Longevity

When we think about the future many of us will look towards spending less time at work and then hopefully having a long, healthy and happy retirement. Ending our formal working life can mean more time to spend with our friends and families, perhaps learning new skills or pursuing our current hobbies and taking longer holidays exploring various places…these things all rank highly on my own ‘to do’ list!

We’ve all heard of people who’ve lived into their 100’s and most of us will have or had friends or relatives who have lived well into their 80’s and 90’s.

None of us know what our time line will look like but one thing I’m sure about is that I’d like to do what I can now to give myself the best possible chance to achieve all the things I still want to do in the future!

Sure, I’d love to live well into my 90’s and even beyond that but one thing I’m certain about is that I want to be strong, fit and healthy for as many of those years as I possibly can, LIVING a long life and not just existing through it.

Longevity principles are all about adopting healthy habits today that can help you live a longer, healthier life. These habits are scientifically proven to improve your overall health, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and increase your lifespan. Do you know what the best part of all this is? It’s never too late to start! Any healthy habits you start, regardless of the age you start, will benefit your life, so even if you’re retiring and you’ve been fairly sedentary for most of your life you can still benefit. Amazing right?

So, what are some of these principles? They include things like eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep, managing stress, regular positive social interactions and avoiding harmful habits like smoking.

Maintain a Healthy Weight through Diet and Exercise

One of the most important longevity principles is maintaining a healthy weight. This means eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Exercise is especially important because it can help you maintain muscle mass, improve your cardiovascular health, and boost your metabolism.

Manage Stress

Another key principle is managing stress. Chronic stress can have a negative impact on your health by increasing your risk of heart disease, depression, and other chronic conditions. To manage stress, try practicing mindfulness, meditation, or yoga.

Prioritise Quality and Quantity of Sleep

Prioritising the quality and quantity of our sleep is vital within our busy lives. If you think about how much time we spend sleeping during our lives and how during that time we are pretty much useless to the world around us, if it wasn’t so important to our health evolution would have made this daily activity obsolete. We, and every other living creature around us, spends some time each day sleeping...from minutes in some animals to up to 20 hrs a day in others!

Avoid Harmful Habits

Finally, it's important to avoid harmful habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These habits can increase your risk of chronic diseases, play havoc with your sleeping pattern  and reduce your lifespan.

Over the next few blogs we will be delving into each of these areas a little deeper. Incorporating  longevity principles into your daily routine can help you live a longer, healthier life. So, starting to  make small changes today can help you to  enjoy the benefits of a healthier, happier life!