I came across an interesting locale, the Blue Zones—regions in Italy, Greece, Japan, California, and Costa Rica where inhabitants live a long life and claim to be content and mentally vigorous. I am intrigued by the Blue Zones in my work as a psychologist. (Besides, at midlife age I ought to learn now how to coast blissfully into old age!) I have seen that adults and teens must cope with stressors from diverse areas of life: the pressures of good grades, the demands of a long workday, managing childcare, and navigating interpersonal relationships. Let’s face it, we want to be stress-free and joyful but then life happens and sometimes it is hard to stay strong and positive. How do we live happily ever after? Let’s focus on the Blue Zones for ways to stay happy and resilient despite adversity and life changes.
Residents from Ikaria Island are 10 times more likely to reach age 100 compared to North American adults. Ikarian men and women have the same survival age, unlike Canada and the U.S. where women outlive men by five years. What is special about this Greek island? What do their citizens know about successful aging?
According to National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner, key behaviours of Blue Zone residents help them thrive: healthy eating, moderate drinking, and regular exercise. (Notice the operative word moderate levels of drinking, not binging or over-the-top consumption of booze!) Let’s start with Ikarian cuisine. It is replete with fish, fruit, green vegetables, and wild plants, all cooked with locally produced herbs and olive oil. A Mediterranean plant-based diet is associated with a lower incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. Cognitive degenerative diseases and cancer typically arise in old age, not when people are young. But we need to be smart and prevent ailments from happening in the first place by practicing healthy eating now.
There is more to this culture than its diet and common-sense drinking habits. Ikaria island is mostly a mountainous terrain, which means walking up and down steep slopes to get chores done. People there move about naturally in their environment. Some don’t drive gas-powered or electric cars, and they don't hop on trains or subways every which way. They balance physical movement with midday siestas — a short nap each day to rest the body and recharge the brain. Even if you don’t live on this gorgeous, remote island, I suggest you capitalize on the Blue Zone way of living. Try these tips:
Practicing some alone time will help you self-regulate and quieten your busy life. But social connection is important too. Are there special friends you gravitate towards? Do the people in your life give you a sense of purpose or direction?
Social connectedness is valued in the Blue Zones. Researcher Maria Fastame and colleagues in Italy have discovered psychological benefits from living in the small village of Arzana, Sardinia. Their elderly folks typically live in the same home as their children and grandchildren. They report being satisfied in their relationships with family and larger contacts. They feel loved and cared for, and naturally, this makes them happy. Note that elders in this small village are valued by younger generations; because of this, they see themselves as more competent and more cognitively healthy compared to how the general population of aging adults see themselves.
In Japan, being close to others is referred to as ‘moai.’ A moai comprises a group of friends who gather in person to gossip, share personal experiences, and gain emotional support from one another. Both in Sardinia and Japan — collectivistic cultures that generally rely on immediate family and community for help, individuals who have greater social support and do more recreational activities (gardening, socializing, playing group games) also report greater well-being. What exactly contributes to their happiness? Well, I’ve said already that exercise and mental health go hand in hand. Besides, being in the company of others reduces social isolation and depression. Go ahead and create your moai and you will gain a sense of purpose and happiness.
Speaking of tough times, people around the globe recently muddled through a three-year pandemic. I hesitate to bring it up, but who knows if a new strain of coronavirus or some other germ altogether will send us into quarantine and supreme fear of the unknown. You could say it is not easy to sustain good eating habits, physical activity and positive mental health while dealing with a fast-paced, high-tech, changing world. But I do think these strategies will help you lead a happier life. You don’t have to be a resident of longevity hotspots to apply these approaches in everyday life. When you emphasize health and well-being during the early stages, the better your later years will be.
References
Buettner, D. (2012). The blue zones: 9 lessons for living longer from the people who've lived the longest. National Geographic Books.
Geldart, S. (2024). Alone Time. Embrace solitude for health and well-being. Summer Hill, Australia: Rockpool Publishing.
Hitchcott, P.K., Fastame, M.C., & Penna, M.P. (2018) More to Blue Zones than long life: positive psychological characteristics. Health, Risk & Society, 20:3-4, 163-181. DOI: 10.1080/13698575.2018.1496233
Happily Ever After: A Glimpse Into the Blue Zones
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I came across an interesting locale, the Blue Zones—regions in Italy, Greece, Japan, California, and Costa Rica where inhabitants live a long life and claim to be content and mentally vigorous. I am intrigued by the Blue Zones in my work as a psychologist. (Besides, at midlife age I ought to learn now how to coast blissfully into old age!) I have seen that adults and teens must cope with stressors from diverse areas of life: the pressures of good grades, the demands of a long workday, managing childcare, and navigating interpersonal relationships. Let’s face it, we want to be stress-free and joyful but then life happens and sometimes it is hard to stay strong and positive. How do we live happily ever after? Let’s focus on the Blue Zones for ways to stay happy and resilient despite adversity and life changes.
Residents from Ikaria Island are 10 times more likely to reach age 100 compared to North American adults. Ikarian men and women have the same survival age, unlike Canada and the U.S. where women outlive men by five years. What is special about this Greek island? What do their citizens know about successful aging?
According to National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner, key behaviours of Blue Zone residents help them thrive: healthy eating, moderate drinking, and regular exercise. (Notice the operative word........
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