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Habits for a Longer, Healthier Life

We all like the idea of leading a longer, healthier life but many people don’t make the lifestyle changes needed to make this prospect more realistic. In truth, sliding into bad habits is easy while getting into good ones can be more of a challenge. But if you put in a bit of extra effort, you can start to form healthy habits that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Though a lot of this advice is common sense and you have probably already heard it in some form before, it never hurts to have a reminder and it may even give you the kickstart you need to build them into your everyday life. Obviously, in life there are no guarantees so you may look to insure yourself for added peace of mind. Nevertheless, here are some habits to keep you healthier for longer.

Avoid Overeating

Though you may live in a culture in which you are encouraged to eat as much as possible, it is not healthy to overeat on a regular basis. First of all, you are more likely to become obese in this way and you are probably only too aware of the myriad of health issues associated with eating too much. Not only this, it has been found that limiting your calorie intake can lead to lower production of the thyroid hormone T3 which can both slow up your metabolism and speed up the ageing process.

Limit Your Screen Time

Many people think that they don’t have the time in their lives to get regular exercise, but they are also willing to while away minutes and hours in front of their laptop, mobile, tablet and TV! The problems with looking at a screen for a long period of time is that it encourages a more sedentary and less active lifestyle. If you replace the time looking at a screen with something more active, you are much more likely to live a longer and healthier life.

Avoid Too Much Sun

If you live in the UK, you are more than likely to want to soak up every last minute of sunshine that you can get! But you should be careful with how much time you spend in direct sunlight, as this can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Too much sun is also bad for the skin ageing process and can lead to more wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Adding sunscreen to your skincare routine should be a given, so make sure you apply it regularly to any areas that are likely to be exposed.

Socialise More Often

This may be a piece of advice that is not quite as common as the previous three, but having a strong social network can really help you to lead a longer life. Studies have shown that people who regularly feel lonely are at a greater risk of developing heart disease due to the inflammation it has been found to cause. Loneliness can also lead to other mental health issues such as depression so it seems like a longer life is often a more social life.

Drink in Moderation

 

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a myriad of both physical and mental issues. You should try to stick to the guidelines that are already set out by medical professionals, avoiding drinking too much on a regular basis and also ensuring that you have days off during the week that are totally free of alcohol. Drinking is often used as a method to quell other forms of social anxiety so you should try to tackle these issues at their root cause rather than using alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Add More Fruit and Vegetables to Your Diet

The generally agreed upon advice is that you should get five servings of fruit and vegetables a day in order to lead a longer and healthier life. Filled with both fibre and vitamins, you can lower your risk of heart disease and many types of cancer by eating enough fruit and vegetables. Ultimately, you need to get into good habits of replacing your unhealthy snacking with some that is better for your long-term health.

Fitness Focus

When it comes to a longer life, the importance of daily exercise cannot be overstated. Regular exercise has been found to add years to your life, and at least 30 minutes a day is the generally agreed upon amount of time that you should spend being active.

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