There have been many studies on aging, one of which was the MacArthur Study which found that older people often withdrew from social roles as they aged when retiring from work and the family had left home. The ones that kept busy and volunteered or were part of a community fared better than those who stayed at home alone. The Blue Zones is an expanded world wide study that has researched areas where people live well into their 100s. Although most of the zones are islands, Loma Linda, California also is part of the Blue Zone where there is a high population of Seventh Day Adventists who tend to live a healthier lifestyle.
You may have heard that 10% of attitude is what happens to you and 90% is how you react to it. On the same principal 70% of your well being is not genetics, but is lifestyle.
Here are the keys to living a healthier life:
- Movement in a natural way. This doesn't have to be excessive workouts, it can be walking or gardening. Do what you love for physical exercise.
- Living with purpose. What do you look forward to when you wake up?
- Routines that shed stress. Meditation, praying
- Plant slanted diets. Fruit, vegetables, beans, lentils are the basics.
- Belonging to a community. Social circles that support healthy behavior. Volunteer or join a group with common interests.
- Friendships and relationships
By the way, the name Blue Zones came from when Dan Buettner began marking the zones on a map and using the only pen he had - a blue marker!