Life in Naples Magazine becomes Blue Zone Partner

 What began as a New York Times bestseller by National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner has evolved into a global movement that’s inspiring people to live longer, more active lives with lower rates of chronic disease.

From Sardinia, Italy, to Okinawa, Japan, to Loma Linda, California, people are living vibrant, active lives well into their hundreds. Buettner calls these areas Blue Zones and they’re the inspiration behind his book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Buettner’s research, along with a global longevity study, have led to a program that helps us live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Blue Zones Project is a community-wide well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier for everyone in Southwest Florida.

A vital part of Southwest Florida’s well-being improvement initiative, Blue Zones Project encourages changes to our community that lead to healthier options. When our entire community participates – from our work sites and schools to our restaurants and grocery stores – the small changes contribute to huge benefits for all of us: lowered healthcare costs, improved productivity, and ultimately, a higher quality of life. Many of us spend the majority of our day at work – so having healthy choices at our workplace is key. Blue Zones Project offers solutions for work sites to inspire employees to be happier and more productive at work and at home. A healthier employee costs less, too. When workers feel better and more connected to their colleagues, they miss less work, make greater contributions, and have lower healthcare costs.

There are steps all of us can take to improve our lives here are a few tips:

Move Naturally, increase your activity level each day, sit less and walk move. Make smarter food choices, balance and moderation, save your favorite treat for special occasions, not every day. Stop eating when you feel 80 % full, not when your stuffed or your plate is empty. Stay connected with people, friends, family or  join social groups participate in faith based services. Keep your days purposeful, have a reason to wake up, consider volunteering or learning about something new. Find what’s right with your day and life and focus on that. Make time for yourself, whatever regenerates your energy and brings you pleasure. Learn to enjoy quiet time to read or reflect.

For more information on the BlueZone Project contact:

Southwest Florida

311 9th Street North

Suite 105

Naples, FL 34102

(239) 624-2312

bluezonesprojectswfl@sharecare.com