You have probably wondered what it feels like to live a hundred years. You’ll face famine, world wars, innovations, and discoveries that can only be heard in history books. Centenarians have experienced all of these and their stories are one for the books. Not all people have been blessed to live such a long, good life because their genetics, habits, and lifestyle are all at play. It’s amazing to live such a life, and you can actually live long like them.
When centenarians are asked about what’s their secret to a long life, their answers are varied: they have a particular food that they like to eat, they avoid alcohol, they avoid certain types of food, and so on. They are varied, but you can start with eating healthy and exercising.
Your habits and your lifestyle determine how long you’ll live. You can’t see the adverse effects of what you are consuming right now because it’s slowly killing you. It will start to manifest once you are older. Don’t wait for the symptoms to show up—consider switching to a healthier lifestyle. Here are habits that you can do to make sure that you live longer:
Eat Healthy
This is a no-brainer. Eating healthy can prolong your life. Your diet should contain the daily recommended amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. You can create a healthy meal at home by looking up a quick gluten-free granola recipe that you can prepare for breakfast every day.
If you have bad habits such as drinking and smoking, you have to slowly get rid of them as they can cause health complications. Your healthy eating is nothing if you do not get rid of your vices. Start and do everything right.
Get Enough Sleep
Adults should get at least seven hours of sleep every night. Lack of sleep can decrease your productivity, increase stress levels, worsen your temperament, and can cause long-term medical conditions. Set a time for sleeping, and an hour before your sleep time, you should avoid using gadgets because it can affect the quality of your sleep. Stick to your sleeping schedule until it becomes a habit.
Exercise More
Exercising can do wonders for your body. It keeps you fit and healthy and you won’t tire easily from strenuous activities. You can jog within your neighborhood or get a membership at the nearest gym. You should exercise several times a week after work. Once you see the benefits of exercising, keeping up won’t be a problem anymore.
Laugh More
They say that laughter is the best medicine and this rings true because it uplifts your mood and prolongs your life. Laughing makes you feel good and strengthens your bond with the people around you. To laugh more, you should spend more time with your friends or family or watch your favorite shows from time to time. Always find a reason to laugh every day to improve your mood and to lower your stress levels.
Develop Healthy Habits and Stick to Them
The habits above are only healthy as long as you practice them. They may be difficult to start at first, but self-discipline is key. You have to assess what benefits you will get if you make the steps above a habit. These benefits will be enough to keep you going. Furthermore, you also have to have self-discipline as you will get sidetracked eventually. You need to get yourself together when this happens.
The path to living longer is a tough one because you’ll have to replace your old habits with new ones. Your old habits seem fun and carefree, but rarely do they guarantee a long, healthy life. You’ll have no choice, but to switch to the latter. You won’t see the results immediately, but you’ll feel it when you’re in your 50s and still have the strength to move around. You won’t need forcing if living a long life is what you really love.
Living longer feels like having lived hundreds of lives with the eyes of one. You’ll experience a lot of heartbreaks, breakthroughs, and everything in between. It will be an adventure that’s worth living for because they are a part of life experiences.
On the other hand, these healthy habits are easier to practice if you have someone to practice them with. You’ll motivate each other, and the thought of going through it together makes the process more interesting. It makes you more motivated to stay on track.