Britain is continuing to face a loneliness epidemic, and now new data reveals over fifth of adults rarely or never spend time with friends or family.
The national study of 2,001 people from Post Office, found that a fifth (21%) of people in the UK rarely or never spend time with loved ones, meaning they are missing out on a scientifically proven lifeline for longer, healthier living. While social interaction is one of the most well‑studied predictors of longevity, the research shows just 13% of people see loved ones daily and those aged 55–64s are the most likely to rarely or never see loved ones (26%). And social connection, sleep, stress and movement don’t just influence how long you live, they also impact the health conditions life insurers often consider.
Longevity coach, Ann Parker, commented: “Longevity isn’t just about living longer – it’s about living better for longer. In today’s busy and stressful environment, it can be hard to prioritise health, especially when people are young and think we are going to live forever. But there are simple things, such as seeing loves ones, people can do to help them protect their future selves.”
Below are four other everyday longevity habits, the majority are missing out on:
Spend time outdoors in nature – only 14% do this every day
Being outdoors in nature for at least 120 minutes a week is associated with good health and wellbeing, that’s less than 20 minutes a day. Not only does it provide vital vitamin D, but being outdoors is a great way to get in those daily steps.
2. Avoid ultra processed foods – 17% do this every day
More than half of the calories an average person in the UK eats and drinks comes from ultra-processed foods, with examples including ham, supermarket bread, and cereals. This is crucial for optimum health when it comes to protecting the heart. Decreasing your consumption of inflammatory foods helps to lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and keep the heart healthy.
Over 65s lead the way on this, with over a quarter (26%) actively doing this every day.
3. Spending time laughing every day – only 22% do this
Laughing has been found to boost immune systems, reduce pain and relieve stress, while a Japanese study of over 17,000 adults found those who laughed less than once month had a significantly higher risk of mortality compared to those who laughed more than once a week. Women in the UK were more likely to laugh every day then men (23% vs 20%), while millennials were revealed to laugh the least (17% daily).
4. Getting 7-8 hours sleep a night – only 1 in 5 (22%) do this
Studies show that sleeping less than 7 hours a night increases the risk of early death, while getting the recommended hours can boost longevity – one large study found that people with healthy sleep habits lived 4.7 years longer for men and 2.4 years longer for women. However, only about a quarter of men (25%) and a fifth of women in the UK (20%) achieve this daily.
Ann commented: “Making this a daily habit stimulates your immune system, balances your hormones, boosts your metabolism, increases your physical energy and improves the functioning of your brain.”
Paul Paddock, CEO of Protection at Post Office, commented:
“These findings highlight how small, everyday habits can have a huge impact on our long-term health. At Post Office, we believe in helping people protect what matters most and that includes their health. Making time for simple practices like seeing loved ones, sleeping enough, and even laughing isn’t just about living longer; it’s about living better.”
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