We face many unanswerable questions in our lives, and one of the biggest is, “How long will I live?”.
Dan Sullivan has an interesting way to help us grapple with our expectations and mindset, and I’ll share an abridged version with you here (I highly recommend Dan’s book, My Plan for Living to 156).
First, how old do you expect to be when you die?
Most people instinctively have a number that comes to mind. For this exercise, it doesn’t matter what it is but do make note of it.
Next, answer a few questions about how you expect your life to be the year before you die.
How’s your physical, mental, and financial health? How would you describe the quality of your relationships and your view of your life up until this point?
Most people’s answers are optimistic – they’re healthy and engaged, and their lives are full of positive, fulfilling relationships.
So, that begs the question, are you really going to die the next year?
Likely, you won’t. In fact, maybe you’ve still got 10 or 15 years to enjoy the happy, healthy life you’ve cultivated.
Now that you’ve got more years than you assumed, what will you do with that time?
So, when do your bonus years start? Dan encourages us to start … now! It’s an empowering thought that you could get more time, and you don’t have to wait until retirement to begin working toward your bucket list – whether it’s spending quality time with loved ones or traveling the world. Start now.
Here are some tips for embracing a longevity mindset:
1. Build a Sense of Purpose and Community
A sense of purpose and a clear connection to others will motivate you to maintain your health. A study on the five cities with the highest concentration of healthy centenarians, including Icaria (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), and Okinawa (Japan), found that deep social ties in small communities contribute significantly to longevity.
2. Find Movement You Enjoy and Eat Well
Exercise and maintaining muscle are crucial for a long and healthy life. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity daily movement, like brisk walking, and remember to keep it fun. I like to listen to audiobooks or podcasts to keep my workouts fun. Additionally, focus on whole foods like lean protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits to support your health.
3. Get Good Sleep
Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night to properly repair the body and brain. My top tip for better sleep is to avoid caffeine 10 hours before bedtime. Also, try the 3-2-1 Method: no food or alcohol 3 hours before bed, no work 2 hours before bed, and no screens 1 hour before bed.
4. Chill Out
Increased cortisol (stress) levels significantly impact our bodies. To manage stress, consider talking to an executive coach or therapist, trying guided meditations, spending time in nature, and prioritizing time with loved ones.
5. Don’t Skip the Doctor
Regular check-ups are critical for catching health problems early. Despite advancements in healthcare technology, these innovations are only beneficial if you remember to schedule and attend your annual check-ups.
Making the Most of the Years We Have
I hope this serves as a good reminder that your lifespan is still unwritten, and the things you do today can help you live a more fulfilling life. If you want to talk about any of this or how to make sure your financial plan is ready to support you no matter how long you live, give us a call today.
About VALUABLES
Many financial advisors focus on communicating with clients to provide complex analysis of the investment markets and economies. However, we have learned that most clients are not particularly interested in this complex analysis. Most clients hire an advisor for their knowledge of the markets, not for their ability to explain that knowledge. Most want to know what time it is, not how to build a watch.
Experience has taught us that wealthy families care most about using their wealth as a means to a desirable end, which is to achieve a more satisfying, fulfilled and impactful life, and to fulfill their most important Life Values.
VALUABLES is a periodic article series focused on the concepts, systems, and habits which we have observed among families who have been successful in this quest to use their wealth as a tool to live a life of significance. The most successful families share a set of habits, systems, and insights which enable them to use their wealth as a tool to fulfill their Values and what is most important to them.
We named this article series VALUABLES, because it provides an exploration of those habits, systems, and insights. We hope it will help you to consider your assets and possessions which are most valuable to you, and how you can use your financial wealth to enhance and cultivate your true “Valuables”.
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