112: What the Blue Zones Reveal About Longevity and Why You Should Care

The research on global "Blue Zones" is fascinating and worth your attention.

I keep my radar up, desiring to know more about why these pockets of people all over the world live long, healthy lives - some into their late 90's and early 100s (AND have the stamina and wellness to enjoy it).

Maybe it's because I'm in those years where health, wellness, and lifestyle choices are more front-of-mind.

And for those of you still in the first half of your existence (pre-50s), take note, especially if longevity is your jam.

A recent, on-theme article inspired my thinking about Blue-Zone lifestyles.

"When researchers look at populations that live the longest, often referred to as the Blue Zones, they don’t find perfect diets or high-tech healthcare. They find daily movement baked into life, strong social bonds, regular exposure to mild stress, consistent sleep rhythms, and a clear sense of purpose. In other words, lives that look far closer to our ancestral past than our modern present."1

Blue Zone lifestyles provide a compelling alternative to the pills-and-procedures-for-every-problem fixation in our culture.

Don't get me wrong, there are indeed circumstances where a pharma or clinical boost is necessary.

But...

Blue Zone cultures reveal that lifestyle has a positive impact on the inevitable effects of aging

I'll keep beating-the-drum to increase awareness about longevity and the available opportunities to do something about yours...before you won't or can't.

The era in which we live is full of opportunity to live a life of ease and convenience.

Yet, so many are limping and gimping into and throughout their second half of life.

Effort. Connection. Friction. Rest. Purpose.

Those are the lifestyle outliers you'll find in Blue Zone cultures around the world.

And they're in stark contrast to our under-active, relationally-starved, stress-aversed, ever-tired, and unfocused culture.

Here's a cross-section of practical, Blue Zone lifestyle discoveries that can increase your longevity potential.

Move, and keep moving

My Apple Watch prompts me to stand-up throughout my day.

Even though I work at a stand-up desk (and have for years), I most often sit in my accompanying task chair as I write, edit, and coach writers daily.

The get-up-and-move-around-Eddie watch prompt reminds me that movement and effort must be ongoing.

Consider that our ancestors didn't have technology prompts, health-club memberships, or an exercise/fitness-addiction - they lived in a constant flow of movement much like those in today's Blue Zone regions.

Be intentional about your movement: take a seat on the floor on occasion (so you have to get-up), walk across the room, down the hall, up the stairs, or around the block, stretch and squat instead of staying tight and bending over for access.

Build and maintain lasting relationships

It's not the number of friends you have it's the quality of your relationships.

Unlimited relational options provided by social media, dating sites, and networking events do not always lead to better connections.

Connection is the realization that someone is there for you, they have your back, and you have theirs.

Screens, scrolls, texts, and DMs (Direct Messages) cannot replace the relational quality of being face to face, hand in hand, or arm in arm.

Isolation can take years off of your life, that's why Blue Zone dwellers have strong relational connections.

"...one large meta-analysis found that chronic loneliness increases the risk of early mortality by a magnitude comparable to smoking or obesity. Isolation isn’t just emotionally painful, it’s biologically dangerous."2

Get out and among people - avoid consistent isolation.

Find your "people" - those you can have regular and fulfilling interaction with.

Be present and be real - schedule and enjoy undistracted and unfiltered time with your "people."

Use stress to your advantage

Resilience increases when you become comfortable with discomfort.

I'm not referring to unnecessary, unreasonable, or health-related discomfort.

Cold, heat, hunger between meals, physical effort, and doing hard things - these and more stressors are common for longevity-champions like those living in Blue Zones.

Stress has its advantages - it "improves metabolic flexibility and nervous system resilience."3

Lack of stress doesn't always make you safe and secure, it's absence makes you less adaptable...and less resilient for the long-haul.

Follow a rhythm of rest

Quality and rhythmic sleep is among your most beneficial and powerful longevity tools.

When sleep cycles are disrupted or random and out-of-synch with circadian rhythms, your longevity capacity is at risk.

The sunrise signals waking time and sunset signals wind-down, soon to sleep time.

Why does this natural process become so jacked-up?

Natural melatonin release is delayed by screen time and fragmented or chaotic sleep patterns.

The less quality sleep you get on a nightly basis, the more metabolic waste accumulates in your brain and body tissue.

Get your sleep in rhythm with the natural cycles of day and night (there's a reason a "nap-over" feels like a "hang-over," if you know what I mean).

Treat sleep as more than recovery - sleep is maintenance and it is key to longevity.

Live on purpose

Longevity isn't something you can effectively "cram" for like a test in school.

Supplements, 11th hour habit changes, and optimized routines can help.

But, satisfying longevity and getting the most mileage out of your years, is shaped by aligning your daily life with your biological needs.

• Are you moving enough to strengthen your body and equip it for aging?
• Are you connected enough to stay emotionally strong as you age?
• Are you experiencing enough stressors to build resilience as you age?
• Are you rested enough to be fully awake and productive between the sunrises and the sunsets?

"Longevity isn't about living forever. It's about not slowly eroding yourself through comfort, choice, and convenience."4

Instead of feeling "blue" about your present longevity state - improve your longevity according to the Blue Zone lifestyle

• Move more
• Connect
• Use stress
• Sleep
• Live on purpose

Press on...

Eddie

Sources:

1 - https://medium.com/illumination/longevity-isnt-about-living-longer-it-s-about-living-like-a-caveman-in-the-right-ways-38faa61eabda

2 - Ibid.

3 - Ibid.

4 - Ibid.