4 tips to live a longer and healthier life

During a panel about how women can reclaim their midlife, Debra Whitman, executive vice president and chief public policy officer at AARP and author of The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond, shared four things to do if you want to live longer and healthier—which anyone, not just women, can take advantage of.

1. Keep up healthy habits

Whitman told Fortune during the MPW Summit the foundation for a long, healthy life always comes down to the basics: Don’t drink too much, don’t smoke, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise. Those habits alone can help you live 10 years longer, she said, while also improving your overall health.

2. Strong relationships are vital

Whitman brought up one of the largest Harvard studies about healthy aging, which found participants with the best health outcomes “had really strong relationships and friendships” throughout their lives.

“Your relationships are actually huge predictors of health and happiness,” Whitman told Fortune. 

3. Have a sense of purpose

Having goals “can reduce our chance of dying by half,” Whitman said. Research shows having a sense of purpose can improve sleep, your immune system, and stress levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. These three factors each play a vital role in general health and longevity. It can also lead us to have an overall greater feeling of fulfillment and meaning in our day-to-day lives.

4. Think positively about aging

One of the most important things Whitman said people should do is change how they think about aging. If you think of aging positively, she said, your health is more robust, with a lower chance of a heart attack, lower risk of dementia, and a greater brain volume.

A Harvard study of more than 14,000 adults verified what Whitman said: participants who had the highest satisfaction with aging had a 43% lower risk of dying from any cause over a four-year period compared with those who were the least satisfied.

“It’s the biggest health thing you can do, is change your mind about your future,” Whitman said.

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