A long life is a great thing to aspire for. There are many things you can do to improve your longevity. Some of them are quite small and do not take much of an effort or money. Others are pleasurable activities in their own right. If you want to live to an old age, here are some healthy ideas you can adapt.

Dog

Dogs make excellent pets because they’re great stress reducers. After a stressful and challenging day at work, nothing beats cuddling with your puppy on a couch. Such a simple activity is very relaxing.

One drawback is that having a dog is a big commitment. It’s a living, breathing animal and entitled to humane care. Also, they’re not cheap. There are not only expenses like food and equipment but vet visits and shots as well.

Meditate

Many health experts recommend meditating once or twice a day. It helps to relax the body and clear the mind.

Vegetarians

It’s proven that vegetarians live longer. This is because the body does not have to work as hard to digest its food. There’s also less harmful chemicals and additives.

Eating a totally plant-based diet is a challenge. Instead, you could eat more natural foods like seeds, fruits and vegetables. Alternatively, try meatless mondays. If you’re successful, you can have your home food be vegetarian and reserve meat for when you eat in restaurants.

Exercise

Exercise gets more important as you get older. There are two types: cardio and weight training. When you’re a senior citizen you don’t need to be doing powerlifting. A brisk walk will do.

Yoga and stretching are also great choices. They improve flexibility, joint health, mobility, blood circulation, mobility and balance. That’s a lot for just a weekly hour session.

Keep the mind sharp

Don’t veg out by watching TV all the time. You can keep your brain young by keeping it active. Try brain teasers or the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. Travel more and listen to music.

Genetic testing

Genetic testing is now somewhat affordable. You can get your genes tested for several hundred dollars. In return, you’ll learn what diseases you are vulnerable to, what supplements to take and what lifestyle choices you should make.

Good sleep

Keep good sleep hygiene. Keep a strict regime by going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time. Try not to take random naps throughout the day.

7 to 9 hours of sleep is recommended. You might be able to get around this in the short term. Long-term however to keep performance optimal you should get the right number of hours.

A long life is a great thing. There are many things you can do to prolong it.