Hobbies that add years to your life

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What do very happy people have in common?

The wall street journal, through a survey followed up with 12% of respondents who called themselves ‘very happy’ and asked them what they were so happy about.

Here are some traits shared —

• Companionship
• Being involved in community
• Enjoying hobbies

We are all very well aware that companionship is always and will always be number -1, a close personal relationship with caring and sharing is what warms the heart and makes life worth the ride. Volunteering work for the community you live ranks high too, we humans love a sense of belonging, a sense of being appreciated. When you feel you are at a stage in your life where being a blessing to others brings joy to the soul, you will set out each day, purposefully looking out for opportunities to be a blessing. There is always a counter reaction to your motives, if they are pure, they will bring contentment and in turn good health of mind and body. But for many coordinating timings and getting together with people does not always work out. The third aspect of enjoying hobbies works well for many. It’s at your time, your pace, and your will. Which really is more comfortable as we turn into older adults.

Do you know that some of these hobbies apart from making you happy can make you live longer?

Here’s the list —

Gardening — it’s a double whammy- enjoyment and moderate physical activity. Besides the early morning sun counts for your daily intake of vitamin D, not to mention the breathing in of oxygen. All the nurturing you do for your saplings and see them grow into plants, bloom and add beauty around you act as stress busters, mood enhancers and reduce the chances of dementia. Making your life worthwhile.

Reading — My father always said —“if you have a book in hand, you will never be lonely.” Though in today’s world you are spoilt for choice with surfing the net, cable T.V. and social media. The concentration to read a book is dwindling, but if this habit has been inculcated in you from a young age, you will not forgo it for anything else. A study from the University of Sussex in England has found that “simply picking up a book and diving deep into it, getting transported into another world can reduce stress levels by 68%. The heart rate slows down in six minutes from the time you begin reading. Now that’s amazing.

Cooking — Studies show that eating home cooked meals at least five times a week could add years to your life. Home cooking is always a healthier option, a less expensive option and therapeutic when you learn the art of rustling up your meals from scratch and dishing them out to look appealing to the eye. The cherry on the icing is sharing it with someone else. Attending a cooking class online or in person may not be such a bad idea after all.

Certain forms of exercising —

Among the multitude of forms of exercise, there are some, which focus purely on fat loss, burning calories, muscle building and there are others which are purely to reduce stress, improve mental health and in turn increase your life span.

Yoga and swimming are two forms of exercising that fall into this category.

– They are known to be beneficial to people of all ages and cause the least amount of injury.

– They stretch the muscles; its low-impact is gentle on the joints,

– They help breathing patterns and improve concentration.

– Another side effect is providing cardiovascular exercise and endurance using your own body strength.

– Yoga in particular, increases body awareness, attention to the senses, and massages the internal organs.

All for, over all health leading to longevity.

Music — This one is closest to my heart, listen to music while you shower, while you exercise, in the background while you work, when you need a good cry. There is music for all reasons and all seasons too. Patrick Fagan- Goldsmiths University, London, found that just twenty minutes of listening to music could boost your sense of wellbeing by up to 21%. “Our research showcases the profound impact concerts have on feelings of health, happiness and wellbeing – with regular attendance being the key.”  So keep listening up to add years to your life.

Meditation — There is scientific evidence, the level of the stress hormone ‘Cortisol’ can be reduced by the practice of meditation. Meditation is an ancient practice that involves quieting of the mind and focusing inwardly for a period of time. With mental health issues on the rise it has gained modern credibility to help people relax, concentrate, reduce stress and boost memory. All these factors contribute to a healthier longer life.

In conclusion —If as an older adult your daily routine is eating, drinking, exercising, I urge you not to fall into this mundane trap. Keep adding to life till your last breathe. That’s a life worth living.