What I Learnt in the Blue Zones: 5 Habits for a Long, Healthy Life
I wanted to see what the Blue Zones were all about for myself. So this year I travelled to Sardinia and Greece, home to the Mediterranean’s Blue Zones, to see their keys to living a long, healthy life.
No gyms, but plenty of movement
The first thing I noticed was that there are no gyms. Nobody was lifting weights or running on treadmills. But as we huffed and puffed up the stairs of the mountain villages of Naxos, I realised ageing here is not for the faint-hearted.
People walk because the lanes between the houses are too narrow for cars, and there’s nowhere to park anyway. Movement isn’t a workout. It’s built into the day.
A slower pace of life
Life moves slowly. In the summer heat, shops close for a siesta in the afternoon. Nobody is rushing anywhere. People sit and play cards with friends over a freddo coffee. There’s no road rage, meals are long, and people stop to chat.
Fresh, seasonal, local food
The food is fresh, hearty and locally grown, from the olive oil to the seafood, lamb and strawberries. People eat seasonally and simply. The supermarkets aren’t filled with aisles of soft drink and snack food. Instead there are local meats and cheeses, fresh produce, and can we have a moment for the Greek yoghurt. Recipes are passed down through generations, with every family putting their own spin on the classics.
Family, community and purpose
I did a cooking class in Naxos with a family and met three generations, and what struck me was how beautiful their life was. They organically grew zucchini, pomegranates, onions, lemons, cucumbers, capsicums and everything else you could imagine. They drank clean water from the local spring.
The grandfather and his son played instruments, so there was music, singing and dancing all around. The children weren’t entertaining themselves on phones or iPads. They were catching lizards and helping with the cooking.
From the day they are born, people in the Blue Zones have a sense of purpose. They’re part of a community where everyone takes care of each other.
What I’m bringing home to Auckland
I came home and asked myself: how can I bring these lessons into my own life?
Slow down and enjoy what’s in front of me
Grow as much food as I can in my small garden
Make tzatziki weekly to enjoy with meals
Put extra virgin olive oil on everything
Connect with someone every day
None of it is extreme or expensive. It’s simply a way of living that doesn’t wear you down. And that’s what longevity looks like to me.
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