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Over the last century, people around the world have been enjoying remarkable increases in lifespan - most noticeably in the developed world where the average lifespan has stretched to the mid and upper 70s. Researchers have attributed the changes to a wide variety of improvements in lifestyle and scientific advances, including such basics as diet and access to cutting edge medical treatments. Beyond these basics, however, there appear to be a few key things that help to contribute to increased longevity.
The first of these keys for living longer involves the overall fitness of the individual. Researchers are quick to point out that, when it comes to predicting longevity, there appears to be little relationship between leanness and fitness. Indeed, in study after study, overweight people who regularly exercise and maintain an active level of fitness have proven to be fitter than their sedentary counterparts - regardless of how lean those counterparts might be. This research clearly contradicts the popularly held belief that leanness equates to living longer.
The second key to living longer can be found in an individual's level of happiness. Being content in one's life has long been recognized as one of the greatest tools for stress reduction, and it appears that an overall sense of happiness is paramount in the quest for longer life. Of course, a happy person with no access to healthy food, medicine, and a clean environment would not necessarily reap the benefits of a longer life - but, then again, most people who live without those basics are anything but happy.
Third, and perhaps most important, is the sense of purpose that one has in life. An individual with a clear personal mission will not only have a more meaningful life, but will generally have a longer one as well. Research consistently shows that the "will to live" is strongest in those who feel most keenly that they have important and relevant things to do in their lives, which may help to explain such things as why married men have longer life expectancies than single men. Retirees who volunteer their time after retirement live significantly longer than their counterparts who disengage from such meaningful interaction with the rest of society.
These three keys to living longer all involve lifestyle choices, and appear to have a clear effect on the average person's ability to live a longer life. Assuming that negative lifestyle habits like smoking and excessive alcohol usage are removed from the equation, individuals who maintain a high level of fitness, happiness, and sense of mission in their lives often live many years beyond the average life expectancies of their peers. Each of these factors is directly related to one's zest for life, and an appreciation of its intrinsic value.
Obviously, people in the developed countries of the world already enjoy considerably longer life expectancies than many of the inhabitants of the developing regions of the planet. Research into these key areas, however, helps us to understand more about the impact of lifestyle choices and attitude on the overall longevity of all peoples.
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