How To Stick To A Daily Blue Zones–Inspired Workout For Longevity

"Take a careful look at their moment-to-moment, day-to-day lives, and they're nudged into movement every 20 minutes or so," Buettner says on the mindbodygreen podcast. That said, a "Blue Zones–inspired workout" doesn't entail a specific circuit or 1-2-3 step routine; it's about shaping your surroundings so that you're constantly working the muscles. In terms of how to shape those surroundings? Buettner breaks it down below: 

"This is simple, but have a super comfortable pair of walking shoes and keep them by your door," says Buettner. "That nudges you." It may sound obvious, but sometimes that visual reminder can help you get up and go—and when it's so easy to slip on your sneakers, you may do so more often. 

When you set up a plan, you instinctively make a social contract: If you ditch, you're not only ditching the exercise itself—you're ditching your friend. That's why Buettner suggests finding a buddy you like to move with. "Agree on a schedule, and that buddy will nudge you," he says. "If you say, 'We're going to walk every other day around the neighborhood,' or, 'We're going to take a hike on the weekends,' you don't have to think about it. You've made the promise." 

If you're working from home, why not turn off your Zoom camera and take a moving meeting? Buettner certainly takes advantage of a walking work call: "I have a number of phone calls, and I just put my headphones in and I'll walk for two hours," he says. Multitasking at its finest, no? 

The key is to cultivate a practice you genuinely enjoy; only then will it have true staying power. As Buettner notes, "When it comes to longevity, if it's not something you're going to do for decades, don't waste your time." 

Those who live in Blue Zones are constantly moving—whether it's harvesting the garden, kneading bread, or walking to a friend's house for dinner. You may not have those exact same scenarios to go off, but that doesn't mean you can't infuse movement into your everyday life. It just may take a bit more intention.