Peathegee Inc/Getty Images/Tetra pictures RF

Peathegee Inc/Getty Images/Tetra pictures RF

In the Sixties and ’70s, The 2,000 Year-Old Man, was fashionable a comedy routine carried out by Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks. Brooks performed a 2,000 year-old man – apparently in terrific well being – and Reiner, a contemporary man, would ask him questions, together with if he’d share the secrets and techniques to his longevity.

“The major thing is that I never ever touch fried food,” was Brooks’ response in one early recording. Also, “Never run for a bus; there will always be another,” and eat plenty of nectarines.

Not dangerous! Whether you are 2,000 or 20, we’re all growing old and all of us have knowledge and experiences to share.

That’s why NPR requested our listeners and readers to share their secrets to living a long and healthy life, as a part of our new sequence, How to Thrive as You Age. To date we have obtained over 1,000 responses from readers and listeners ages 16 to 103.

Here are a few of our favorites, edited for readability and brevity.

Make pals throughout generations

“I surround myself with friends who are older than me; living youthful, full lives,” writes Emma Aulenback, 26, who lives in Massachusetts. “During my AmeriCorps year, I lived with a 75-year-old woman who continues to inspire me to get out and adventure … whether it be running a marathon, joining a dating app, or skydiving.” Aulenback says she additionally has pals a decade or so older than her who reside exterior of the prescribed boundaries of marriage, children and profession. “They help me realize that there is no such thing as ‘falling behind,’ ” Aulenback writes. “The only ‘milestones’ in life are the ones you, yourself, decide are worthwhile.”

Deborah Davis, 73, of Santa Fe, N.M. says she advantages from intergenerational relationships too. “Like my Uncle Donald always used to tell me, surround yourself with young people – their energy will keep you youthful. Boy, he wasn’t kidding!” she writes.

It’s by no means too late to set new objectives

During the COVID lock-downs, Connie Morris, 71, of Somerset, Mass. set a purpose to stroll a 5K for the primary time. She started strolling every day and shortly might stroll 3 miles at a time. “Then I started trying to run,” Morris writes. “I made steady progress and did a St. Patrick’s Day 5k with my son.”

Morris is already working in the direction of her subsequent purpose: paddleboarding. “I now realize that some of the limitations of aging are just from not moving,” she writes. “You can still get in shape and build muscle. About six months ago I decided I didn’t like my sagging rear. I’ve been doing squats and I’m happy to report: I have a bum again.”

Try these VR fitness apps and games to get in form this 12 months.

To keep energetic, maintain adapting

While a few of our listeners and readers are operating marathons and climbing mountains into your 70s and 80s, a standard development emerged: a deal with modifying train to suit our altering our bodies.

Swimming has lengthy been the go-to train for Cody Brady, 73, of Austin, Texas, however after a coronary heart assault 10 years in the past, she reduce out freestyle swimming and switched to gentler strokes. “I am very comfortable with making accommodations as I age. I do not expect to go faster, improve my time or push myself to my limit. I am very happy just to be able to move and enjoy what I do,” Brady says.

Jackie Buehring, age 78, of Naperville, Ill., says in the case of health, take heed to your physique. “If you go to a class or shovel snow or anything else unusual and end up with muscle pain, you have found a muscle that needs to be worked regularly. Figure out how to do that,” Beuhring writes.

When it involves staying energetic, Dennis Junt, 68, of Seattle, has this straightforward recommendation: “Try to do everything in moderation, except sex. Do more.”

Check out our tips for enjoying sex as you age.

Put your psychological well being first

“The biggest and most dramatic changes I have experienced in attaining a healthier life came the moment I started focusing on my mental health first and foremost,” writes Margarita Tavarez, 46, of Puerto Rico. “Once I started taking care of myself emotionally, I started seeing exercise, weight training, movement, and nutrition, as opportunities to ease anxiety, depression, and trauma, all of which are factors in accelerated aging.”

Tedecia Wint, 42, Brooklyn, NY, sees attending to her personal psychological well being as an funding in her children’ future. “I want to be an active part of my children’s life for as long as I can,” writes Wint. “I have spent the last year in therapy dealing with what I now know is chronic PTSD, from various traumas starting in childhood, and I have begun my journey into practicing Buddhism — chanting has been a revelation,” she says.

Start work-life stability early

Several millennial readers shared suggestions for reaching the elusive purpose of work-life stability.

For Jules Overfelt, 31, of Lansing, Mich. that begins within the morning. “I get up two hours before I leave for work and it’s one of my most revered daily rituals. The process of making coffee, feeding my cats, and reading my book with music on is worth going to bed early…. I recommend that people try to find something small to do in the morning before starting their responsibilities for the day. Even taking joy in making coffee (the scent of the grounds, the warmth of the mug) can help remind you that you have more to experience than just working.”

Make your train social and your socializing energetic

Victoria Summers, 64, of El Dorado Hills, Ca., finds methods to mix two keys to longevity – train and friendship – and have an entire lot of enjoyable doing it.

“I started a women’s bike club, The Bodacious biking Babes, 23 years ago, and we are still going strong,” Summers writes. “My husband and I square dance together weekly, ride our tandem bike together and are in a couple’s ‘Empty Nest’ club together. During COVID, I organized an informal group of neighborhood ladies to play pickleball that gets together weekly during the spring and summer for laughs and exercise. Although not every neighbor is physically able to play, they come for conversation and camaraderie,” she says.

Get artistic about consuming your veggies!

Lots of our readers had dietary recommendation, centered on consuming much less junk meals and extra fruit and veggies.

Sarah M., 39, of Portland, Ore. writes that getting a daily supply of recent native produce from a CSA, or farm share membership, “pretty dramatically changed the way we eat in my household.”

“Now dinners in my household consist of what we’ve named “vegetabowls,” where basically I just preheat the oven to 425 F, toss whatever vegetables are best roasted with a bit of oil, salt and pepper, and roast until browned and delicious.” She serves it throughout salad greens. “It gives you a ludicrous variety of veg all in one meal,” she provides.

Here’s recommendation for getting more fiber in your weight-reduction plan, and how to eat less meat.

Keep engaged with psychological challenges and inventive initiatives

Lots folks wrote in about participating in actions that maintain their minds sharp and stave off cognitive decline.

“Find your passion!” writes Edith Edmunds, 98, of Halifax, Va. Hers is stitching. “Since childhood, I find joy in quilting and dressmaking. My mind figures out how I will make each project with my fabric,” Edmunds says.

Creativity is a driving power for Claire Russel, 83, of Shoreline, Wash. “What sustains me, gets me out of bed in the morning and keeps me up at night is the satisfaction in making things: There is the adrenaline rush of an idea for something to paint, draw, make, cook and garden. Motto: I never met a color I didn’t like,” Russel writes.

Karen Maslowski, 72, of Cincinnati, Oh., practices every day “brain stretchers” like phrase video games and Sudoku. Her 94 year-old mom likes them too. “She is as sharp as a tack, working word games every day. It challenges her mind,” Maslowski says.

No matter your age, sleep and relaxation are important

Throughout a lot of her teenagers and 20s, Bri Obied, 31, of Oxford, U.Ok. struggled to go to sleep and keep asleep. As a end result she was sick continuously, and even received mononucleosis twice, Obied writes. When she lastly discovered a solution to get high quality sleep, she says it made all of the distinction. “Sleep definitely makes me feel like a younger person. It’s bolstered my immune system and made me more resilient to stress,” she says.

For Jack Applewhite, 72, of Austin Tex., slicing down on espresso led to a lot better sleep. He writes that he and his spouse additionally take pleasure in a comfortable afternoon nap, with one or each of their canines.

Stay engaged with what offers you goal

Several readers wrote that they have been nonetheless working or volunteering half time of their 70s. Some, like Susan Goldsmith, 74, of Pasadena, Calif. went again to high school to study a brand new ability. She research music at her local people school and performs euphonium within the school wind band.

“Stay busy,” advises Tom Sklebar, 71, of Wisconsin. He and his companion began volunteering at nonprofits after they retired. He additionally advises mentoring. “You have a lifetime of knowledge and skill and pass it along to the next generation.”

Flo Hunt, 71, of Queensbury, N.Y. additionally suggests working, if just for just a few hours per week. “It engages you with people. Older people tend to self isolate. That leads to a cognitive decline.” Hobbies matter too, she says. She is a printed writer and is at the moment writing the second guide in a Sherlock Holmes trilogy.

Mindset issues

“My biggest secret weapon about aging has been my belief/attitude,” says Mindy Coleman, age 48, of Ashville, N.C. ” I figure that it’s inevitable, so I might as well enjoy it as much as possible. Embrace it. Lean into it. Roll with it. Observe the changes and see it as a full cycle of life to live and experience,” Coleman writes.

“As a child, I would lament to my dad that I didn’t want to get old,” writes Kala Grove of Madison, Wis., age 36. “Without fail, he would look me in the eye and respond simply ‘It’s better than the alternative.’ Grove says that outlook has stuck with her. “Anytime my bones really feel previous or I notice a brand new gray hair, I instantly am grateful for the chance to expertise it. Aging is actually a privilege not all get to expertise,” she says.

“I’ve learn that individuals, as they age, usually really feel they’re now not seen in our youth-centric society,” writes Judith Henry, age 70, of Tampa, Fl. “My resolution is to do one thing good for somebody, (it would not must be massive,) and watch how your invisibility cloak begins to shrink.”

Acceptance is a way of life for Mandisa Hughes, 46, of New Orleans, La. “I like me….PERIOD. I’m sturdy, I’m invaluable, I’m holy, I’m protected, I’m affluent, I’m highly effective and most of all I AM GRATEFUL!” she writes.

This story additionally seems within the Feb. 11 problems with the NPR Health newsletter. It was edited by Carmel Wroth.