10 Ikigai guidelines from the authors of The Japanese Secret to Longevity

One of the most popular books on longevity is Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.

Ikigai, loosely translated as “the happiness of always being busy,” is about a person’s true purpose in life. Finding your ikigai is meant to make life more meaningful.

In Okinawa, Japan, a blue zone with the highest concentration of centenarians in the world, ikigai is a common theme, according to García and Miralles, who interviewed some of the world’s oldest people.

A Japanese proverb says, “Only by staying active will you want to live to be a hundred.” And García and Miralles encourage you to stay active by immersing yourself in your ikigai.

Here are the 10 rules they found that will make life easier for you.

The 10 Ikigai Rules

1. stay active; don’t retire. Many of the world’s longest-lived people work well into their 80s and 90s or do not retire. Take Jayne Burns, for example, a 100-year-old woman who works at a craft store in Ohio; Burns jokingly said her only birthday wish after her 100th birthday was to “keep working.”
2. Take it slow. It may feel normal to rush things and be in a hurry, but according to García and Miralles, it can actually have a negative impact on the quality of life. Instead, they recommend taking your time and seeing how it brings more meaning to your life.
3. Don’t fill your stomach. Centenarians the authors spoke to often suggested eating only 80% of what’s on your plate. “The extra side, the snack we eat when we know deep down in our hearts we don’t really need it, the apple pie after lunch — all of these will give us short-term pleasure, but if we don’t have them, we will.” happier.” in the long run.”
4. Surround yourself with good friends. Good relationships in your life are associated with happiness and longevity, according to an 85-year Harvard study. Centenarians in Okinawa that García and Miralles interviewed made a point of spending time together at community centers in their village and often participated in friendly sports games.
5. Get ready for your next birthday. Exercise is an important factor that contributes to longevity. Even if strenuous exercise isn’t your thing, there are five-minute moves like Radio Taiso that Okinawa’s oldest residents perform daily.
6. Smile. “It’s good to recognize the things that aren’t so great, but we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world of opportunity,” García and Miralles wrote.
7. Reconnect with nature. Make time to breathe fresh air and go for a walk even if you live in a city. Spending time in nature may seem like a waste of time, but it can increase your productivity, boost your mood, and improve your memory.
8. To thank. Gratitude is a great way to remember the most beautiful things in your life. Take some time to express your appreciation to your loving family, your wonderful friends, or even yourself.
9. Live in the moment. “Stop regretting the past and dreading the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it. Make it worth remembering,” García and Miralles wrote.
10. Follow your ikigai. Discover what your passion is and let it drive you. An ikigai gives meaning to your life and can lead to more happiness.

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