Everyone has different needs, which will determine the levers to focus on and the unique approach to a life of meaning and longevity.
Society often interprets longevity as simply living longer, but it’s important to understand that lifespan is the total number of years we’re alive, while healthspan is the quality of our health while we’re alive.
So, the question is, are you living longer or younger? Your answer determines your reality check.
However, living longer is associated with chronological aging, while living younger is determined by biological age, which reflects how well our body is functioning.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with either of the two.
By expanding our scope beyond longevity, we can see that it’s important to consider our biological age more often. When our biological age isn’t younger, it’s usually due to an unhealthy lifestyle, which can make our organs, heart, cells, and tissues vulnerable to chronic diseases.
To live longer in a healthy state, it’s essential to take intentional steps now.
If you want to design a longevity framework geared towards healthfulness, consider the following five key starter-levers:
- Diet: Avoid processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol.
- Sleep: Get quality sleep by following the 10-3-2-1 method, which involves avoiding caffeine 10 hours before bed, food 3 hours before bed, water 2 hours before bed, and screen time 1 hour before bed.
- Stress: Smoking, sleep problems, and overeating are common consequences of stress.
- Mindset: Surround yourself with the right mindset, environment, thoughts, and people that make your health seem possible.
- Exercise: Avoid going more than a day without exercise because it strengthens the heart and improves blood flow, reducing the risk of heart disease.
By approaching these starter-levers with great intention, you can contribute to your overall wellbeing, one step at a time.
