Your habits determine your future.
For some people, it’s the bitter truth but for others, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s your mindset that makes longevity possible.
Longevity is dependent on your genes only to an extent of 25% so you can’t hide behind that excuse any longer.
Your longevity is most affected by your lifestyle and my great-grandaunt is the perfect example of how a healthy lifestyle, if followed consistently can boost your lifespan.
She died in 2008 at the of 110 , she was an inspiration in my family and we still hear her stories at every family brunch.
She was the daughter of a military general, so her routine was her god.
Here are the three morning habits that she did every day for more than six decades. This routine has many habits that are proven to boost longevity.
1. An Early Morning Cure-All for Better Health
Morning routines help you set the tone of the day, so how you spend the first few hours will determine your priorities for the day.
My great-grandaunt started her day with “movement”, she chose to be active first thing in the morning.
The best biomarker of longevity is exercise as it boosts both mental and physical health and helps you minimize chances of lifestyle diseases too.
She used to go on a morning walk daily well into her late 90s. After that, she switched to basic household chores that kept her busy in the morning.
Her morning routine consisted of light movement till she was finally put on bedrest, even then she complained about not being able to go on her daily walk.
She used to scold us for being in bed after 7 am, she lived by the motto “the early bird gets the worm”, I remember the first and only time when I didn’t wake up she ended up giving my treat to my sister.
I was eight and it felt brutal and that’s the only memory I have from that trip. But the next day I was up at Adam, ready to join her for her walk.
Here’s how you can build this habit:-
- Pick any workout that you like but the only rule you need to follow is to do it daily at the same time.
- A mix of moderate and intensive exercise is better than focusing on one variant only.
2. Improve Your Mental Health With A Simple Habit
One common habit that you’ll find in every morning routine is meditation. A barrage of studies has proven that meditation elongates life by decreasing stress.
There’s not a single study that can disprove these glorious benefits that one can attain through a simple daily practice.
My great-grandaunt meditated every morning not for longevity but because it’s a prominent practice in our religion.
In Jianism we are taught to make self-reflection a priority. We have a ritual called “Pratikramana” which means introspection, devout Jains do it daily for absolution.
My aunt used to do it daily in the morning, it requires you to chant a few mantras and then ask for forgiveness for any sin that you committed in the past.
It’s a ritual based on mantra meditation to keep your brain engaged in the present moment. It will help you forget the worries of the future and the regrets of the past.
It’s self-reflection with a dose of mantras to quiet the chatter in the mind and she did it every morning.
Mantra meditation requires you to focus solely on the mantra, it implores you to be mindful of the moment.
Here’s how you can build this habit:-
- Add a small five-minute meditation practice to your morning routine for better mental clarity.
- Schedule it after a habit that you do daily like brushing your teeth in the morning. Habit stacking would ensure that you meditate daily.
3. Achieve Inner Peace With This Daily Practice
Japan has more than 90,000 centenarians as of 2023. It’s the land of the longest-living people on earth.
Okinawa is a blue zone in Japan and its secrets have now been revealed to the world. Their diet, lifestyle, and habits are now all in the open.
But the best philosophy that we can learn from them is “Ikigai”, the Japanese refer to it as the meaning of life.
The thing that gets you out of bed every day, the reason that makes this deary life worth it is your Ikigai.
My great-grandaunt lived a long happy life because of her family, they were her Ikigai. She had a strong bond with every member of the family.
She started her day by sharing a hearty breakfast with her family. It was one ritual that she followed even on bed rest.
Her family kept her going through everything. She used all her hobbies and interests for the betterment of the family, they were the reason she crossed 100.
Good family relations and a strong community can help a person avoid the deadliest of all diseases — loneliness.
First, you need to find your Ikigai, it’s more than a passion or a hobby, it’s the reason that makes you want to live the same day again and again.
Your Ikigai can be a solo venture but you can make it a more positive experience by engaging with people who share your Ikigai. A sense of community will keep you away from the thaws of depression.
Here’s how you can build this habit:-
- Find your reason to live if you want to live a long life.
- Ikigai is at an intersection between your highest priority and the thing that brings you the most peace.
- Community building will help you form strong ties with people who share your interests.
Conclusion
My great-grandaunt lived a full life. I only have a few memories of her, but I remember her feeding the pigeons in her backyard, she was happy and well then.
But I also remember her when she was on bedrest ailing from old age. She looked frail but her spirit was still bold and happy.
Here are the three morning routines that she followed daily to boost her longevity and mental health.
- She had a reason to live, her family. She loved to knit and cook for them. And she cherished her Ikigai till her last breath.
- Exercise is the healthiest thing you can do to increase your lifespan. It’s a guaranteed solution as it can boost your healthspan as well.
- She spent her morning with a dose of reality by doing self-introspective practices and meditation.