Lessons learned from the Blue Zones
An exploration of the question, “Is a good life really that complicated?”
Key themes shared by the blue zones, areas where high concentrations live to be over 100
Have you seen the Netflix documentary Live to 100: The Secrets of the Blue Zones? The blue zones are specific areas of the world where the population lives an exceptionally long time. And by that, I mean over 100! The term was coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow, who identified and studied these regions.
As I watched this series, it became abundantly clear…A good life is not that complicated! We live in a modern world that bombards us with technology, social media, and a massive rush from one place to another. What can we learn from the blue zones and how can we bring these lessons into our daily lives?
What are the themes of the blue zones?
1) Community and connection
They cook together, share meals, and support one another. Some do this with their families, but others, such as the elderly in Okinawa, Japan form intentional small groups that vow to support one another both financially and emotionally. These are called Moai.
2) Real food, cooking together, sharing meals together, mostly plant-based, moderate alcohol intake
In the rush of daily life, we tend to eat a high amount of processed foods. However, in the blue zones, they eat real food. What they eat varies…In Okinawa, Japan they eat an abundance of purple sweet potato and tofu. In Sardinia, Italy they eat pasta along with a diet rich in vegetables and legumes. In Ikaria, Greece there is an emphasis on olive oil and a Mediterranean diet. The underlying themes are: a well-balanced diet that is heavy in vegetables, limited meat consumption, lack of overconsumption, and no processed foods.
3) Exercise, especially daily walking (best if uphill), gardening
All areas demonstrated lots of walking and moderate exercise. In Okinawa, furniture is limited which results in getting up and sitting down numerous times a day. In Sardinia, the landscape includes many hills and tall houses and the elderly continue to walk each day. Most blue zones did not have a strong focus on a gym or traditional modern exercise. Rather, it was the simple incorporation of exercise into their daily lives…walking from here to there, gardening, and doing daily chores.
4) Rest and relaxation
In many blue zones, they celebrate a day of rest. Additionally, people look pretty darn happy and relaxed doing their daily routines…cooking, cleaning, shepherding, gardening. There was a noticeable difference from our fast-paced life. In addition, I can’t help but wonder about the stress we get every time we look at our phones. These micro stresses surely add up.
So, I ask…Is this life we live in complicated? Or, is it quite simple if we peel back the layers…
Be kind, share with others, connect, love, eat real food, move your body every day, and last but not least, rest.
What small changes you can make this week? Perhaps it is doing one less after-school activity for your kids, starting a garden, walking instead of driving to that coffee shop up the street, or putting down your phone for a few hours after work. I would love to hear about the changes you make and how it makes you feel!
