Key takeaways
- Eating plenty of plant foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds may support longevity. Studies link plant-based eating with lower risk of premature death and several chronic diseases.
- Regular physical activity can improve mood, support weight loss, and lower chronic disease risk. Most adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly.
- Long-term health may improve when you quit smoking, reduce chronic stress, and build strong social ties. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule also matters, since too little or too much sleep is linked to health risks.
Many people think that life expectancy is largely determined by genetics. However, genes play a much smaller role than originally believed. It turns out that environmental factors like diet and lifestyle are key.
Read on to learn more about the diet and lifestyle habits to form now that are linked to a longer life.
This article is Day 14 of Healthline’s 14 Habits for Healthy Aging Challenge. Follow along to discover small, meaningful habits to help you stay healthy, feel your best, and thrive at every stage of life.
Start Day 1 of the Challenge here: The Stages of Aging.
Eating a primarily plant-based diet is one practice that people living in Blue Zones tend to share. Blue Zones are parts of the world in which people generally live longer, healthier lives than those elsewhere in the world.
Research links a plant-based diet to a lower risk of health conditions such as:
When eating a plant-based diet, it’s a good idea to consume a variety of foods, including:
It should come as no surprise that staying physically active can keep you healthy and add years to your life. In fact, a lifestyle that naturally incorporates movement is another common practice in Blue Zone populations.
- preventing weight gain
- improving your mood
- reducing your risk of developing chronic conditions
- improving your sleep quality and energy levels
Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death. Quitting smoking, if you do smoke, can help reduce your chance of developing a life threatening disease.
Keep in mind that it’s never too late to quit. The benefits of quitting smoking occur from minutes or hours to years after your last cigarette.
Feeling happy can help increase your longevity. This could involve finding something that gives you a sense of purpose or just slowing down to romanticize the small things in your life.
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Setting aside time to do things that bring you joy and practicing gratitude may help increase your levels of optimism and happiness.
Chronic stress is stress that occurs over a long period. Chronic stress may
If you regularly experience stress or anxiety and find that it is interfering with your day-to-day life, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can work with you to create a treatment plan that helps reduce stressors and provides relief.
Tips to manage stress
Adopting a daily form of stress relief is another common practice among Blue Zone residents. Tips to reduce stress can include:
- getting regular exercise
- journaling about your experiences or feelings
- speaking with a trusted friend
- mindfulness or meditation
- spending time outside
Researchers report that maintaining healthy social networks can help improve longevity and lead to better health.
A strong social circle may also help you react less negatively to stress, perhaps further explaining the positive effect on life span.
Providing support to others can also be beneficial. In addition to accepting care from your friends and family, make sure to return the favor, too.
Sleep is crucial for regulating cell function and helping your body heal.
A 2024 research article reports that longevity is likely linked to regular sleeping patterns, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day.
Sleep duration also seems to be a factor, with both too little and too much being harmful.
Too little sleep may also promote inflammation and increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. These are all linked to a shortened life span.
On the other hand, excessive sleep could be linked to depression, low physical activity, and undiagnosed health conditions, all of which may negatively affect your lifespan.
Most adults should aim to get around 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
Various factors, including cultural, environmental, and individual factors, influence what changes you can make to age well. It’s a great idea to consider your personal situation and lifestyle to create a healthy aging roadmap with realistic, sustainable goals.
Below are some examples of habits that promote longevity which you may be able to incorporate into your daily life:
- Aim to eat five portions of plant foods every day.
- Set a sleep routine with a regular bedtime and waking time.
- Set aside 30 minutes to spend on a hobby that brings you joy.
- Call or visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
- Find an exercise you love, and set aside regular time for it. You could even combine exercise with socializing by joining a dance class or running group.
- Practice gratitude and mindfulness throughout your day.
People living in Blue Zones tend to have longer lives than others. Habits that are common among these people include:
- developing supportive social and family networks
- daily stress relief practices
- eating a primarily plant-based diet
- monitoring calorie intake
- avoiding or limiting alcohol
- embracing a sense of purpose
- incorporating movement into their daily lives
A 2025 study found a significant association between physical activity levels and life span. The researchers suggest that if all adults were as active as the top 25% of the population, Americans ages 40 and older could live an average of 5.3 years longer.
Although specific dietary factors vary, people in Blue Zones tend to eat primarily plant-based diets. They may also monitor their calorie intake, which can include intermittent fasting, and limit their alcohol intake.
A 2025 article associates getting less than seven hours of sleep with a shorter life expectancy and getting adequate sleep with a longer life span.
However, it’s worth noting that some research suggests getting too much sleep may also have negative health effects. Most adults should aim to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every day.
There is no single practice that will improve longevity the most. Instead, incorporating multiple healthy habits will have the best effect on your life span.
A 2026 review suggests that sleep quality and physical activity levels may be the two most important factors for healthy aging, further supported by diet and mental well-being.
Longevity may seem beyond your control, but many healthy habits may lead you to a ripe, old age.
These include eating a plant-based diet, quitting smoking, reducing stress, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
Taken together, these habits can boost your health and put you on the path to a long life.
