The “Blue Zones”—Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Ikaria (Greece), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), and Loma Linda (California, USA)—are geographic areas where its inhabitants experience less diseases in comparison with the rest of the world.
How? They have the highest number of centenarians, apply daily movement naturally, eat plant-based foods, enjoy a stress-free environment, and create rituals for healthy sleep and eating. They also prioritize having a purpose and positive outlook in life with a strong sense of community. They can reach past 100 years while living a whole and happy life.
Can you prolong your life in this fast-paced world full of stress, financial burden, gadgets, sedentary environments, chemical exposure, pollution, and ultra-processed foods? Yes, you can, by shifting your fitness goals from vanity to longevity, and slowly building healthy lifestyle habits.
Here’s how you can apply the “Blue Zone” lifestyle in your day-to-day life.
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1. Wake up with purpose
Think of what can make you excited to wake up early. You can have a fantastic workout to boost your happy hormones or continue a work project you’re genuinely passionate about. You can create a vision board to remind you of your upcoming short- and long-term dreams, wants, and needs. Put it in your work area, bedroom, kitchen, home gym, or anywhere else where you can always see it to stay consistent with your motivation.
2. Connect with people
Meet up with old friends, relatives you haven’t seen for a very long time, and former coworkers, and discover what positive feelings they can give you. Choose a workplace, exercise studio or gym that feels like your second home because of the presence of the people around who can appreciate you.
Explore new places, community, and culture by joining specialized groups (online or face-to-face) focusing on your interests (women above 40, running, plant-based, or photography), booking for travel escapes or retreats, or even as simple as becoming involved in your village’s homeowners’ association.
3. Serve, share your learnings and energy with the world
A substantial body resulting from consistent movement can help you serve others better. You don’t just build muscles so you can post on Instagram; you can use your body to carry or assist someone with physical limitations, help clean the house to lessen the work of the people you live with, and contribute to making your environment a healthy and clean place to live.
4. Develop yourself to have a positive outlook on life
Part of the Blue Zone lifestyle is educating yourself to become more positive to reduce needless pressure and worries. Enroll in courses, read books, listen to podcasts, or get a mentor or a life coach to help nourish your positive thoughts and emotions.
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5. Create a wellness home
A wellness home embodies minimalist and functional living spaces to achieve your best health. How do you achieve this? Integrate nature by putting indoor plants and using natural finishing materials like wood and stone, eliminate clutter for daily movement, create serene spaces to achieve mental clarity, and practice mindful consumption by replacing processed and packaged foods in the kitchen.
6. Slow down to live meaningfully
Simplify your Blue Zone lifestyle to avoid mental, emotional, and physical breakdowns. One way is to spend only on things that can contribute to your well-being—nourishing foods (fresh produce instead of chips and takeout foods) and motivational exercise strategies (home exercise props instead of streaming subscriptions).
Maybe it’s time to move to a job with a flexible schedule and/or an understanding boss who can motivate you rather than exacerbate health issues. You might want to consider moving to a simpler house closer to your loved ones rather than a high-end, high-rise condo that makes you feel more isolated than ever.
7. Eat healthily and happily according to your body’s needs and makeup
Celebrate each eating experience with your loved ones and avoid adding extra stress to your day by overcomplicating and overanalyzing each meal and each bite. But, eat balanced and healthy meals in moderation until you are 80 percent full—you shouldn’t be hungry after eating that can lead to more sweet cravings.
8. Consider movement as a natural way of life
Do not underestimate the power of walking. From commuting to work to using different muscles as you clean your house, these daily lifestyle activities contribute positively to overall health, weight management, and longevity.
Progress your fitness level by challenging your heart with cardio exercises like dancing, running, or cycling. Trending workouts you can see online are created to answer the needs of modern life, so you can motivate yourself to start or continue to pursue an active lifestyle. Here are some other movement exercises you can do online or in an exercise studio or gym near you:
- Perform dance fitness moves as if no one is watching
- Do Pilates-inspired moves in oversized reformers while moving to the beat of the song
- Combine boxing and strength using aqua punching bags
- Execute full-body exercises with an indoor rowing machine
- Lift weights while you pedal on an indoor cycling bike
Email the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com or follow/message her on Instagram @mitchfelipemendoza