Some Hobbies Can Help You Live Longer
Hobbies are part of what makes life fun. Some of them come with a major bonus: they just might lengthen your life.
Research shows that some hobbies have such a significant influence on your well-being—they can add years or even decades to your life.
According to a Money Talks News article, certain hobbies may increase or enhance your lifespan:
1. Reading. Stress shortens lives, but reading can reduce stress levels by 68%, per research from the University of Sussex in England. The benefits begin in just six minutes.
2. Gardening. Studies demonstrate that the physical activity of gardening combined with green environments can enhance and extend life. An Australian study found that people in their 60s who garden lower their dementia risk by 36%.
3. Cooking. Restaurant and processed foods contribute to life-shortening conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Those who prepare meals from scratch tend to eat healthier. Researchers at the University of Washington found that home cooking frequency correlates with higher scores on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Eating Index.
4. Listening to music. The University of London found that regularly attending concerts can add years to your life, with just 20 minutes boosting well-being by up to 21%.
5. Volunteering. A study in Health Psychology journal confirmed that volunteering extends life.
6. Walking. According to a Mayo Clinic study, brisk walkers might live up to 20 years longer than sedentary individuals. Brisk walking requires at least three miles per hour or 100 steps per minute to gain benefits.
7. Owning a pet. A meta-analysis of studies from 1950–2019 found that dog owners had a 24% reduced risk of death from any cause.
8. Dancing. This excellent exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, promoting longevity and better health. Research shows dancing reduces stress and boosts serotonin. Those 75 and older who dance regularly have lower risks of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
9. Yoga. Research connects yoga to improved balance, reduced stress, enhanced mental and emotional health, and better sleep. The National Institutes of Health notes yoga also aids weight loss and smoking cessation—lifestyle changes extending lifespan.
10. Meditation. A study in The American Journal of Cardiology found that people over 55 with hypertension who practiced transcendental meditation reduced overall mortality by 23% over 7.6 years. Cardiovascular disease deaths dropped 30%, and cancer deaths fell 49%.
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