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.
The Okinawans call it ikigai and the Costa Ricans call it plan de vida, meaning “why I wake up in the morning.” Having a sense of meaning and purpose beyond one’s daily work are evident in all Blue Zones.
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.
In Okinawa, they abide by hara hachi bu, 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.
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.
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.
Of the 263 centenarians (people in their 100s) they interviewed, almost all belonged to a faith-based community.
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.
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.