The 'October Theory' for longevity

Plus...are political messages designed to stress you out? Setting reminders, animal companions, and more.

The Livelong Newsletter

Issue 31 | October 31, 2024

Sharing knowledge to guide you toward making insightful decisions that support you on your path to health and longevity.

image credit: freepik

Hi Everyone,

🦇 Happy Halloween! It’s crazy how fast time flies.

Already, Election Day is next week (Tuesday, November 5). They say, ‘Don’t talk politics’—so we won’t. Instead, we’ll talk about the stress of politics and this year’s election.

Stress and, importantly, resilience to stress, significantly impact longevity and how fast you age, so the climate of stressed adults is undoubtedly a worthwhile discussion.

In today’s issue:

  • Combat election stress.

  • The October Theory.

  • Happy hearts with animal companions.

  • And much more…

We love to hear from youour community. Please share your feedback, stories, questions, testimonials, ideas, and more with us at [email protected].

🍬 Don’t forget to read our last newsletter on healthier Halloween candy.

👁️‍🗨️SPOTLIGHT — Mental Health

The election is stressing most of us out, but relief is possible

Your health does not have to suffer from election stress.

69% of U.S. adults say that the election is a significant source of stress, according to the Stress in America survey from The American Psychological Association.

  • It’s no wonder, given the political lawn sign “warfare,” threatening headlines, and polarization. 

Your health does not have to suffer from stress. Psychologists offer five tips to get through the season with a better mindset.

Recognize that politicians want you to feel stress: Dr. Joshua Aronson, director of the Mindful Education Lab at New York University, tells The Cut that political messaging is meant to “make you feel angry and anxious so that you’ll go out and vote.

Take a break from the constant newsfeed: Allot 30 minutes or so to check your newsfeed in the morning, but after that, do not continually check it throughout the day, recommends Dr. David Dunning, a social psychologist at the University of Michigan, in The Cut. 

Consider the root of your anxiety: Fully understand [the stress] rather than try to solve it,” says NC State psychology professor Shevaun Neupert in Vox. “If we feel like we have a better understanding of a problemit’s not as scary.” 

Control what you can: Sett non-politically motivated life goals to give you the perception of individual progress, despite national circumstances, Neupert says.

  • Life does not stop after the election. Find ways to shift your perspective + perception and continue to focus on your physical health and well-being.

Listen…really listen: Listening to other points of view without judgment can bridge divides, foster connections, and increase quality of life.

LIVELONG BOOKSHELF Fall ‘24 🍁

Top longevity books for fall 2024

The value of taking care of yourself now means being healthy for your entire life. That’s why wcurated a list of the best books on longevity. Kickstart your path to health and vitality this fall.

☝️ Find your next transformative read here

WELLNESS WATCH — Well-being

Change your life with the ‘October Theory’

The mindset: Growth happens during the last 90 days of the year.

New Year’s is a couple of months away, but a TikTok self-care trend called the “October Theory” suggests that the time for change isn’t after the ball drops: it is the last 90 days of the year.

🎇 This “second New Year’s of the year,” as one social media user calls it, is for building habits and reflecting…think[ing] about what you want and need in your life,” says Alexa Mikhail in Fortune.

Small changes = big rewards. October Theory is about making daily “tweaks” that create new “subconscious pattern[s]” and build better habits, says Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa, a neuroscientist, author, and podcast host in Fortune.

Adapting the October Theory for longevity

  • Use your brain to think in creative ways.

  • Cook with seasonal foods for more nutrition.

  • Introduce a new exercise into the fitness routine—rucking?

  • Wear sunscreen every day to slow cellular aging.

  • Aim for a 30-minute brisk walk every day.

  • Try to do something social 1x/week.

  • Go to bed around the same time every night.

 LIVE MORE

  • 💭 Stress less. Talk to your partsAKA sub-personalities.

  • 🌈 Dreams do come true. Study finds teens succeed when they focus on life goals. It’s never too late to start.

  • 🧹 Sunday reset. Add a Sunday reset to elevate your October Theory routine.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

Remind me…

Reminders do more than boost productivity, whether it’s sticky notes or phone apps

Psychologists at The University of Texas at Arlington and Arizona State University discovered that reminders can effectively reduce age-related memory issues and cognitive strain, according to findings from a recent study.

Reminders were most beneficial for older adults when 1) they had more things to remember, and 2) they needed to remember categorical items versus specific action items.

🏋️ Why it works. This cognitive offloading (using physical actions to lighten the mental load of completing tasks) prevents certain memory resources from becoming overtaxed.

Quick reads

  • Soccer stars and supplements. Christiano Ronaldo is investing in a personalized supplements company focused on longevity.

  • Paper plate fitness. How much can you do with a paper plate? Apparently, a total-body workout.

  • Night light. The best color light for falling asleep may surprise you.

LONG-LEVITY

Happy hearts with animal companions

“It’s not just a dog.”

That same sentiment applies to animals besides dogs, and for good reason.

Any animal companion—whether a dog, cat, crocodile, pig—can feel more like family, and the health benefits of having this family are numerous.

  • People with animal companions visit the doctor less.

  • Interacting with animals slows dementia symptoms.

  • Animals companions reduce loneliness and boost happiness.

  • They even lower heart disease risk in older adults.

And when we are happy, our animal companions are, too 🙂.

Let me know your thoughts on a series highlighting the health benefits of different types of animal companions.

🔛 What’s next?

🦉 WISDOM FOR LIFE

"We always have a choice, and we can always choose to do what's right."

Spider Man

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Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provider. We try to give the most accurate possible, but sometimes information is subject to change.

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