1. Exercise

　　Studies show that 30 minutes of mild exercise a day will increase your life span. This doesn't mean you hav e to run three miles or start high jumping. Simple acti vities such as walking, gardening or taking exercise cl asses will work.

　　2. Enjoy people

　　Contacts with family and friends help fight life-sa pping depression and stress. Studies show that people w ho socialize regularly live longer than loners. Interac t daily with family members and friends. If you are iso lated, make a point of joining social clubs or church g roups so you can laugh and share life's joys.

　　3. Stay mentally active:

　　This is very importand—use it or lose it! People wh o allow their mental faculties to edcline run the risk of shortening their lives through falls and other injur ies, and not being able to take care of themselves. Rea d the newspaper, visit the public library, balance your checkbook without a calculator, and exercise your brain by doing crossword puzzles.

　　4. Diet:

　　The key words are "high-fiber, low-fat".Cut back on red meat, salt, white flour, white sugar, alcohol and c offee. Start eating a balanced diet including lots of f ruit, grains, raw vegetables and nuts.

　　5. Positive attitude:

　　By approaching life with an upbeat, positive outloo k you increase your chances of living longer. Stay opti mistic—always search for the silver lining. Studies sho w people who see life as an enjoyable challenge, rather than a constant trial, cope better and prolong their li fe spans.

　　6. Medication mix:

　　As we age, we are more likely to take medications. Sometmes this leads to over-medication, which and be di sabling and even deadly. Ask your doctor if the drugs y ou take are really necessary. Make sure there is no dan ger of a bad drug interaction from your medications. Us ed correctly, medicines can help you live longer and mo re comfortably.

　　7. Volunteer:

　　Helping others increases your self-esteem and makes you feel like a valuable contributor.

　　8. Practice safety:

　　Always wear your car seat belt. Do a safety inspect ion of your home and put away anything you could trip o ver.

　　9. Regular checkups:

　　Get annual screenings for cancer, high blood pressu re and other illnesses that threaten your longevity. By taking care of your health, you are taking the most vit al step in prolonging your life span.