Three Hobbies That Will Make You Live Longer

We’re yet to discover the elixir of life or fountain of youth so immortality seems a long way off. To paraphrase Benjamin Frankin, the only certainties in life are death and taxes. We have this one precious life to live and we all want to make the most of it.

Some things are in our control. Conventional wisdom says to make sure we exercise moderately, eat healthy food, and avoid alcohol and drugs. Taking care of our bodies is essential, of course. The general population tends to agree. In the US alone, the health and fitness industry isworth more than $96bn.

However, if working out is more of a chore than a hobby, you may be relieved to learn that some of your favourite pastimes could increase your lifespan as well. Research shows that some hobbies could add years to your life by reducing your stress levels and preventing cognitive decline.

If you are looking for a new hobby to fill your time, why not consider one of the below and reap the benefits of a longer, happier life in the process?

Meditation

Meditation requires about five minutes of your time when you first get started, but it could reduce your chance of dying of cancer by nearly 50%. A study published in The American Journal of Cardiology reviewed the impacts of meditation in patients with high blood pressure. Participants who were asked to meditate reported significantly lower blood pressure compared to other groups.

A follow-up with the patients a few years later showed that those who practised meditation were 30% less likely to die of high blood pressure and 49% less likely to die of cancer.

Cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of mortality in the US right now and evidence suggests meditating could help you avoid these diseases.

The mindfulness practice has also been shown to significantly reduce cellular ageing. Increased cellular ageing has been linked to depression, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and infertility. A practice that could reduce your chances of developing these conditions would not only increase your lifespan but also significantly improve its quality too.

Gardening

Enjoying the outdoors, growing your own food, and getting some moderate exercise in the process — what better way to spend your free time? National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner studied five communes around the world famed for their long lifespans. From Okinawa to California, these communities thrived. All of them enjoyed gardening as a hobby and kept up their outdoor activities well into their 90s.

There is evidence to suggest that gardening could add as much as 14 years to your life. But what is it about this outdoorsy activity that improves your lifespan? A combination of stress relief, getting vitamin D, a diet rich in veg, and moderate physical activity all seem to play a part.

Interestingly, just playing with soil has been shown to reduce your risk of auto-immune diseases. This is because garden soil is rich in natural bacteria and microorganisms. Exposing your body to these microorganisms builds up your immune response and helps with overall health.

A Dutch study found that spending time tending to plants outdoors after a laborious task could decrease stress levels. In fact, just living around higher levels of green vegetation was found to reduce mortality by as much as 12%.

Gardening could also prevent cognitive decline. Australian researchers found that people who gardened regularly had a 36% lower chance of developing dementia than people who didn’t.

It is no surprise then that developing a green thumb could be your key to a longer, healthier life.

Reading

With streaming services like Netflix and Prime vying for our attention, and a new Xbox out to entertain us, it is no surprise that reading has taken a backseat. A Kantar survey found that only about half the population in the United Kingdom finished a single book in 2019.

Yet, reading has numerous benefits that could help us lead longer, happier lives. A study involving more than 3,500 people found that book readers experienced a 20% reduction in risk of mortality over 12 years. Further, book readers lived around two years longer compared to their non-reading counterparts.

But reading books has also been linked to preventing cognitive decline. And preventing cognitive decline is important if you want to avoid devastating conditions like dementia.

A recent study, spanning 14 years and involving more than 1,900 participants, showed that adults who read twice a week were less likely to experience cognitive decline. The study concluded that a frequent reading habit protected cognitive ability later in life.

Final Thoughts

It can often feel like time spent on things we enjoy is a luxury we can’t afford. This is especially true when we are busy pursuing career milestones and chasing our dreams. Other things must take precedence now, we say. There will be time to enjoy life later.

But research shows that stopping to smell the flowers — literally — could lead to a longer, happier life. And isn’t that what we all want in the end?