The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest

by Dan Buettner

rushing, worrying, and the urgency we give to so many things in our lives really aren’t so important. With that realization, all other strategies for slowing down come much easier. LESSON SIX STRATEGIES Use these tips to find a quiet space to slow down in your Blue Zone. Reduce the noise. Minimizing time spent with television, radio, and the Internet can help reduce the amount of aural clutter in your life. Rid your home of as many TVs and radios as possible, or limit them to just one room. Most electronic entertainment just feeds mind chatter and works counter to the notion of slowing down. Be early. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to every appointment. This one practice minimizes the stress that arises from traffic, getting lost, or underestimating travel time. It allows you to slow down and focus before a meeting or event. Meditate. Create a space in your home that is quiet, not too hot and not too cold, not too dark and not too light. Furnish the space with a meditation cushion or chair. Establish a regular meditation schedule, and try to meditate every day no matter what (but also not stressing out if you fail to do so). Start with 10 minutes a day, and try to work up to 30 minutes a day. Try to meditate with others occasionally. LESSON SEVEN: BELONG