They Got it Together!
Researchers have identified Blue Zones, where people enjoy long, healthy lives, and the factors contributing to their longevity: consumption, movement, purpose, and social connection. More important than the number of years is the quality. Blue Zoners generally do not outlive their good health; they are on the go until the end.
Blue Zoners do not count calories, rely on superfoods, or abstain from anything entirely. They consume fewer calories by consuming more vegetables, fruit, and grains and enjoy meat, sweets, and alcohol occasionally without overindulging.
Nor do they sweat at the gym or dance to Richard Simmons videos (God rest his soul), but they regularly move during their routine daily activities. They are not couch potatoes and, by rising frequently, do a workout full of squats without shouldering a barbell.
They cook at home, which requires walking grocery store aisles, slicing vegetables, lifting pots, washing dishes, etc. These activities appear pedestrian but are Herculean compared to grabbing a bag from the take-out window, unwrapping the paper around the burger, and digging my fingers into a French fry basket.
Blue Zoners get all they need and avoid what they should with their routine activities. Noticeably missing are frequent doctor visits and 28-compartment pill organizers.
Beyond the Physical
Maintaining regular relationships provides purpose and mental stimulation, and in-person gatherings elevate physical activity. Conversely, social disconnection increases the risk of premature death as much as smoking 15 cigarettes daily.
Blue Zoners have hobbies and perform acts of service to support social connections. They tend gardens, walk to meet with friends, attend family gatherings, volunteer at the library, congregate at church, etc. They do not need to put screen time limits on their apps.
We reap the benefit of social connection by exchanging a solo five-mile run for an hour of pickleball with friends. Any loss in fitness is more than made up for with better overall wellness. Packs of road cyclists crowd the roads on Saturday mornings for personal interaction as much as exercise.
A positive outlook provides a host of benefits; it reduces stress, rates of depression, and the risk of cardiovascular illness and increases immunity to disease, coping skills, and one’s life span. To help develop this outlook, 52 Steps Forward primarily focuses on improving our thinking and disposition. For those who need more than they can do on their own or with the support of family and friends, I urge you to seek professional assistance.
The Lifestyle
Blue Zoners exemplify that the healthiest people treat wellness as a lifestyle, not a segregated activity. It is like faith in that it is lived daily, not by checking a box on Sunday.
For those protesting that you cannot follow the lifestyles of those in small villages in remote lands, know that one zone, Loma Linda, is within breathing distance of Los Angeles’ smog.
A lifestyle supporting well-being does not come from a “30-days to six-pack abs” program or a magic elixir. If you have a sizeable distance to travel, know progress will be slow but inevitable. Take solace in the story of one man’s year-long 100-pound weight loss journey accomplished by eating home more, out less, and walking. Most importantly, he forged a lifestyle that maintains his reduced weight.
The elements of wellness are cumulative and synergistic. There is a flywheel effect; all work together to bring all to fruition. Good consumption facilitates movement. Movement facilitates purposeful activities that include social interaction.
Your actions will significantly influence whether you die (i) unexpectedly at 88 while living at home, enjoying a weekly bridge game with friends, without any serious medical ailments, or (ii) at 78 after a slow deterioration in an assisted living cellblock watching an endless loop of Turner Classic Movies.
Wellness programs vary based on your present state, genetics, and medical conditions. Consult medical professionals before starting any wellness program.
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Respect and steward your physical resources and mental health with a lifestyle fostering wellness. Go forth and live well.