Are you inadvertently shortening your own life?
Probably. We all do things that impact our long-term health, often without even realizing it.
Today, we’re highlighting small habits that destroy our health and offering simple lifestyle changes to fix them.
Things That Shorten Your Life
We all know that drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and shoveling junk into our mouths can shorten our lives.
We still do it, because hey, what’s life for if not to live a little?
But there are a host of other things that shorten our lives that we don’t even think about.
I’m not asking you to change – I’m just asking you to think about these things before doing them (or not doing them) so you can make better health decisions.
Taking the Escalator or Elevator
Do you always choose the escalator in malls and subways? If there’s an elevator option, do you take it?
Take the stairs instead. I know a flight of stairs won’t make or break anyone’s health, but any extra movement we can squeeze into our day helps.
I’ve even found that it’s usually faster to take the stairs anyway. So not only are you improving your health, but you’re getting where you’re going faster. Win-win.
Sitting for Eight Hours
Our sedentary lifestyles are a massive problem. We sit in front of computers at work, then we come home and sit on the couch doomscrolling while the TV plays in the background.
Sit, sit, sit.
I get it, you have to work. But you don’t have to sit for hours at a time. And you don’t have to continue sitting at home.
Break away every hour for a quick walk. Stand up and stretch for a bit. Switch to a standing desk.
When you get home, do something – anything – other than sitting on the couch.
I like to chase my cat for a few minutes a day, and I’ve also joined a weekly run club to get myself out of the house and moving more.
What can you do?
Refusing Your Veggies
We’re not kids anymore; we can eat a vegetable. Refusing to do so will shorten your life.
Vegetables are packed with nutrients we need for bone health, immune function, a healthy heart, stable blood sugar levels, and more.
Enjoy carrots and celery as a snack. Make some broccoli and asparagus with dinner. Add lettuce and tomatoes to your sandwich.
Those with real aversions can try blending veggies into sauces.
Not Getting Enough Fiber
Colon cancer is on the rise in younger generations, and we think we know why: lack of fiber in diets.
All the recent diet crazes have been protein-rich, neglecting the underrated hero of our digestive tract (fiber).
We need fiber to stay healthy. Eat more beans and lentils (they’re high in protein too!). Opt for bran cereals.
Oh, and guess what? If you follow the advice above (eat more veggies), you’ll naturally eat more fiber. Two birds with one stone!
Staying Up Late
Do you have a “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” attitude? Well, that might be sooner than you think if you don’t start prioritizing your sleep.
I get it. The evening is the only time you have for the things you enjoy. You don’t want it to end!
But if you stay up too late, you won’t get a full night’s sleep.
You’re sacrificing all the wonderful restorative benefits of sleep, and you’ll feel cranky the next day.
Sleeping in on the Weekends
I sleep from 9-5 every night, including weekends (except those rare occasions where I have an evening adventure planned).
Why? Because if I stay up too late, I’ll sleep in, and it will cause huge problems with my sleep cycle.
I learned years ago that I’m more energized if I stick to the same routine, no matter what day of the week.
Try it. And try all our other tips for getting a better night’s sleep.
Eating Junk
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for Americans. A steady diet of greasy fast food and salty potato chips will lead you right towards it.
But I think you knew that.
What you don’t know is that a lot of so-called healthy foods are actually hidden junk.
Freezer meals, packaged foods, and “meals in a box” are bursting with fillers and preservatives, despite their “heart-healthy” or other impressive-looking labels.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t eat these foods. However, you do need to recognize that a lot of it is probably junk.
Try to stick to real foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, rice & beans, meats, eggs, and nuts.
And Eating Too Much
It’s not just that we eat junk, but we eat tons of it.
I didn’t realize how much I was consuming until I started tracking my calorie intake. A sandwich could be half my daily needs. Add a bag of chips, and I’m close to going overboard.
Eating out is even worse.
A fast food value meal (burger, fries, drink) can be over 1000 calories. Add in pancakes with butter and syrup for breakfast and pizza for dinner, and you’ll be well over the 2000 calories-per-day that’s recommended for most people. You’ll probably be closer to 3000.
And we wonder why we’re all overweight.
I’m not telling you not to indulge. However, you need to be aware of how much you are eating.
If you’re going to have a fast food lunch, lean into vegetables for dinner or eat a smaller breakfast.
Drinking Pop
Pop may be delicious, but the sugary drink bursts with empty calories.
Some folks drink 3-4 cans per day, and with each can having about 150 calories, that really adds up.
And it’s not just the calories. Most sodas are loaded with sugar. You’re basically drinking liquid sugar.
That’s a recipe for diabetes and an early grave.
Refusing to Walk
Have you ever driven to a store less than a mile away? Do you circle parking lots, waiting for a spot near the entrance to open up?
Our sedentary lifestyles are killing us, yet we opt for the easy way every chance we get.
Make walking a priority. Take a 30-minute walk every day. Park far away from entrances. Stop getting in your car to drive a block.
Walking won’t kill you – I promise. But refusing to walk might.
Staying at a Job You Hate
One of the most insidious things that shorten your life is staying at a job you hate.
It’s insidious because sometimes we don’t have a choice. We need money, and that means we need to keep our jobs.
But did you know that a stressful work environment can take years off your life?
The stress causes a host of problems, like heart disease and high blood pressure, but also leads to bad decision-making, like overeating and sitting too much.
If you hate your job, you must start looking for new opportunities. It could save your life.
Or in a Bad Relationship
The stress of a bad relationship is just as detrimental to your health and well-being as the stress of a bad job.
It’s okay to leave a relationship that isn’t working for you. Your life might depend on it.
A Bad Pillow
Most of us grab a cheap pillow without a second thought, not knowing how much it can impact our health.
A good pillow makes a massive difference in sleep quality, yet far too many Americans refuse to shop around or pay more than $20 bucks for a pillow.
Instead, we struggle with stiff necks, back pain, and restless nights. And we already talked about how poor sleep can shorten your life.
Spend a little more and get a pillow that helps you drift off to dreamland. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Not Getting a Check-Up
Why do we hate preventative care?
I get it, healthcare is expensive. Going to the doctor can cost hundreds of dollars. But wouldn’t you rather pay $100 now to discover the early signs of a health problem and fix it before disaster strikes?
For example, a checkup can help you discover things like pre-diabetes. If you make healthy lifestyle changes after the checkup, it may never turn into full-blown diabetes. But if you don’t know, you won’t think to make those changes.
Paying for the regular check-up can help you identify all sorts of small problems and give you the opportunity to manage them before they become life-threatening.
Falling for Rage Bait
Rage bait sells, and since media companies want money, they do everything they can to keep you seething.
Your blood pressure rises and cortisol spikes (neither is good for you), but they don’t care because profits.
Stop letting the media companies trap you in a pit of rage. Put your phone down and interact with the world.
Voting Against Your Interests
You’re not a temporarily embarrassed millionaire, so stop voting against common sense policies that would help ordinary people, like healthcare and paid time off.
The fact that our society doesn’t support its people is shortening all our lives.
Our life expectancy is lower than in comparable countries, and a lot of that is because of the policies we, the people, voted for.
Vote for your interests rather than against them.
Letting Your Brain Stagnate
Our brains are muscles, and like all the other muscles, they need exercise. Refusing to use your brain may not shorten your life, but it could impact your quality of life as you age.
Challenge your mind with puzzles, read new books, and become a lifelong student to keep your brain active. It could help prevent (or at least delay) illnesses like alzheimers and dementia.
Live a Long, Healthy Life
A lot of things shorten our lives, but the good news is that we’re in charge. We can change our habits and make healthier choices.
Start today, and live a long, healthy life. You deserve it.