If you’ve ever tried breaking a bad habit, you know Things You Can Do to Live a Long and Happy Life.
Here’s a look at some daily, monthly, and yearly habits to help Live a long and happy life in your quest. Just remember that everyone’s version of happiness is a little different, and so is their path to achieving it.
The following daily habits may help you achieve more happiness to live a long life in your life.
11 Things You Can Do to Live a Long and Happy Life
1) Smile
You tend to smile when you’re happy. But it’s actually a two-way street. We smile because we’re happy, and smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, which makes us happier.
That does not mean you have to go around with a fake smile plastered on your face all the time. But the next time you find yourself feeling low, crack a smile and see what happens. Or try starting each morning by smiling at yourself in the mirror.
2) Move Naturally
The world’s longest-living people don’t hit the gym or go to Soul Cycle for an hour each day. Instead, they move throughout the day and walk everywhere.
3) Exercise
Exercise isn’t just for your body. Regular exercise can help reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and symptoms of depression while boosting self-esteem and happiness. The trick is to not overexert yourself. If you suddenly throw yourself into a strenuous routine, you may just end up frustrated.
4) Purpose
The Costa Ricans call it to plan de vida, meaning ‘why I wake up in the morning?‘ Having a sense of meaning and purpose beyond one’s daily work is evident in all Blue Zones.
5) Downshift
Those living in Blue Zones have stress but they also have built in routines to reduce stress. Okinawans pause a few minutes each day to remember their ancestors, Ikarians take a nap, Sardinians do happy hour.
6) 80 Percent Rule
An ancient rule spoken before meals. It reminds people to stop eating when they feel 80 percent full. In Blue Zones, people eat their smallest meal in the early evening and don’t eat any more before going to bed.
7) Plant Slant
Blue Zones dwellers eat meat on average five times a month and eat less fish than one would expect. Beans, including fava, black soy, and lentils are the cornerstones of their diets.
8) Wine at 5
Across all Blue Zones, they found moderate and regular wine consumption. They drink one to two glasses per day with friends and/or with food.
9) Belong
Of the 263 centenarians, they interviewed almost all belonged to a faith-based community.
10) Loved Ones First
The world’s longest-living people emphasize family and friends. Great grandparents, grandparents, parents, and children often live in close proximity and contribute to the household.
11) Right Tribe
Being a member of a social circle that supports healthy behavior is a common thread in all Blue Zones. Research shows that behavior is contagious. Smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness can spread.
In short, no one thing accounts for longevity in the Blue Zones. It is a constellation of practices and a supportive environment that favors healthy choices and food is at the heart of it.
