Want to live longer? Advice from my college guy studying the subject

[redsquirrel]

So, introverts are doomed then? I am staring at 50, am fairly active thanks to my two Boy Scouts, but have gotten more and more exhausted by extended human contact every year.  I see me and my husband wondering museums, trails, watching movies and practicing our music in our old age. Social outlets are visiting family and few friends. Basically, what we do now :)

 

No, introverts aren't doomed, lol.  But it might take a bit more thinking about. It does seem to be the actual human interaction that is positive, but that can happen a lot of different ways. My mom is in multiple yoga classes.  It is healthy for her, she gets out of the house and you don't talk or interact much during a yoga class. Plus, it is a new interest, and that also important.

 

So, think of it in terms of learning new skills (a knitting group, a cooking class, joining a bird watching group etc, etc) or volunteering for something that is important to you. My mom is a two time breast cancer survivor so she volunteers to organize a local half marathon. It's only a once a year thing, and she doesn't do a whole lot, but it meaningful to her and keeps her active in the local survivor community.

[Liz CA]

I would think that the truly old people wouldn't have too many people to do things with. Their friends might have died or games might be too hard for them to participate in. But maybe I am mistaken as someone mentioned a card group above. Lots of people, young and old, do not interact with their neighbors. They might not even see their neighbors. So do people need to make a concentrated effort to live in the right neighborhood?

 

My grandma regularly participated in her bowling league until she no longer could. She also was in a group of knitters that met regularly. I don't know exactly when these activities stopped but I think it was a combination of her physical condition and transportation. She was driving up until the past few years and now relies on a caregiver (they come a few times a week) to go anywhere. A younger neighbor occasionally drives her to church.

 

I consider myself mostly an introvert. I like some games now, but have no one to play with. And by the time I'm elderly I don't know if I'll want anything to do with them lol.

 

I hardly see or interact with my neighbors right now. I mean I might talk to the man walking his dog, but there's definitely no regular event happening. I'm also younger than most of my neighbors.

 

I think the benefit is in more satisfying, social contact and interaction with people any way it happens. This could be card playing or like a group of older men in Italy who meet every day for a game of Boccia. Women used to have sewing circles, garden together or share the harvest. My grandmother walked to the store and on the way always met someone she knew so they stopped and chatted for a while. Obviously this was in a small town. But there are ways to get and stay involved.

 

[MSNative]

Just thought some of y'all might be interested in what my youngest just sent me. He's currently studying successful longevity (living oodles of years with a good quality of life) in a specialty college class.

 

Obviously, some of it is directly pertaining to our situation (pineapples, ponies, neighbors wanting to play games with us when they found out we often do family games, church things), but the overall ideas can pertain to anyone.

 

YMMV though discussion is definitely welcome.

 

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The new class is very very interesting and there are many things which are life applicable, and even many that I'd love to apply this spring and summer!

...As for reminders:Change the water on the pineapples,See about getting the neighbors over for games,And get up.

The latter two pertain to my preliminary findings after reading up on many aspects of Blue Zone areas and what makes them key, as well as interviewing successfully aging senior citizens down here. Managing to be physically apt, as well as HEALTHY into your older age boils down to a few common factors.

 

Being active is perhaps the best thing. Doesn't matter what you're doing, as long as you're actually up and doing something. So tend to the pineapples, walk around outside and admire stuff, go out and visit the ponies, walk down the street, clean up the dining table, JUST DO SOMETHING other than sitting in a recliner. People of the blue zones (so named because they were places on a map circled in blue highlighter by the original researchers) wake up on their own pace, and go out walking, working, and being active and productive. Then they quit when they feel like it and move on to another productive thing, they don't worry about finishing huge projects, they're just generally productive. Then they go in and take a nap (they all seem to take naps very frequently). Then towards the evening, they don't go in and sit on their couch (or chair), rather they spend time playing games and relaxing with family and friends (a tough one to do in American society).

Which leads us to social life. ALL successful people who age have a strong sense of community/less stressful life. A lot of this boils down to both emotional support, habit support (they keep you active), and conversation interaction. So go to more Church events, visit the neighbors and invite them over or walk around until you see some to talk with them, just interact.

Things seem to boil down to those two, and a good diet of vegetables and nuts and fruits (also lots of potatoes so long as you don't add tons of stuff and they're not fried) only make all of this better. But without the first two, eating healthy won't do you much good, as eating healthy is like getting the parts you need for a machine, and being active and socializing is actually what starts the machine running to use those things.

Hope you take in some of this, and hope all is going well up there!!!

What are you doing with the pineapples and why do you need to change the water on them? ;)

[creekland]

What are you doing with the pineapples and why do you need to change the water on them? ;)

 

Growing pineapples has been an experiment we've been doing at home (in PA) for a few years now.  This past summer we got our first actual pineapple from a plant, and it wasn't big enough to eat, so it's more fun than anything useful, but I've continued the project after the boys all left home mainly because it is neat to have tropical plants around.

 

The young pups get started in water until they grow roots.  Then they get transferred into soil.  I'd had them in water, but wasn't changing the water every day or every other day as I apparently was supposed to have been doing. 

 

Youngest is our resident botanist.  Most plant projects fall under his jurisdiction.  :coolgleamA:

[creekland]

A follow up post on FB (from the same son):

 

It's been a good day. I've interviewed senior citizens at a retirement community, heard marvelous stories, planted garden seeds, chopped up banana trees, ate, watched a movie and walked... Yes, it's been a full day. But most importantly I've done all of it with friends. I get the chance to smile at passerbys, walk with spring in my step, and to love. So though I may not have much, I love what I have. And thank you, because without you, it would not be the same. Have a great day!

[Guest]

Your kid is cool Creekland. Sounds like he's having a great time!

[Guest]

Your kid is cool Creekland. Sounds like he's having a great time!

For real. I love him.

[Amy in NH]

I don't really think I do.

[Junie]

Creekland, Your son might be interested in this cookbook I have: The Mediterrasian Way

 

The first part of the book is actually a lifestyle guide based on the Mediterranean and Asian ways of life.

 

They also have this website:  http://mediterrasian.com/

 

 

 

Also, I watched this TEDTalk today while I was trying to kill off a headache:

 

http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness#t-447475

 

 

edited:  because off has 2 f's   :svengo:

Edited January 9, 2016 by Junie

[*Jessica*]

Yeah definitely to reduce the load.

 

What is surprising to me is how many foods have a lot of potassium. I find it hard to believe that people have trouble getting enough. Well, not unless they live on donuts or something. Oddly he has to eat more junk because it's the healthy foods that are the problem.

DH's grandmother passed away last year at age 96. She spent her whole life eating healthy foods, only to have to start eating junk the last few years due to high potassium levels and other issues. I hated watching that. The poor woman just wanted to eat yummy vegetables, but instead ate a lot of Activia and Goldfish crackers. If I was 96 I think I would tell the doc to stuff it and keep enjoying them.

[creekland]

For real. I love him.

 

Just to be certain, this isn't the one you met.  This is his younger sibling.

 

I definitely love him (well, all three of mine) and we're planning on keeping them (after all, the warranty has expired), but he is lucky to be alive... as per post #22 in this thread:

 

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/578994-the-first-semester-is-over/

 

copied here for those who don't want to look at that thread (dated 12/12, his 20th birthday)  (We all - myself included - have our faults, nonetheless, today is a day I'm really, really proud of him and what he's doing.):

 

I'm pretty proud of myself at the moment.  

 

Today at his birthday lunch youngest proudly announced to us, a friend (female), and her mom that the highest grade he could get in one of his classes was a C and he was expecting a D.  Why?  Because doing homework was 20% of the grade... and he decided the amount of work simply was not worth his time, so he did none of it.  :mad:   He has gotten As on the tests for the most part, so could have had a decent grade had he put some effort in.   :cursing:   The class?  His Logic class!   :banghead:

 

Why am I proud of myself?  Simple... I haven't killed him...  I merely told him later that this is not something most people are impressed hearing about.  It kinda has the opposite effect actually.  He then told me I obviously didn't understand his reasoning... and I still didn't kill him regardless of how tempting it was.

 

Lest anyone think all my kids are perfect academic angels... I'm venting sharing.  I think I might try the rest of that wine tonight...  (though I can't as it's his birthday - sigh).

[creekland]

Both boys are in the air today.  Youngest (from this thread) on his way to Greece (from his school in FL which he returned to on Monday).  Middle on his way back to school.

 

I guess we get to go back to empty nesting...

 

Last night we had fun with middle son and card games and Neil Diamond again.  One can't underestimate the benefits of our social lives.  It was very, very, enjoyable.  So what if we only got 4 hours of sleep!

 

We'll have to head over to our neighbor's this weekend to set up a play date for us adults...

[Joyofsixreboot]

My dad died in Sept at 87. His health, mind, etc were very good until the last six weeks. He told me many times that the grandkids and having coffee with " the guys" most mornings were what kept him going. He enjoyed time alone fine but needed to know someone needed him.

[Laura Corin]

I've discovered that singing in a choir is perfect introverts' social time. We arrive and chat for five minutes, sing together (coordinating note, word, breathing and heart rate, supposedly) socialise for fifteen minutes, sing for another hour, then go home. Entirely manageable.

 

Would an orchestra work for you, Sparkly?

Edited January 9, 2016 by Laura Corin

[DawnM]

I learned the same thing from reading the book "Younger Next Year". I really loved that book. It might be the only 'self help' or diet and exercise book I have ever read that seemed sensible and made any real impact on how I live.

 

 

Interesting.  It is $1.99 on Kindle.  And there is a specific book designed for women, it is $1.99 on Kindle also.

[mumto2]

In reading Creekland's original post I realized my plans center around books and quilting for any free time in the future year. Sedentary so concerning but not sure how much worse than sitting and playing games. I guess it's fortunate that I am by nature a person who likes organized groups, dh and I belong to all that are of any interest.

 

One idea for those of us that are in the process of becoming empty nesters....My best home ed friend and I have just instituted our coffe/tea morning each week. We are flexible, each morning starting on Monday we meet for an hour or move our date to the next day. This will ensure we continue to see each other regularly into the future plus it's fun.

[Joyofsixreboot]

Interesting. It is $1.99 on Kindle. And there is a specific book designed for women, it is $1.99 on Kindle also.

They are almost the same excepting the menopause, etc advice. It really is one of the very few " health" books I've enjoyed.

[Laurie4b]

They are almost the same excepting the menopause, etc advice. It really is one of the very few " health" books I've enjoyed.

 

Is the one for women written in a different writing style? I ordered the one for men on Kindle, and dislike the guy talk writing style, but am skimming hoping to get to some substance soon. 

[Ali in OR]

I think introverts can have very rewarding social lives, they just do it differently than extroverts. My intimate social world is my family--we hang out together, work, play, laugh, etc. I don't have close girlfriends that I get together with--I have family. When I get out in the world, I'm more comfortable with organized, structured activity--church, book group, etc. If I had more time I would join the community group that teaches and plays bridge.

 

I have to say I'm most excited about the naps. And so is my cat--he loves it when I nap on the sofa and always joins me.

[MaeFlowers]

This is an interesting thread. I have thought much about this over the years. My great grandmother lived to be 109. (She may have actually been older. She was born in Indian Territory and had no birth certificate. She also tended to fib about things like this.) Anyway, she was amazing. She never had any serious health issues and only developed mild memory issues in the last year or two.

I remember asking her in her 90's what her secret was. She said she thought it was because she started taking vitamins way back when. But, I think it was many things. One, she didn't smoke and only drank at holidays and social occasions. (All of her siblings were smokers and died much younger.) Two, she ate anything and everything. Three, she was active. She lived in a retirement community and played games, swam every morning, danced, etc. until she was about 103. (She broke her leg and spent a long time in the hospital. Though she recovered well, the downtime was bad for her.) It may have also been genetics as her grandmother lived to be nearly 100.

The thing is, even though I think all of these things helped, I really think her attitude about life was the most important. She enjoyed life. She rarely got down. When I watch news reports about men and women who make it that long, they are always so positive. I think attitude might be the magic potion to a longer life.

Edited January 12, 2016 by MaeFlowers

[creekland]

The thing is, even though I think all of these things helped, I really think her attitude about life was the most important. She enjoyed life. She rarely got down. When I watch news reports about men and women who make it that long, they are always so positive. I think attitude might be the magic potion to a longer life.

 

I think those with good attitudes tend to also have lower stress levels.  It correlates highly with those in my life anyway.

 

I haven't seen enough to know it it will match old age.  My grandfather on my dad's side was one of the best guys I knew, but died young of a heart attack anyway - likely brought on by his diet.  He also smoked when he was younger, but gave it up when my dad and uncle reached their older school years and it started to become a known health issue.

 

My grandmother on that side had the same diet and smoking periods, was more stressed about people/life things, and still lived until her 80s when she was murdered by a live in stray (human) she felt sorry for.  (That murder part was never confirmed, but she died from a blow to her head and the stray disappeared at the same time - just nothing could be proven.  Technically, the blow could have come from a fall even though nothing matching that was around her body when it was found.)