How long do you intend to stay alive? If you're like most individuals, you may not have much of a say in the matter.

However, research shows that our genetic make-up accounts for just 20 to 30 percent of our lifespan. That leaves 70 to 80 percent to our lifestyle choices, implying how you spend your life significantly affects how long you live. 

That cigarette you resort to as soon as the first problem heads your way; obviously is not helping and its best to ignore the excuses to smoke all day. Quitting smoking can be the first step to a healthier lifestyle.

Hobbies that make you walk out that front door

One of the prime causes of a sedentary lifestyle is a lack of activities. During the pandemic, this remained a significant concern for many individuals. Fortunately, now with normalcy somewhat restored, there are no excuses.

Sport is a perfect pastime. You won't find something else that you like, burns fat, and gets you out of the house, all at the same time. If there is an activity you always wanted to do, now would be the time to do it. If this isn't your style, there are alternative options. Gardening, for example, is a popular pastime among many. It might exhaust you and seem complicated, but it gets you moving.

However, lifestyle hacks might not always imply intense activities. It's really about getting out of the house and doing something that interests you. The more activities you have, the more reasons you'll have to leave the house. As a result, you will feel healthier and walk a higher number of steps.

Manage stress

Nothing ages a person more rapidly than persistent stress, whether from job, family, or financial affairs. Yes, stress is sometimes inevitable. It affects all of our lives, and in small doses, it may even be helpful. But it takes its toll if it becomes a part of your daily lifestyle. So aim to manage stress through meditation and frequent relaxing activities.

Eat a healthy diet

This may sound to be a no-brainer, but it is necessary to eat healthily.

Refrain from eating too many packaged foods rich in processed sugar, saturated fat, salt, and instead focus on eating the right amount of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and whole grains.

Furthermore, if you wish to stay healthy, try "Hara Hachi bu," a famous Okinawan proverb that translates to "Eat until you are 80 percent full." Learning to eat deliberately and with purpose can help you avoid overeating.

Those sugary drinks in your cabinet? A big no!

Many beverages include sugars, colours, and flavourings that your body does not require. Worse, it's much easier to gain weight if you choose soda, juice, milk, wine, and other beverages. Even drinks sweetened in different ways ("zero calories") are increasingly associated with weight gain. So one of the easiest ways to increase your nutritional intake is to stop drinking soda.

Watch your hearing - at any age

Looking after your hearing is important too, and in fact it has been shown that you are much more likely to live a long time if you have effectively taken care of your hearing from a very young age. That’s why even hearing tests for children are important, because it’s much more likely that you are going to have a decent chance of still having good hearing in adulthood. That in turn means that it’s easier for you to take care of your general health.

Avoid screens before bed. 

The screens of your smartphone, tv, and computer all emit artificial or blue light. We devote 90% of our day gazing at "luminous rectangles," which is clearly a problem. This light inhibits melatonin production, which aids in sleep. Schedule a time in the evening to put your phone to sleep and give yourself some much needed break.

Sleep

Ah! The good old sleep. Professionals say it's still in fashion.

Sneak in a snooze or find another way to rest daily. Sleep deprivation, or sleeping fewer than five hours each night, has been linked to a variety of health issues, notably high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. At least seven to eight hours of sleep is crucial for an average adult. So, try and make sure you get it.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.