All around happiness with Bluezones
Typically, ‘Blue Zones’ are the regions around the world where people have been observed to live better and longer. A team of researchers, led by Dan Buettner, dedicated their exploration to find the secret behind the better and longer lives in the regions. To their surprise, it was nothing extreme. However, the regions had one thing in common: social engagement and balanced healthy life habits.
Dan’s research has led to fascinating, fact based, tangible guidelines and tests to see if you, or your community are mirroring the behaviors of these long-life communities around the globe, and i strongly encourage you to read them in some depth. But rather than repeat his full analysis here, we pick up the story with Dan’s simplified power-9 traits that are the most indicative.
The power-9 habits include;
- Moderate, regular physical activity,
- Life purpose (see Ikigai)
- Stress reduction
- Moderate calories intake
- A plant-based die
- Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine
- Engagement in spirituality or religion
- Engagement in family life
- Engagement in social life
A sense of community, according to Buettner, is essential to the pleasure and overall well-being. Blue Zone communities have a strong sense of safety, a community gathering space (such as a city center), and places of interest (such as grocery shops, restaurants, and churches) that are all within walking distance.
Through the activities and habits above, we are obligated to make our blue zones and lead a happy, healthy, and longer life. Got out to lunch with your friends instead of taking it to your office. Play with your kids in the evening, avoid stress and eat healthily.
Nutrition is the first and easiest step to get right for immediate change
The Blue Zones Kitchen recipe book is an amazing starter for eating well – recipes are simple, tasty, quick to make and truly life-changing – that said there just isnt enough meat or carbs for my personal metabolism so I always add a bit to them. Will that stop me living to 100? Maybe who knows there are lots of other things to fix before cutting out meat (Bluezones by the way does not advocate avoiding meat entirely!). Anyway, like all food the fun is found in adding to , experimenting and flavoring it your way.
Another alternative I have found that works really well is this:
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