Just in the last several years, the average person’s life expectancy has greatly increased by a few decades. There are more and more people these days that are living past the 100-year mark. But the question is, how do these people do it? While it is true that advances in health, treatments and prevention are helping this process, there are things you can do as an individual to ensure you have the longest life possible. These important factors include mental fitness, emotional wellness and physical health.
Mental Fitness
Mental fitness is defined as a state of psychosocial well-being. There are several ways in which you can improve your mental fitness. One of the best ways to keep your brain healthy is by doing puzzles, crosswords or Sudoku. These cognitive games will help you to keep your memory intact. Cultivating relationship with other people helps you stay connected to the world. Relationships are designed to challenge your mental functioning on a variety of levels.
You also need to ensure that you have meaning and purpose in your life. What this means is that you need to become involved in your community, devote yourself to a cause you believe in and find something you are passionate about. Other ways to improve your mental health is to read, read and read again. Libraries and bookstores are full of books in every genre imaginable. Also, with technological advances have readers where you can read all your favorite books in one spot. Reading will not only give your brain a workout but you will also learn something new.
Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness is a process of constantly changing and growing. Emotional wellness lets you stay grounded, maintain healthy relationships and deal effectively with conflict. You need to have hope so you can see the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Hope is what will get you through challenging times. Another way to accomplish emotional wellness is to accept yourself. If you think or speak negative things about yourself, you will have high levels of stress. Look at the positive things about yourself and your life. It is also important that you stay in tune with your emotions. No matter what emotions you are experiencing, sadness, fear, anger, joy or excitement, you need to acknowledge these emotions and handle them as they come.
Physical Health
Physical health is defined as an aspect that is part of your overall health that includes things like physical fitness. Exercise is one of the best ways towards living a longer and happier life. When you are doing some sort of physical activity, you are essentially burning calories. Physical activity also helps in preventing or managing certain health conditions like heart disease, stroke, depression and high blood pressure. Engaging in some sort of physical activity also helps to improve your mood. Getting physical helps to blow off steam if you are stressed.
Keep these factors in mind, and you will be able to live a long and healthy life that is free of stress and full of happiness.