Getting older is an inevitable part of life and, indeed, something of a privilege… and, thanks to the wonders of modern medicine and technology making our lives easier, many of us can now expect to reach 100 and beyond.

There are also some experts out there who subscribe to the idea that people may soon live to 150 years old and above, with this concept known as Super-Aging, where our bodies and our minds continue to be as strong as they were when we were younger.

There’s a very interesting interview worth reading on the nonprofit WBUR news site with journalist William Kole, author of The Big 100: The New World of Super-Aging, who discusses how our lifestyle behaviours affect us as we get older and affect our chances of reaching a ripe old age, including our diet, exercise and sun exposure, as well as medical and technological breakthroughs.

During the interview, Mr Kole talked about Jeanne Calment who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old, a remarkable lady by all accounts who took fencing lessons when she was 85 and didn’t stop riding her bike until she was 100!

When questioned as to why he believed Ms Calment aged so successfully, Mr Kole explained that her longevity could be put down to a variety of different factors, including her positive attitude towards life, her resilience and her ability to manage stress.

So, with this in mind, what can you do to help maximise your chances of not just living a long life, but living a healthy one as well?

Prioritising toxic stress is a great place to begin, since there’s no shortage of stressful sources in the 21st century. 

Chronic stress increases cortisol levels and can lead to other illnesses like infections, mental health conditions and addictive disorders, but you can manage the condition through therapy, focusing on what you can control and following a healthy and balanced lifestyle, as well as practices like mindfulness, muscle relaxation, yoga and meditation.

To become more resilient, meanwhile, you may find it beneficial to focus on your interests and hobbies, getting out and about in nature, being more physically active, maintaining strong social connections and making sure that you’re prioritising self-care as much as possible.

Finally, adopting a more positive attitude towards life can be achieved through changing your inner voice and avoiding negative self-talk, reframing it so that it’s more positive and realistic. This will help you change your mindset and make a significant difference to your general health and wellbeing.

You may also find it beneficial to say positive affirmations each day, either out loud, writing them down or thinking them to yourself. The more you repeat them, the more you’ll find yourself thinking positively over time, since you’ll be consistently reinforcing positive beliefs and attitudes within yourself.

Give all these a go and see how good you could feel… it could make all the difference!