5 Tips to Help You Live a Longer, Happier Life

The average American has a life expectancy of 78 years. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, a child born in the year 2015 has an average lifespan of 78.8 years. Most people do not know that the number of years you live on earth has almost nothing to do with genes. It all narrows down to the healthy habits you engage in on a daily basis. Read on to learn what you can do to contribute to a longer, happier life.

Get Active Every Day

Exercising regularly keeps you fit, active, and healthy. According to health experts, you only need about 10 minutes of physical exercise every single day to increase your lifespan. And there’s no reason you should go it alone, either. Group exercise classes can be super fun! Not only that, but they give you an opportunity to build bonds over exercising. Whether you’re taking a weekly spin class or you just like going for long walks, remember to keep moving!

Build Strong Relationships

Building a long, happy life takes, well, a lifetime. And it takes more than just you, as well. That’s why your relationships with the people around you are so important. Think about your family, friends, colleagues, and all other people you interact with occasionally. Invest in those relationships! Get to know the people around you and their stories. Celebrate your relationships and lives as often as possible. Even birthday parties are a great way to strengthen bonds. And it’s no surprise that people love celebrating them! In fact, a recent survey revealed that almost 71% of participants love celebrating their birthday at any age.

Eat Nutritiously

When it comes to food, we’re talking about fuel for our bodies, nourishment for our minds, and adventures for our tastebuds. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful of what you put in your body. Making sure to include vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and seeds in your diet is crucial to a healthy and balanced body. And if you really want to experiment with different diets, veganism has plenty of health benefits. Experts say that vegan-friendly diets may even reduce risks of premature deaths. If you have questions about what you should be eating to promote long, healthy life, make sure you see your doctor or a nutritionist to help you determine exactly what your body needs to thrive for years to come.

Says Neal Barnard, MD, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, “You have the power to change your hormones through the food choices you make. And by choosing hormone-adjusting foods, you can revolutionize your health. Learn more at pcrm.org/yourbodyinbalance.”

Invest in Self-Care

Self-care is about so much more than painting your nails and doing face masks. Though those things are important, especially if you enjoy them, self-care refers to taking care of your physical and mental health. In other words, going to a spa for a massage is just as important as taking time to journal or see a therapist. But if part of your self-care is keeping up your appearance, don’t ignore that! The average woman changes her hairstyle approximately 150 times in her entire lifetime. And that simple activity can go a long way toward your personal happiness and confidence.

Make Sleep a Priority

It’s easy to get caught up in the need to finish up that pile of workload you have in the office. But is it really worth those sleepless nights if you won’t live long enough to reap the rewards of your success? Sleep is key to a healthier, happier, and longer life. And that means you need to prioritize getting eight to nine hours of sleep every night. This period of time is vital to your body. This is when you rest and recover from the stress of the day. It’s also when your subconscious mind processes what’s happened that day. Sleep is just as much about mental health as it is about physical health. When you prioritize sleep, you wake up energized and ready to tackle the day. Lack of sleep is associated with fatigue, bad mood, and stress. All these are enemies of a longer life.

You’re responsible for your own happiness, and you have to do everything to achieve it. If you want to live longer, taking these small steps can set you up for a much better chance of that. What are you doing to ensure you live a happier, healthier, longer life?