Read a lot: tip for a happy, healthy old age

Main question in our survey was this: Imagine a younger person telling you they want to achieve a happy, healthy old age. Give your very best tip, in 30 words or fewer.

First respondent to our survey of your tips for a happy, healthy old age was Sadje (age 55-64). Instead of one tiny tip Sadje offered a generous handful of eight, and the first one was this:

Read a lot.

This tiny tip is worth thinking about. There’s evidence that reading books (but not necessarily magazines, newspapers or blogs) does contribute to our mental health and happiness, and is associated with increased longevity. You probably find that reading books stimulates your brain and opens your mind. Reading can bring escape, adventure, insights, knowledge,and even wisdom. Reading can stir our imagination and create empathy. And yes, best start now, so that when we are old, we have this delicious habit embedded. Thank you Sadje!

Reading books could increase your lifespan

Reading voraciously is just the start

Sadje’s constellation of tips:

Read a lot, write, meet friends and laugh with them. Go for a walk daily and eat less. Take balanced diet and if your diets lacks some vitamins or nutrients, take supplements.

Sadje’s reason for offering so many tips:

I think we need to do all this to age in a healthy and graceful manner.

This is wise, of course: one good habit is not enough. Sadje’s essential tip is to do many things that are known to be good for you!

Thank you Sadje. Yours was exactly the answer I needed at the start of the survey, enabling me to clarify my thoughts 🙂

One tiny tip for successful aging can tip the balance

Certainly, one good tip is not enough. People who achieve happiness and health into old age usually do a bunch of things that contribute to their good fortune.

However, our survey takes a different angle, namely that a single tip can change everything—if it is the advice that works for you personally at the time. Everyone has preferences, everyone takes a different path. The tip that works is the tip that presses your button, the tip that tips you into action.

Changing eight habits would be challenging. But changing one tiny habit can instantly improve your life, bring a sense of accomplishment, and trigger other changes. You choose. You decide.

That’s what I hope for as your tiny tips are published week by week.

Your tiny tips will be published here on Saturdays

Give your tiny tip for a long, healthy, contented life.

Our survey will remain open for some weeks, and I’ll publish at least the first 25, so please join in!

Take a tiny survey to share your tips (The survey will load in a different window.)

About the survey