I bought was owned by Edsel Ford— and so I drive the station wagon in the parade. And it’s all very silly and Americana and very old-fashioned. We eat lobsters after—I just love it.”
Pick up your copy of Martha’s new book, The Martha Way, here or wherever books are sold!
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