18. Adopt a pet
Pets make great companions, and their unconditional friendship is truly amazing, but they are also a serious factor in their owners’ quality of life and lifespan itself. The benefits are bountiful, from stress relief, to a daily dose of physical exercise both of which can reduce the risk of a heart attack by 33%, as well as help in dealing with depression.
19. Establish workplace friendships
A Tel-Aviv University study that followed 820 adults for more than 20 years found that people who established relationships in their workplace enjoyed a longer life than those who didn’t. The reason seems to be that these friends form a safety net and provide social support even in a place that is considered to be competitive and stressful. The most disturbing finding was that people who established negative relationships in their workplace were 2.4 times more ly to die at a younger age.
20. Do some gardening
The majority of residents in Okinawa, Japan who are over the age of 100, have both a Zen garden and a vegetable garden. This hobby seems to be common practice in other places around the world among people who enjoy a long lifespan (Sardinia, Italy – for example). While this theory is mainly comparative, one cannot deny that it forces you to step out and get some fresh air and sunlight, as well as enjoy organic vegetables. Undoubtedly these factors contribute to longevity.
21. Believe in your own health
Often, researchers who study longevity ask their test subjects how they'd rank their level of health. While those who are indeed sickly would rank it low, some healthy people gave similar answers, and these answers seemed to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When it comes to being positive, your health should rank high as it will help you stay alive and healthy.
22. Turn off the TV, but stay informed
While the TV is a source of information and entertainment, in a study discovered that in people over the age of 25, for every hour spent watching television their lifespan shortens by 22 minutes. While this is indeed worrying, it doesn’t mean you need to disconnect completely. Getting information is actually beneficial, so you can substitute that TV time for reading newspapers, books, or articles on the internet. People who are exposed to a lot of information will often know more about healthy eating and be more aware of the world around them.
23. Eat less sugar
Having a sweet tooth can seriously damage your health and lower your chances of reaching the age of 100. Cynthia Canyon, a molecular geneticist from San Francisco, performed tests on nematodes and discovered that sugar-rich diets shorten their lifespan by 20%. It’s important to avoid processed sugar (plain white) and make the effort only to use natural, unrefined sugar, or get your dose of sweetness by eating fruits.
24. Let yourself be creative
The U.S. Army recently conducted a survey of its large senior veterans population, which resulted in interesting findings that link a person’s level of creativity to their life expectancy. The more creative test subjects showed a 12% longer lifespan on average. The good news is that you’re not born with creativity - it’s something you can adopt and develop.
25. Don’t be afraid of time
Some might say that this is the most important point in this article, because having this kind of outlook on life and the time that passes us by, will determine how well we’ll perform when it comes to the previous 24 points. People who face aging head on and without fear are the ones who will enjoy old age for longer, in comparison to their counterparts. Remember – every candle on your cake is an accomplishment, and that even though time seems to fly, we should devote ourselves to enjoying it and making the most of whatever time we have left.
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