Education is the greatest predictor of longevity.

We learned this at a recent talk called A Long Bright Future by Laura L. Carstensen, PhD, and Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity.

In the past, it was believed that income and the subsequent improved standards of living were the most important factors for a long life, but it turns out that education is actually far more important.

Why does education have such a significant effect on longevity?

Better education leads to better health-related choices. Chronic health diseases are largely attributed to lifestyle choices. Increased education, that in turn results in better health choices, leads to a longer, healthier life. What’s more, this holds to be true in countries across the globe; as education increases, longevity increases as a result of healthier lifestyles.

In the United States, half of all children born since 2007 can expect to live to be 104! This longevity can be both a blessing and a curse. From a financial planning standpoint, this is a number to be reckoned with. Retiring in the 60’s when you can expect to live another 40 years makes saving for retirement a huge endeavor. It also prompts us to change the way we live.

Dr. Carstensen suggested we change the way we look at life given our longevity. She proposed we embrace our longevity and offered some suggestions on how best to live our gift of a longer life:

Spread events out over the course of your life.

Rather than cram “life” into the years before your 60’s, consider your entire, long life to experience the myriad experiences in life. If we are living to 100 does retirement have to be at 65? Perhaps consider working fewer days a week. This allows for more time now for experiences, rather than delaying for a time in the future when you’ve “retired.” Perhaps consider working longer in life. With a long life, you might consider different careers at different points in your life. It’s a shift to our thinking, but the variety can offer a richer life.

Design your life.

Plan your life so you make good choices. We know that education is responsible for healthy choices. Meal prep, planning ahead for your meals, is just one way you can life a healthy life. Add time to exercise, make times for friends. All of these choices lead to a healthier, longer life.

Diversify your life.

This might be your career, your food, your portfolio. In the past when life expectancy was 50 years old, we didn’t have much to diversify. Before we knew it, life was over. Now, with a hundred years to live for many of us there is an opportunity to use time differently, from a four day work week to spending more time with friends and family.

Always be learning.

Better yourself by enriching yourself. Take advantage of opportunities to learn. With so many online courses available, learning is super accessible. Invest in yourself, your family, our children, and our community so that all share the gift of longevity.

We love the idea of a longer life; more time with loved ones, more time to experience life, more time to try different careers.  But we also recognize how important planning becomes as we live longer.  If you’d like to learn more about how we help businesswomen plan to live the life they want, contact us.