WALKING for just ten minutes a day could add a year to your lifespan, new research has revealed. But there are plenty of other hacks and habits to boost your time even more. From staying cheerful to getting arty or standing on one leg, Tom Bryden looks at how you can pile on the years without spending them all in the gym.
Walk for 20 mins more TEN minutes of walking can add a year to your life, and you can increase that a few months by adding an extra 20 minutes. A brisk 30-minute walk daily could add an extra 1.4 years for women and 2.
5 years for men, say University of Leicester researchers. The average age of the people in their study was early sixties – so it’s never too late. READ MORE ON LIVING LONGER Be happy IF walking is not your thing, why not try smiling more? Experts have found that being happy can be just as important as getting exercise when it comes to extending lifespan.
A study involving more than 150,000 women found that being optimistic typically added nearly four and a half years extra to their life. Take up art BEING creative could add a decade to your years, according to one American researcher. Most read in Health In her book Your Brain On Art, Professor Susan Magsamen recommends doing around half an hour of artistic activity every day.
And don’t worry if you’re not the next Picasso – you’ll still get the health benefits whatever your skill level. Read before bed STOP scrolling on your phone in bed and pick up a book instead if you want.