Research from a new study suggests a new kind of exercise that they say can help you live longer.
And it’s not about running or walking more or working out more. It’s about exercising your attitude. This large-scale study found that those who “always look on the bright side of life” were more likely to make it to the age of ninety.
The lead author at the Harvard School of Public health says their findings suggest that there’s value to focusing on positive psychological factors, like optimism, as possible new ways of promoting longevity and healthy aging. And the study found that it applies applied across racial and ethnic groups.
The researchers say they factored in education, marital status, income, and chronic conditions, but those ranked in the top 25 percent for optimism lived an average of 5.4 percent longer than those who had the least optimistic attitudes.
And while some people may seem to have been born with a more positive attitude, the researchers say experiments show that writing exercises and practicing being more positive can lead to more optimism and the benefits from it.
So, it sounds like the old axiom about how acting the way you want to feel makes you feel better…is true. And these days, we can all probably benefit from being a little more optimistic.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images