COLUMN: Ask the Money Lady – Become a super senior

Dear Money Lady Readers: Let’s talk about longevity – it’s a real thing…..you should be living to 100!

In 2006, there were 492,000 Canadians over 85 and today there’s over 1.5 million. But wait, that’s not all. In the next 30 years, that number is expected to almost triple to 4.3 million Canadians over 85. And this is not just a Canadian phenomenon, it’s happening all around the world. In only 25 years from now we will have approximately 1.5 billion people around the world over 85, that’s one out of every 5 people on the planet. So, buckle up and get ready to live longer. Make yourself healthy to enjoy your retirement. You know you want it – and you absolutely deserve it too.

Let’s explore the common traits of today’s super seniors and see if you can fit this into your lifestyle. First up, super seniors are not sedentary, but most Canadians are. We come from the lap-top class and are used to sitting all the time. We don’t walk to the grocery store every other day; we drive there. However, being sedentary is fast becoming the westernized world’s number one killer. It increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and it makes you fatter (because it increases hunger). So, here are the top five traits of the world’s super seniors making it to 85+ and beyond.

1. They ate the Mediterranean diet, avoided alcohol, refined sugars and tobacco. They also only ate until they were 80 percent full and tried to stay slender as they aged.

2. They socialized with people every day – family, friends, leisure clubs, hobbies, etc.

3. Exercised for a minimum of one hour every day.

4. Reduced stress through meditation and exercise. Many actively de-toxified their lives removing the people and things that caused them continuous pain and suffering.

5. Slept a minimum of 10 hours a day (within a 24-hour day).

I got to say, that when I researched this topic, I was surprised at how simple these long-life-secrets are, but then when I tried to do them all, I couldn’t. I know that consistency is the key for everything you do to ensure success, but doing all these things every day is not so easy when you have a busy life.

According to the research, number 5 is the most important, yet this is the most difficult for Canadians unless you’re a 17-year-old teenager. Millennials and seniors must try to get close to the 10-hour sleep target. Sleep is considered a vital anti-aging tool. While you sleep you generate melatonin in your brain that strengthens your immunity, is an anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce tissue and organ damage. It also helps you be more optimistic toward everything you do, removing the uncertainties many of us worry about.

We all know that we must plan and save for retirement, but make sure you also plan to be healthy when you get there. You want to ensure you work at paying off all your debt, reduce your time on the internet and the time you spend with toxic people. Most of all – live every day to enjoy the journey, with the anticipation of being a healthy and wealthy (or at least very comfortable) centenarian too.

Christine Ibbotson is a Canadian author, finance writer and syndicated money coach on BNN Bloomberg. She is also part of the everyday lineup on CTV Your Morning in every province. If you have a money question you want answered free – send it to: info@askthemoneylady.ca.