Advertisement

How to Live to 100, Starting Today

Live to 100, starting today!
Live to 100, starting today!

Is living to 100 a goal of yours? Even if it's not, these expert tips on living a longer, healthier, and happier life will come in handy.

1. Learn from the pros: A few years back, I did research on centenarians, after deciding that I wanted to live to be over 100 years old (this decision was followed by the decision to live the life I want to live a few years prior to that-so I figured I'd better check out what others are doing). This is what I found: Think more good thoughts, drink enough water regularly, breathe deeply daily, walk regularly, and have friendships.

-Wendy Kay, certified life coach and motivator

RELATED: 7 Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

2. Be in good spirits: The most essential live-to-100 tip, to me, is recognize that you create your perceptions from the inside out. A person's mood in the moment creates his or her experience; a person's experience does not create his or her mood. Those who understand this live a smooth and stress-free life. They do not play victim to external circumstances.

-Garret Kramer, founder and managing partner of Inner Sports, LLC


3. Take anxiety and stress seriously: Don't just tolerate feeling anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed all the time-find a solution. It's important that you take anxiety (and panic attacks) seriously, if for no other reason than the stress they place on the heart. Recent research found that both women under 50 years of age and postmenopausal women who suffer anxiety and panic attacks may have an increased risk of heart disease.

-Trudy Scott, certified nutritionist, president of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, and author of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help you Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings

4. Drink water: Start your day with 16 to 32 ounces of water. Fill your tank-your body-with water. If you think you're hungry, drink water. We often confuse hunger for thirst. When you learn to recognize your true thirst instinctively, you will begin simultaneously and automatically to reduce your food intake. Water is so beneficial, and if you reach for that instead of any other drink in your lifetime, it will definitely help get you to 100!

-Dian Griesel, co-author of TurboCharged who is 50 years old but has a metabolic age of a 17-year-old according to her Tanita body composition

RELATED: What If You Got Paid to Make Healthy Choices?


5. Stand up straight: People's bones break down over time with bad posture. Exercises like occasionally running in your bare feet and simple resistance training you can do at your desk or at home are incredibly helpful in preserving posture. For example, relieve chest tightness with self myo-fascial release (use a massage ball or foam roll) and stretching, while strengthening the upper-back muscles. My favorite exercise for hunchback posture is upper-back foam rolling, which anyone can do on the living room floor.

-Marc Perry, a New York City-based certified personal trainer and founder of Built Lean Fitness


For more expert tips on how to live to 100, starting today, click here!



More on SHAPE:


6 Reasons You Ignore Your Doctor's Advice (and Why You Shouldn't)


8 Simple Ways to Detox Your Body


12 Steps to Better Sleep