We all want to stay healthy and energetic for as long as possible, right?
So why do so many people not exercise enough, eat unhealthy food every day, and generally not take care of themselves?
Well, a lot of it has to do with all the different demands placed on us, from long work hours to childcare and housework.
But no matter how busy your life gets, remember that you’re the only one who can change it. You have the power. Use it to your advantage.
Let’s get started!
People who don’t lose their vitality as they age usually adopt these 7 daily habits.
1) They move their bodies (however slowly)
You don’t have to be a professional weightlifter or athlete to stay healthy and fit.
You don’t have to go to the gym or go for a jog every morning at 6 am if that’s not your habit.
While movement is essential for vitality (I couldn’t resist that), something as simple as walking can completely change your life.
According to experts, “Walking is an exercise that meets this aerobic component and is associated with improved blood pressure and body mass index, and reduced risk of diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. The speed, duration, and frequency of walking can be adjusted depending on your initial fitness level, so almost anyone can participate in walking as exercise.”
Personally, walking has shaken my world.
Since I set myself several steps to aim for (I started with 10 kilometers per day, but I fell in love with it so much that I increased the goal to 15 kilometers per day), I have not only felt fitter and more productive, but I have also steadily lost weight, something I had struggled to achieve for years.
It may sound strange, but if you walk enough steps and stay aware of your calorie intake, losing weight becomes very easy (if that’s something you want).
And there’s no need to go outside if the weather is bad either. For example, I often walk on the treadmill at home or the gym while reading a book on my Kindle.
Two birds with one stone!
2) They have a healthy relationship with food
Look, I’m not a saint. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I never eat junk food, chocolate, or cake.
I do. And I don’t see anything wrong with that – as long as it’s in moderation.
As someone who has struggled with emotional overeating, I know how difficult it is to develop a healthy relationship with food.
Furthermore, each person is very unique when it comes to what’s good for them and what triggers them to crash.
For example, I enjoy using a calorie calculator to keep track of how much I’m eating, but I also don’t stick to it religiously and allow myself to enjoy life, which is why I can use it in a completely healthy and balanced way.
A friend of mine knows from experience that calorie calculators don’t work for her because they become too restrictive and her eating habits become toxic and very unhealthy, so she just tries to cook herself nutritious meals and doesn’t think about it too much.
It all depends on your circumstances.
The main point here is not that you need to eat healthy every day to stay energetic. The best way to enjoy your food and thrive at the same time is to find the right balance.
It’s about doing what works for you in the long run.
3) Nurture your close relationships
“Psychological research suggests that stable, healthy friendships are essential to our well-being and longevity,” writes Zara Abrams for the American Psychological Association.
“A review of 38 studies found that adult friendships, especially high-quality ones that provide social support and companionship, significantly predict well-being and can protect against mental health problems like depression and anxiety—and these benefits persist throughout life.”
They continue: “People with no friends or poor-quality friendships are twice as likely to die prematurely, according to a Holt-Lunstad meta-analysis of more than 308,000 people—a greater risk factor than smoking 20 cigarettes a day.”
Not only that, but one of the longest-running studies on happiness has shown that it’s not money or career that determines our life satisfaction the most. It’s the quality of our relationships with others.
In short, a person who has great friends around them is more likely to be happy, healthy, stable, and live longer.
Don’t put your friendships on the back burner. Stay connected. It’s incredibly important to give your friendships the same importance you give to your romantic or family relationships.
4) Continue to cultivate curiosity and open-mindedness
Vitality isn’t just about our physical health. Since our physical state is closely linked to our mental state, it makes sense that people who don’t lose their vitality as they age tend to keep their minds curious, too.
In other words, they are always excited about a new challenge and constantly try their best to step out of their comfort zone.
Often, people get stuck in a certain rhythm and get stuck in echo chambers and comfort bubbles, and the older they get, the more rigid their thoughts become.
Those who remain full of life are at the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
You could say that they are lifelong learners, and their daily habits reflect that – they may read a lot of books, watch documentaries, talk to people from different backgrounds, help their local communities, pick up hobbies, or take online courses to learn something new.
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Don’t just take my word for it. According to research, “curiosity in older adults is linked to maintaining a healthy central nervous system in old age.”
Curiosity helps with longevity, so always try to keep an open mind. Be endlessly curious about the world around you and the people in it and watch yourself flourish as you age.
5) They try to keep their brains sharp and active
Curiosity is one thing, logic, memory, and quick thinking are another.
Did you know that puzzles and games like Sudoku can help keep your brain young? According to a 2019 study, adults who solve puzzles frequently have higher cognitive function.
These findings “further contribute to the growing evidence that engaging in mentally stimulating activities can benefit brain function in older adults,” the researchers say.
If you want to stay active not just in terms of physical health but also cognitive health, be sure to incorporate some mentally challenging activities into your day, from Sudoku to crossword puzzles, chess, or math equations.
6) They invest a lot of time in achieving their life purpose
In his book “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life,” Hector Garcia writes that one of the main ways to stay active is to engage in achieving your life purpose—what the Japanese call ikigai—as much as we can.
Everyone has a different purpose in life, and it can take time to find it. Once you find it, don’t let it go. Pursue it with relentless drive. It’s the one thing that will make you feel like life is worthwhile and has meaning.
How can you find your ikigai?
It all comes down to a combination of four factors:
- What you love
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What you can get paid for
There’s another way to find your ikigai too: flow.
What activity makes you so immersed in what you’re doing that you forget about time? What activity puts you in a state of natural euphoria that you wish you could do every day? What puts you in a state of intrinsic flow that makes you feel completely fulfilled?
For me, it’s writing. For you, it could be anything from skiing or caring for animals to working as a lawyer or helping the homeless.
Find your ikigai and invest in it. It’s the key to vitality and longevity.
7) They have a growth mindset
Finally, people who don’t lose their vitality as they age never think that it’s “too late” or that they’re “too old for this.”
On the contrary, they realize that everyone has their timeline and that if they want to get a degree at 50, they can.
If they want to take up a new hobby at 60, why not?
If they go through a divorce and start dating again at 65, what’s the big deal?
They may be getting older, but they’re still as enthusiastic and optimistic about life as they were in their 20s.
And that’s what ultimately makes them so enthusiastic: the fact that they love life unapologetically and violently.
