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 March 19th 2007
 Health & Lifestyle
 1 comment
We all know about the typical ways of improving your health for a longer life, such as taking exercise, eating healthy options, quitting smoking and so on. But what about all the other aspects of your life? If it were that easy to get healthy we would all be going to the gym and eating salad everyday. Below I’ve picked out five less obvious ways to increase your chances of a longer life.
- Cut back your hours of work
There is a strong correlation between those who work long hours and high blood pressure. Long hours also tend to be associated with stressful jobs. There seems to be a default belief in business that more hours automatically equals more productivity when it has been proven time and again to simply not be true. Furthermore, because you are spending all your time working you aren’t doing other important stuff like exercising, eating well, relaxing or getting enough sleep. Speaking of which…
- Sleep well
Lack of sleep makes it harder to de-stress and messes with your hormone and energy levels. If your energy is down you are more likely to laze around, avoid otherwise stimulating activities and not get any exercise. You are also more likely to choose easy food options like takeaways and microwavable meals. It is worth noting however, that there is such a thing as too much sleep and it can be just as bad as getting too little. Know what amount you are comfortable with (the average is 7-8 hours) and have a regular undisturbed sleeping routine. Have no noise or lights on in the bedroom, have a comfortable mattress and don’t stimulate your brain with TV and games just before going to bed.
- Avoid physical strains
Sitting down can put more pressure on the back than standing up, and as more and more people are finding themselves sat at computer desks as part of their work this is becoming an increasing issue. Be sure to regularly sit up, walk and/or stretch out for a few minutes. It doesn’t just have to involve sitting down either; consider your sleeping arrangements for instance. Do you have the right number of pillows? Is your mattress comfortable? Just think of the long term strains you can be adding to your body as you sleep if your neck is not at a comfortable angle on the pillow or your back is arched on a bumpy mattress.
- Don’t hold emotions in
Be prepared to express yourself both vocally and in any creative ventures. Pent up emotions are often said to be toxic to the body. Are you angry about a person? Talk to someone, get it off your chest. Is your job dragging you down and making you bitter? Leave! Bad work environments are a huge source of negative emotions. Try writing a journal or seeing a councillor, or even talk to your friends. Having a strong social life is very effective as it provides a good network to express yourself. Things are rarely as bad you perceive them to be, being able to let out negative emotions and look on the bright side is a good habit to develop.
- Keep active
People who stay active with social groups, volunteer work and hobbies often live longer because they have a reason to keep going. When people retire they often find an empty hole in their life where their work used to be. Have activities now so that the hole is never empty!
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