128: Build a Longevity Mindset That Improves Your Life, Today
"Longevity is having its 15 minutes of fame."1
That's one writer's conclusion on the subject.
I'm all-in on longevity though not the trendy, viral, click-bait-y, "15 minutes of fame," brand of all-in.
My interest, research, and occasional writing on the subject is more focused on having a present-living mindset that extends quality of life and less about looking ahead or postponing the inevitable.
Longevity, while it certainly includes an anti-aging or reverse-aging theme, for me it's more grass-roots than that.
I see longevity as more of a mindset than a complex, scientific lab experiment. Though, I am curious about the benefits.
Let's talk about longevity and how to shift the emphasis from a future concern to a present-day personal growth strategy.
Longevity has crept into our consciousness because, if you haven't noticed, we're living longer.
"In 1935, when Social Security was established, life expectancy for males was 58 years. That number has risen to 76 years today. And those statistics include people who die young. If you live to age 60 today, you have a good chance to live well into your 90s."2
If you're capable (physically and mentally) of extending your lifespan, it makes sense to make sure your mindset will contribute to your longevity.
A longevity mindset creates a solid, healthy foundation that can support your quality of life potential as you age
Look at it this way: aging is inevitable. How you age and your age-span (aside from health setbacks) is further supported by your longevity mindset.
"Setting our intention to live a long life: that's longevity thinking."3
The ongoing research on longevity is scientifically solid, but I find the mindset that supports it to be practical and somewhat grassroots.
Sure, longevity science is "sexy," while the practical strategies, backed by science and personal experience, could be considered routine yet highly effective.
The scientific consensus among those who research longevity agree on the practical elements that contribute to it: movement, nutrition, rest, moderation, and relationships.
Those consensus elements form what I call a longevity mindset.
- A bias for action
- A resilient attitude
- A respect for time
Fuel your longevity mindset with a bias for action
You can accept your age and take a passive approach to the passing years.
Or, you can take an active approach, ensuring that you'll maximize your potential regardless of your age.
Potential will vary based on the challenges you face but more so the actions you choose to take on behalf of your health, wellness, and overall sense of wellbeing will factor into your longevity.
A bias for action gives you the boost you need to cruise over, around, or through those occasional speed bumps in your aging journey.
- Be physically active as much and as often as possible: walk, run, hike, get up and down, squat, stand, monitor your posture, do breath work.
- Be mentally active: read, journal, think, meditate, scroll less on your devices.
- Be restfully active: sleep according to the circadian rhythms (sunrise awakening, sunset wind-down), pause, daydream.
Guard your longevity mindset with a resilient attitude
Resilience is the result of pushing through the hard stuff.
If you've been around a few decades, you've experienced, weathered, and pushed through a lot of hard.
Resilience is what enables you to embrace the hard and see it as a growth opportunity instead of a threat.
Once resilience takes root in you, you're equipped to handle more than you think you can.
That's the attitude I'm talking about.
A resilient attitude compels you to reach deep within and tell yourself, "I've done hard things. I'm capable of more than I feel I can accomplish."
Resilience gives you the stamina to push through.
But you must access your resilience and not make excuses as to why you can't do the hard thing.
Longevity takes no prisoners in a sense.
Longevity wants to know what you're made of.
And resilience answers with confidence.
Manage your longevity mindset with a respect for time
Time, in this context, is not something to merely be managed, though that's the default setting when considering all-things time.
Time management is the attempt to wrangle your priorities.
Respect for time gives you the perspective that each moment is to be treasured as time you're allowed to use.
You have no clue as to how much time you have.
Longevity is tight lipped about your timeline.
But you can seize the day and, one moment at a time, push the limits of longevity in your favor.
That's the beauty of longevity with respect to time.
Respect your time through keeping life and setbacks in perspective. "Are "things" really as bad as they seem?"
Respect your time by investing your moments in what's meaningful to your life and legacy. "Will what I'm about to do, invest in, or say create a good memory or a regret?"
Time will tip in your favor when you savor the moments and invest them in what's meaningful and lasting.
A useful part of longevity thinking is about mindset. Trust the science while keeping longevity practical in your life.
- A bias for action
- A resilient attitude
- A respect for time
Press on...
Eddie
Sources:
1-https://medium.com/crows-feet/longevity-separating-fact-from-hype-02e7ec111b8b
2-Ibid.
3-https://medium.com/crows-feet/longevity-thinking-the-key-to-a-long-life-5dc99e36e588