A long and healthy life is a boon few people are blessed with. But, there are a number of different habits you can adopt to ensure you are one of them. In fact, more and more studies are being conducted to understand these habits and the secrets of longevity.
Scientists study super-agers (that have lived more than 90 years) to understand their secrets of longevity, and what helped them lead long disease-free lives. And, the results are not surprising at all. Nearly all super-agers have one thing in common – healthy life-long habits. The key term here is ‘life-long’, as it highlights the power of sustainably maintaining healthy habits.
So, the biggest secret of longevity is longevity – maintaining healthy habits across the majority of your lifespan. Some of these habits include
Mental health and happiness
It is a well-established fact that a healthy body needs a healthy mind. However, with the pace of the world we live in, it is often difficult to keep up. And, our mental health takes the backseat. It is necessary that this pattern must come to an end. Otherwise, poor mental health may manifest itself in physical illnesses and psychosomatic disorders. Hence, it is important that you prioritize your happiness and keep your mental health in check. Some downtime every day, even if it is just 10 minutes, can help your mind relax and unwind from the long exhausting workday. And, it is worth it.
Physical activity
The common consensus between all super-agers is that physical activity is of utmost importance. It improves your metabolism, keeps fatigue at bay, and ensures the health of your bones and muscles. This does not necessarily mean that you spend hours at the gym, but that you must move. It could be something as simple as walking your pet every day or setting up your garden in the backyard. Anything that works for you and keeps you moving.
Purpose and sense of belonging
As people grow old and retire from their professional careers, they begin to feel the loss of a purpose. In such a case, it is important to find something that motivates you to get out of bed every morning. This could be anything – a volunteering position, a recently discovered talent, or even spending time with your family and friends. At the end of the day, your purpose is something that centres you and motivates you to never stop learning. It gratifies your intellect and gives you a sense of belonging. And, when you find it, you are strongly driven to become the best at it. You want to help others around you, give back to the world, and even explore sweet serenity.
Strong support system
When it comes to your support system, quality is far more important than quantity. Surrounding yourself with people that follow healthy habits encourages you to do the same. And, this paves the way for long term benefits. When you spend time with friends and colleagues that inspire you, you feel motivated to do your best. When you invest in quality time with your family, it nurtures and nourishes your mind and soul. At the end of the day, having a strong support system makes you feel confident and secure. And, you can then achieve your highest potential.
Healthy food habits
This one comes as no surprise. Maintaining a healthy diet and healthy food habits is, perhaps, the most obvious secret of longevity. All super-agers swear by it. They recommend that you consume a variety of plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains. Such diets come with a variety of benefits. They are packed with antioxidants, reduce your risk of heart diseases and cancer, regulate blood sugar levels, and help combat hypertension. Their effects are almost immediate, and you will notice a difference. On the other hand, diets that are rich in processed and packaged junk food often come with grave side-effects. These effects don’t show up right away, and can cause irreparable damage, even knocking a few years off your lifespan.
Eight hours of sleep
For the hundredth time, sleep is important. It is beneficial for your physical well-being as well as your mental health. It allows your body time for relaxation and rejuvination. Here, your limbs recover from the wear and tear of the day, your brain actively oversees and performs “maintenance” work, and your body restores its energy for another day of work. A consistent sleeping pattern with eight hours of sleep every day can do wonders for your body.
Moderation is the key element in the secrets of longevity
The most important of all, moderation is a useful tool to adopt for the long run. Whatever you do, do it in moderation. Eat until you feel 80% full and not 100% full. Drink one or two glasses of wine and not the whole bottle in a single sitting. Work until 80% of your energy is consumed; running on 100% too many times can lead to burnout. The truth is that extremes of anything can often have devastating side-effects. This is why it is important to strike a balance and maintain moderation in all walks of your life.
We, as humans, have always been curious to unlock the secrets of longevity.
And, it may come as a surprise but there is no magic potion that protects longevity. There is no miracle remedy that will keep you young and thriving. It’s the little things, the healthy habits, done consistently that makes all the difference. So, the secret to longevity is to consistently look after your body and health. A little discipline goes a long way.
