My Grandma’s 13 Uncommon (Healthy) Habits For A Longer Life

My grandma lived to be 95 years old. She outlasted all of her nine siblings. Here are her proven habits for longevity. It’s possible that longer living isn’t just in your DNA.

Last year, on my 40th birthday, my grandma died. It was not the day I had imagined for my birthday. She was 95 years old and had a full but meaningful existence behind her. Rest in peace, sweetheart. She outlasted The Second World War and, as an 8-year-old took care of her younger siblings because her mother died of cancer.

She did not know about iPhones, social media, or any technology, but her advice for a healthy life is timeless. She endured not only a war, but a communist regime, and democracy. Despite her tough existence, she was always cheerful and satisfied.

Grandma was a big believer in healthy living. Her younger siblings all died before she did, some of them succumbing to cancer, a stroke, or heart disease.

She wasn’t a scientist, but she proved that not just genes, but also lifestyle, contribute to longevity.

Sleep 8 hours daily with an open window

We all know we need to sleep between 7–8 hours. That is a no-brainer. Everyone is aware of it. But I had to figure out: Why does it matter if the window is open?

And here is what I found out:

• It helps with preventing Covid if the room is ventilated and not only will you sleep better and wake up refreshed with a clear mind, but also the open window will decrease your stress level and improve brain function.

I believe if you live in the countryside; it makes sense to sleep with an open window but in urban areas, I wouldn’t recommend it. Sorry, but the pollution in the cities is at an all-time high. My grandma lived in the village her whole life.

If you live in the city but desire a getaway or a weekend in the country, open your window. This is an excellent habit.

Sleep on the right side, not your back

My grandma was a right side-sleeper and told me that this is the best position for the body and mind. There may be some truth in it since sleeping on your right side reduces blood flow to your heart by about 50% compared to lying on the left. It also allows you to breathe more easily while sleeping. The less stress on your heart, the better.

Take a warm shower in the morning, not a cold one

Most of us are aware of the benefits of a cold shower, which includes a boost to your immune system, energy, and circulation. The hot shower relaxes muscles and provides relief from muscular pains. Grandma was correct, and according to experts, lukewarm water is the ideal temperature.

Dr. Kovarik recommends taking a warm shower to help you keep a constant body temperature. The optimum temperature for a warm shower is approximately 91.4°F.

Eat a minimum amount of meat and always well cooked

She ate mostly vegetables, boiled potatoes, and fruits. For her main dish, she had either a boiled egg or some fish — never over one serving of meat per week. She prepared the veggies but her favorite way to prepare cabbage was to boil it with one potato cut into pieces.

The less meat you eat, the healthier you are likely to be.

Growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, meat was a luxury. For my grandma, it meant steamed veggies or fruits and one piece of bread with some cheese. Forget steaks — they didn’t exist back then. Maybe that is why colon cancer was not as common as today.

Now we know that many studies prove that less meat is good for you. The problem is that most people don’t have time to prepare a healthy and nutritious meal. According to Harvard studies, only 10% of Americans cook from scratch at home. That’s why it is important to get your priorities right.

Exercise outside, in the fresh air, and before eating breakfast

She always walked for at least half an hour before breakfast. I believe it is a good habit because most people use the time to think about their problems or challenges, and they exercise on full stomachs — not very healthy!

Grandma was adamant about her daily walks and moving a lot. She kept walking until she was 88 years old, after which she became weak.

Change jobs frequently and rest in equal proportions

If your current job is not bringing satisfaction to you, it’s time for a change. When my grandma was unhappy with her work, she would start looking for a new one, which was stressful but necessary. The problem is that many of us get stuck at our jobs even if we don’t like them. We lose the sense of purpose, our self-confidence decreases and we become demotivated at work.

But for grandma, it was different — whenever she started working somewhere new; she gave her job 110%. It wasn’t just an important life lesson, but also something that made her happier in life. And she knew when to take a rest.

Live in the village close to the nature

Grandma always enjoyed nature and spent a lot of time in it. She never owned a car, so she walked, biked, or took the bus wherever she wanted to go. And when there was no public transport available, she would hitchhike! Yes, I said it right — she used to hitchhike! Many people could do that in communist Czechoslovakia. There were far fewer communities, and people knew one another. It was exceptionally safe and she loved to be outside all the time.

Have many animals — different kinds

My grandma always wanted to have a huge farm with a variety of animals, and she indeed did. She didn’t just have dogs, cats, and hens; she also had cattle and goats. Sometimes, she also took care of friends’ chickens or rabbits.

This is another example of how my grandma lived. Also, having a lot of animals had some scientific benefits. For example, people who are exposed to animals regularly show stronger immune systems and fewer allergies.

If you can, take care of your animal. It is not only a responsibility but also a source of happiness — you will be amazed by the unconditional love that animals provide!

Always take a mini-vacation

My grandmother was never limited by her work schedule and she always had time for small vacations. She used to go home to the country, to the village where her parents are living, for one week every summer. This is something I highly recommend if you have any spare time! My grandma had a lot of fun with her family members. She explored the countryside of the Carpathian mountains, rested, and enjoyed nature. And it was free.

Travel for curiosity and appreciation

When I was about five, my grandma told me she was going to travel all around the world. I believed her and even then; I wanted to do the same one day. Unfortunately, my childhood had to take place, so I had to wait until I was eighteen years old for this fantasy to come true!

Grandma traveled a lot in Europe, but her favorite trips were to Africa. She went there during the communist era when it was almost impossible to get approval for such a trip (she had to be very persuasive and persistent), but she did it. The reason for her trip was not as much to see unknown places as it was to grasp and appreciate the significance of home. She always looked forward to coming home.

Don’t have high expectations and ambitions

My grandma never aspired to become a high-paid worker, the president of any company, or other things. She was happy with what she had and didn’t have. She didn’t have big plans for the future, so she never thought about how things could be better or worse.

She enjoyed a simple life and appreciated everything that happened to her. Also, she was always optimistic — she looked at the bright side of things and assumed that any problem would have a solution.

Therefore, keep the good vibes flowing at work! If you don’t; look for a new one, but don’t get your hopes up too much.

Live frugally and enjoy little things

My grandma never had much money, so she always had to be economical — especially when my grandpa died a few years later after WWII. She did her best with what she had and didn’t complain about it. What I like the most about my grandma is that she never gave up on herself, no matter how hard life was.

Talking about how her life was, my grandma often said that the best things in life are free.

She always tried to spend time with family and friends, enjoy nature, or just sit on a bench and look at the sky as much as possible. Even if you have a lot of money — I guarantee you’ll still enjoy those little things.

Control your temper and have a discipline

This is one of the most important things that my grandma taught me. She always stayed calm and never got too emotional (especially with money). Even if she was hungry or tired, she wouldn’t show it! My grandma’s other saying was: “I may not be perfect but I do this every day. It is all about little habits.”

The habits became her discipline.

Conclusion

She was indeed the grandma who lived a simple but healthy life. Despite not having any kind of higher education, she taught me many valuable lessons about living healthy.

First, she never stopped learning and improving herself so she could live a more fulfilled life. Second, although my grandma is long gone now — her happiness and positive attitude inspire me every day and remind me to cherish the good things in my life and keep trying if I fail.

Her philosophy was that we should always stop long enough to enjoy the scenery along the path, for it is one of the most beautiful aspects of a journey.

Although there were many challenges, especially when she was a widow with three kids to take care of, she cherished her life and had a positive attitude towards it all the time. She believed everything happens for a reason and whatever happens is the best thing that could have happened at this point in your life.