4 secrets to LIVING LONGER

My father loved his Reader's Digest and I have been reading a few of the magazines. I cam across the 4 secrets to living longer.

What do we need to do to live longer? The Longevity Project by psychologists Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin offers advice for life-extending  from a study that began in 1921 and followed 1500 boys and girls for as long as eight decades. Friedman shares the most useful advice:

Flash doesn't last. The key personality predictor of a long life was one that we never expected: conscientiousness.It was not always the cheerful kids who went on to live the longest lives - it was the ones who did their homework, whose parents would say 'She has a good head on her shoulders.' They developed healthy patterns and then maintained them. People who were not dependable as kids became more responsible as adults did well too.

Happiness is a result, not a cause. It is well established that happy people are healthier. People assume that happiness leads them to be healthier, but we did not find that. Having a job you feel engaged in; a good education; a good stable relationship; being involved with other people - those things cause health and happiness.

Stress isn't so bad. You are always hearing about the dangers of stress, but the people who were the most involved and dedicated to accomplishing things - they stayed healthiest and lived the longest. It is not good if you are overwhelmed by stress, but the people who thrived were the ones who did not try to relax or retire early but who took on challenges and were persistent.

Run with the right crowd. One of the secrets to longevity is to join social groups and hobbies or jobs that lead you naturally to healthier patterns and activities. That is a gradual but effective way to change yourself.