12 Things you need to stop doing If you want to grow old still maintain your good looks

6. Stop Skimping on Sleep

It is a proven fact that the amount of sleep you get can affect your longevity. One study, published in the Sleep journal in 2007 showed that both sleeping too much and skimping on sleep are associated with an increase in the rate of mortality.  Several studies have shown that sleeping less than 6 hours each night makes you much more likely to die early than those who sleep 8 hours each night. Skimping on sleep on a regular basis puts you at a higher risk of developing serious health problems, which can lead to a shorter life.

Almost all adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Make whatever changes are necessary in your life to get the sleep you need.

7.  Stop Avoiding the Sun

Like many things in life, moderation is the key. The sun is also one of those things. Too much sun exposure will cause premature aging of the skin and can lead to skin cancer. However, avoiding the sun entirely also has negative health consequences. Moderate exposure to sunlight makes the body produce vitamin D, which is vital if you want to avoid disease such as diabetes, depression, viruses, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and cancer. The journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention published a 2011 study which found that moderate exposure to sunlight reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and early death.

Avoid the sun during its peak hours of 10AM to 4PM, but try to get at least 30 minutes of sunlight each morning or evening.

8. Stop Stressing Out

OK, so we can’t avoid all stresses, but we can certainly get rid of some of it and learn to deal with the rest. Being under the gun all the time takes a real toll on our health and definitely shortens your lifespan. Stress increases the hormone, cortisol, in our bodies which over time has a negative effect on the heart, immune system, and metabolism. The British Medical Journal showed a study that linked stress and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, which definitely increases mortality rates.

Cut out the stress you can in your life by taking steps to be more organized, removing or limiting the time you spend with people who cause you stress, learning to say no when your plate is full, and then managing the stress you can’t remove from your life via exercise, meditation, and yoga.