Because most of the people living in the Kyushu region of Japan are 100 years old or older. It is common for Okinawans to live twice as long as Japan as a whole. Hence this province is known as Blue Zone.
Ikigai is the secret of their life. It means cause of existence. They live their lives centered around Ikigai. A survey conducted by the World Economic Forum has a list of these people’s advice on how to live life with maximum efficiency.
Healthy food
Diet has the biggest impact on how well our bodies function. According to Dr Bradley Wilcox, author of The Okinawan Way, centenarians include plenty of fruits, vegetables and legumes in their daily diet.
Hara Hachi Bu
This is a practice followed by the Okinawans. According to this, you should only eat up to a point where you are 80 percent full.
Engages mentally
Okinawans do not believe in retirement. People open up about what they want to do and focus on what they love to do. “I think the Okinawan idea is all about engagement. It helps them a lot. “I think it also helps reduce health care costs,” Dr Wilcox said.
Social group
Large families and strong support groups are another factor that adds years to the lives of Okinawans. People seem to be active around the clock by joining moais or social media groups. These groups help them to meet each other, drink tea and discuss news and other happenings around them.
Time is the key factor
According to Dr Wilcox, Okinawans have a ‘slow sense of time’. Instead of running after deadlines and cramming into work, Okinawans like to take it easy.
Spirituality
Spirituality is the connection between body, mind and spirit. This is what Okinawans prefer. They focus specifically on maintaining a healthy ecosystem inside and outside the body.