Who doesn’t want to live longer, folks? I know I sure do! I’m not yet done with everything this planet and the people on it have to offer. In fact, I feel as if I am just now starting to cross things off of my bucket list.
You are probably already doing the “basics” when it comes to longevity: eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep and exercising regularly. Now, it’s time to go a little deeper and take a closer look at some of the lessons you should learn for true longevity.
It’s about living better, not just living longer
True longevity is not just about adding a few years on to your lifespan. It’s also about boosting your life quality as you reach old age. The goal isn’t to keep people in nursing homes for longer; instead, it’s to keep people younger for a longer period of time so they don’t have to spend years in a nursing home.
Sometimes, deprivation isn’t a bad thing
Modern life is pretty comfortable, but a little bit of discomfort may encourage greater longevity. As noted by Harvard Medical School longevity researcher Dr. David Sinclair, we have systems built in to protect us during tough times, and these longevity genes don’t kick in unless our body believes times are about to be tough, such as during exercise or when we’re hungry (https://www.humnutrition.com/blog/dr-david-sinclair-longevity/). While this certainly doesn’t mean you should starve yourself or go to extreme measures to induce discomfort, it does mean that eating less sometimes and working out are worth doing, especially if you tend to overeat and don’t currently exercise regularly now.
Aim for happiness
Being happy can actually improve your odds of living a longer life. By that same token, it is also important to avoid stress and anxiety as much as you possibly can since both may impact your health and your overall lifespan.
It’s never too late to start longevity habits
The sooner you start, the better, but there really is no cut-off age for the implementation of longevity habits. You can make these changes when you are in your 40s or even in your 80s and still see a benefit. Adopt healthier eating habits with less meat and plenty of plants, get yourself moving more and make sure you get enough sleep each night to keep yourself living longer and feeling younger.
