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

by Dan Buettner

Dr. Leslie Lytle of the University of Minnesota, a registered dietitian with a Ph.D. in health behavior, says that all of the habits we’re recommending are relatively easy to adopt once you commit to making them work. She offers this advice to help you succeed: Pick the low-hanging fruit. All nine lessons offer the chance to gain more good years, so pick the ones that are easiest to do first. For example, try something you may have been successful at doing in the past. If you could do it then, focusing on it now might be easier. Another tip: Don’t try more than three secrets at a time. If you work on all nine once, you’ll be more likely to fail. Start with three that have the best chance of success, and then gradually add more as a pattern of success emerges. Lytle also recommends that you enlist a friend or family member in your program. If you hold each other accountable to a 12-week goal, you’ll have a greater chance of succeeding. Remember to reward yourself, she says. Don’t focus on your slip-ups; behavior change is hard at first. Focus on your small victories and celebrate them!