It's a fact: Around the year 2000 people had on average 3 friends, and today it's dwindled to 1.5. This has affected life expectancy, but that doesn't mean that you should

try to make more friends indiscriminately, just for the heck of it. Quality over quantity will have the most profound impact on increasing your lifespan. 

For example, if your closest friends are

obese, then your likelihood of being obese increases by 50%. Your friends are "the most significant" way to add years to your life. Do you go on hikes while you

hang out? Binge drink? Take a look at your friends' habits, and you are likely also looking in the mirror.

In America, your social currency may peak and decline in your 20s. In places like Scandinavia, you'll see those who are up-there in age being celebrated, rather than young bikini

models, for example, and people live longer and prosper, because of this emphasis on recognizing the elderly. 

Okinawa, about 800 miles South of Tokyo, is home to a record number of Centarrians. 5 times as much as America does, to give some perspective. They also boast only

1/5 of the rate of colon and breast cancer diagnoses, and only 1/6 the instances of cardiovascular disease. They commonly fill their plates with leafy greens, vivid veggies, an array

of fruits, and loads of tofu. And while we're on the topic of plates...

If you bust out some tinier china, chances are you'll end up eating less, consuming fewer calories, and ultimately having a leaner body that's more apt to move around. And

to think, it all starts with switching-up the size of your plates. And don't even think about the bottomless pit of family style. The people of Okinawa pre-portion their meals,

and put any remaining food away for a later meal. 

The Okinawan language doesn't even have a word for "retirement." Instead, they have one for what makes you want to get out of bed in the morning, called your ikigai. Regardless of

what's going on in your personal or work life, do you have one?

There's a pocket of people who live to be 100+ in Loma Linda, California. What do they do differently? They have a Sabbath, full of relaxation, laughter, friendship and absolutely

no work starting at sundown on Friday, extending until sunset the following day. What are you waiting for? Sit back, and relax, it's beyond good for your health.

Scandinavians commonly live in vertical homes that require the constant use of stairs to get from one room to another. The 100-year-old Okinawan women conduct tasks on the floor and get

up to shift gears, many times per day. Even if it's not ingrained into your culture or work life, take every chance you can to get more steps in!