What the Blue Zones Can Teach Us About Retirement

I’ve always been fascinated by the “blue zones” those special areas in the world where the healthiest seniors on the planet live, with many living past the century mark. Dan Buettner has written a number of books on the subject my favorite being “The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Who’ve Lived The Longest.”

In our first book “Victory Lap Retirement” we talked about what we learned from the people living in the blue zones and how lifestyle choices are the key to a healthy and active old age. In that book we also introduced the term “ikigai” which roughly translated means “the reason for which you wake up in the morning.”

People in the blue zones tend to be healthier. They live intentional, purposeful lives. they feel needed, they matter, they contribute, and as a result they live longer than most. And they are also better able to deal with the difficulties that life may occasionally throw their way. For example, like a pandemic.

In our book “Retirement Heaven or Hell” we introduce the nine principles for an exceptional retirement and many of the principles are based on what we learned from the blue zones.

To be successful in retirement you need to have a good understanding of the principles that govern retirement such as not having a good attitude, not challenging your brain, not being physically active, not having strong relationships with family and friends, and not knowing your own “ikigai.”

The good news is that we now know that we have far more influence over our retirement future than we realize. The blue zone studies and other research has proven that longevity is impacted up to 80% by a person’s chosen lifestyle.

The retirement principles are things that are within our control, and if we choose to incorporate these scientifically proven principles into our daily habits we can slow age-related decline and enjoy a vibrant, fulfilling retirement. Now who doesn’t want that?

More Good News

It’s been proven that positive lifestyle changes can reverse the progression of many of the most common chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity and emotional depression and anxiety.

We still continue to learn about these things but what I know for sure is that longevity and quality of life has a great deal to do with a person’s chosen lifestyle. That is why I follow the retirement principles and make them a daily part of my life.

About the author

Mike Drak is the Author of the best-selling book Victory Lap Retirement and Retirement Heaven or Hell - Which Will You Choose. Along with being an Author, Mike is also an award winning blogger, retirement coach and public speaker and has made appearances on BNN, CBC Radio and iHeart radio. He is a thirty-eight year veteran of the financial services industry and lives with his wife Melina in Toronto, Canada. You can contact Mike through LinkedIn