Ikigai: The art of living
1. Stay active and don’t retire. Make it a priority to stay active in all stages of life.
2. Take it slow. When you leave urgency behind, life and time take on new meaning. Instead of rushing your daily tasks, try to savor and enjoy them for the sake of your Ikigai.
3. Don’t fill your stomach. Less is more when it comes to a long life. Eat a little less than your hunger demands. Fill your belly to 80 percent.
4. Surround yourself with good friends. Friends are the best medicine, there for confiding, sharing stories, getting advice, having fun, dreaming… in other words, living.
5. Get in shape for your next birthday. The body you move through life needs a bit of gentle daily maintenance. While the folks on the Japanese island of Okinawa do not perform the rigorous exercise, they do regularly get up and move their muscles. Try setting an alarm on your phone every 30 mins to remind yourself to get out of your office chair and move around.
6. Smile. It’s a privilege to be in the here and now — and in a world so full of possibilities. Do your best to stay positive no matter what life throws your way, lady.
7. Reconnect with nature. Human beings are made to be part of the natural world. Return to it as often as you can. In other words, do your best to make time in your busy schedule to get back to nature, whether that’s a weekend hike with friends or a summer goal to bike to work once a week.
8. Give thanks. Give thanks for everything that brightens your day and makes you feel lucky to be alive. Whether it’s committing to writing in a gratitude journal or simply doing your best to give more thanks throughout the day.
9. Live in the moment. We all have those moments were looking ahead at our busy schedule leaves us feeling mega overwhelmed and stressed. “Today is all we have,” the authors note. “Make it worth remembering.”
10. Find your Ikigai. There is a passion inside you, a unique talent, that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end.
One Plus One Three 