Materials needed: highlighters or different colored pens/pencils, printer or notepad
Objective:
To take an honest look at the ways in which you make investments in your health as compared to those that live healthily to at least one hundred years old. No one is perfect and we are not aiming for this. The purpose of this exercise is to address areas in your life that you are doing well and areas that could use improvements. The only right answers are kindness and honesty.
Activity:
Print or write out the list below. It is a compiled list that researchers such as Dr. Sears and Dan Buettner have found to be longevity-boosting habits that most centenarians have in common. Click here to see Beuttner’s Ted Talk “How to Live to be 100+.”
Read each of the statements and rate how well you are currently doing in that area by marking next to the statement a score of 0 – 10, with 0 being never a part of your lifestyle and 10 being a daily practice.
Circle or highlight the ones you score above 7 in the same color, choose another color for the statements that score 4-6, and another for the items that score 0-3.
Of the areas that you score highest, pat yourself on the back, you are investing in longevity. In the areas you are lowest, devise an action plan to increase the activities that feel right for you, even if you would be starting from scratch or challenging for you.
I make physical activity a daily priority.
I have deep intimate relationships.
I maintain a healthy weight.
I eat small portions of food.
I eat real foods, none of that processed, packaged stuff!
I laugh at myself often!
I enjoy a sense of spiritual belonging.
I’m flexible in life; easily adapt to change.
I am in service to others.
I have music in my life.
I swim or enjoy being around water.
I am not in a hurry.
I get quality sleep.
I live by the motto: “If I can’t change it, I’m not going to worry about it.”
I embrace “ikigai”: a reason to wake up in the morning. I have a clear role, a purpose.
I’m sexually active.
I plan for my future at any age.
Click here for a printable version of this assessment!
References: “Prime-Time Health” William Sears, MD, “The Blue Zones” Dan Buettner
