The 6 longevity secrets that a 103-year-old doctor swears by – from finding your ‘juice’ to dancing around your house
IF you’re thriving at 103 years old, it’s fair to assume you have a few wellness tips up your sleeve.
In fact Dr Gladys McGarey has a century worth of insights in her new book to ensure we get the most out of our life.
“Every moment is an opportunity to live life to the fullest,” the author of The Well-Lived Life: A 103-Year-Old Doctor’s Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age tells Sun Health.
“When we don’t live in the moment, we’re not taking advantage of the opportunity that’s presenting itself.”
According to the Office for National Statistics a mere 29 per cent of British adults reported high levels of happiness, with the cost of living and political unrest coming in as the top culprits.
As the UK has now been voted the second most miserable place in the world, Dr McGarey’s book couldn’t be more timely.
Here, we lift the lid on her six secrets to living a long, healthy life – and her tips to incorporate them into our everyday life.
1. Find your ‘juice’
Wondering what your purpose is in the world may not be something we ponder on the school run but remembering what we bring to the table is key to happiness.
“Each of us is here to learn, grow and give our gifts,” McGarey says.
“When we are able, we’re filled with the creative life energy that I call the “juice.”
“This is our reason for living, our fulfilment, our joy.
“It’s the energy we get from the things that mean something to us.”
While it may not be singular, it’s the search for our “juice” that keeps us vibrant, according to McGarey.
This could be providing for our family, climbing the career ladder or travelling the world – finding our ‘why’ will provide our life’s driving force.
DR’S PRACTICE
- To find your juice, think back to when you felt a sense of purpose.
- Consider your earliest memories of joy and satisfaction. What were you doing? Who were you being? What made your heart sing?
- Feel the sense of meaning attached to these memories. What did you love about it?
- Consider your life today. Is there anything you could do to bring you the same feeling?
2. Move it, move it
Whether it’s moving on from heartbreak or struggling to find the get-up-and-go you once had, we’ve all plateaued at one time or another.
But did you know that it could also impact your physical health?
“Stillness promotes tension which restricts our circulation, digestion, and nervous system, making it harder for our body to get nourishment,” Dr McGarey warns.
“In addition, when we don’t release emotions and have stuck energy, we compromise our lymphatic system (the organs and tissues that fight infection and rid the body of toxins).
“This can cause the body to break down faster whereas forgiveness allows life to move again.”
DR’S PRACTICE
- Put on some upbeat music and walk around your house – even dance.
- As you move, consider what feels stuck in your life. It could be a friendship, a professional endeavour or something physical.
- Imagine that you could hold this stuck thing in your hand. Squeeze it.
- While moving, hold your hand out palm up, fingers together. Then drop it down and back, opening your fingers slightly. As you do, release what’s stuck.
3. Practice self love
In a study by The Body Shop nearly one in two people around the world feel more self-doubt than self-love highlighting the sad truth that we are in a self-love drought.
“We each have unique reasons and lived experiences that contribute to how we feel about ourselves,” says confidence coach Georgie Clarke.
“Instead of shaming yourself, develop compassion and acceptance for them.”
Dr McGarey believes that this begins with gratitude and purpose.
“While you are here, you will change the world, at least in small ways,” she says.
“Your impact will ripple outward in ways you may never truly understand.
“Take a moment to ask yourself: Do I believe I’m worthy of the love I give others? Do I believe my body is worthy of love? Do I respect myself, admire myself, honour myself, trust in myself?”
DR’S PRACTICE
- Think about a worry or insecurity, and wait until an image emerges to summarise it.
- Ask the image: What do you have to show me? Is it offering information about your physical or mental health, your relationships?
- See your image wrapped in love. Thank the image and allow it to fade away.
- Crossing your arms in front of your heart, and curl your shoulders into give yourself a hug.
- How lovable do you feel? Receive the answer without judgement.
4. Harness connection
In Harvard’s biggest study into happiness the number one factor in feeling content was being a part of a community – a notion that Dr McGarey believes wholeheartedly.
“As humans, we need each other,” she says. “It’s impossible for us to thrive without community.”
Although harder to achieve in modern society, McGarey says it begins with those we interact with every day.
“Find the friend within each one of them, even if it’s just for a moment, we open ourselves to receiving, too, and this increases the life force flowing through us.”
DR’S PRACTICE
- Think about the people you see most often. Ask yourself: In what ways is my community working and not working? Do you feel a sense of connection?
- Remember times when you have felt truly supported by your community. How did it feel?
- Recall times when you offered your time or support to others. Remember how it felt to see their smile.
- Ask yourself: What relationships need my love and tending? Whom can you forgive? Which relationships deserve better boundaries?
5. Find the lessons
Everything happens for a reason, or so the saying goes.
Although challenging, looking for the lessons in trying times could be the secret to a happier life.
“When we feel wronged or unlucky it (finding the lesson) is a commitment,” Dr McGarey warns.
“It requires discipline but it helps us process challenges more easily.”
It may have a whiff of toxic positivity (the trending term for denial) but the good doctor believes it’s not about pretending things are okay.
“True optimism isn’t toxic. It means we look for what’s wonderful, search for the lesson and be grateful for the teaching.”
DR’S PRACTICE
- Acknowledge the intensity of your challenge
- Ask yourself: What do I have to learn? What does this experience have to teach me?
- Test out a smile, and if it’s possible, push yourself to laugh out loud. Shake your belly. Do it even if nothing is funny and you have no idea how it’s all going to work out.
6. Spend your energy wisely
No, we don’t mean skipping the gym! Directing our energy to what brings us joy is a no-brainer.
“The second we start holding back from life, life will hold back from us,” McGarey says.
“So the question is: how can I give to life in a way that encourages it to give back to me?”
“When we engage with life that way, we’re truly living.”
She goes on to explain that looking to the past, self-pity and feeding negativity will drain your energy whereas love and good community will feed it.
DR’S PRACTICE
- Consider where you’ve put energy. What has drained you? Where can you invest your energy and receive a return?
- Consider what/who brings you energy. How could you invite more of that into your life?
- Consider everything that drains you. Find at least one thing you can stop doing completely. What would it take to just give this up?
Longevity tips from the Blue Zones
The Blue Zones are five regions across the world where people regularly live to the ripe old age of 100, largely thanks to their diets and daily habits.
The term was coined by author and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner, who made a name for himself studying the world’s longest living people.
The Blue Zones include Okinawa in Japan, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece, Sardinia in Italy and Loma Linda in California.
According to Dan, inhabitants of these swear by nine lifestyle tips.
Dubbed the ‘Power 9’, the longevity guru argued that they can provide “instructions and clues for how we can set up our lives to live longer”.
They include:
- Moving naturally rather than going to the gym
- Having a purpose in iife
- Keeping stress to minimum with naps and happy hours
- Stopping eating before you’re full
- Eating mostly plants
- Drink no more than two glasses of wine a day and never bingeing
- Belonging to a community, faith-based or not
- Putting your loved ones first
- Keeping a social circle that supports healthy behaviours
Read more on the Power 9 tips here.