How to Live to 100 and Enjoy It? The Secrets No One Tells You

Living longer isn't enough—it's about living well

Let’s be real: no one dreams of hitting 100 just to sit in a chair, sore, grumpy, and waiting for pudding.
You want to live to 100 and love it—still sharp, still laughing, still dancing if you feel like it.
I had this chat with my neighbor Eileen, who's 93 and walks faster than me (not even kidding). She told me, "People ask me how I made it this far. I tell them: I didn’t wait to enjoy life. I just did it."

That hit me. Hard.

So, yeah—there’s no magic pill. But there are habits, mindsets, even little tweaks that add up. Let's dive into the real stuff. The messy, human, hopeful stuff.

Move your body, but don’t punish it

Daily movement > intense workouts

You don’t have to run marathons. But you’ve got to move.
Studies from Blue Zones (places where people regularly live to 100+) show that most centenarians don’t go to the gym—they just move naturally all day. Gardening, walking, cleaning, climbing stairs.

I started doing a 20-minute walk every morning, and no lie, I sleep better, think clearer, and I actually crave it now. Weird, I know.

Find your "forever" activity

Hate running? Great, don’t do it. Love dancing in your kitchen? Boom—there’s your cardio.
Longevity isn't about suffering—it’s about consistency.

Eat to nourish, not restrict

Whole foods aren’t a trend—they’re your best bet

Eileen swears by her bowl of oatmeal with berries and walnuts every morning. “It keeps everything moving,” she laughs.
Real talk: whole grains, colorful veggies, healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, avocado), and lean protein? That combo is magic.

And no, you don’t have to give up dessert. Just maybe don’t live on Pop-Tarts and energy drinks (I say this as someone who tried that in college… bad idea).

Drink more water than you think you need

Hydration sounds boring until you realize how much it affects your brain, joints, skin, digestion—basically everything.
And coffee doesn’t count. (I had to break that habit. Still hurts.)

Surround yourself with people who matter

Loneliness is a silent killer

I used to think being “independent” meant I didn’t need people. But when I moved to a new city alone, I realized that wasn’t strength—it was slowly killing my joy.

People in Blue Zones? They have strong social circles. They laugh, eat, argue, and grow old together.

Call your people. Make new ones. Go to that awkward meet-up, even if you hate small talk. Connection is medicine.

Keep your brain curious and humble

Never stop learning

One of the oldest guys I ever met—98, I think—was learning Spanish on Duolingo. Said it made him feel “more alive than watching TV.”
That stuck with me.

Read weird books. Ask questions. Learn stuff that has nothing to do with your job.

Accept change, even when it’s annoying

Okay, this one’s hard. I get stuck in routines. But flexibility (mental and emotional) might be one of the biggest predictors of happy aging.
Adapt. Laugh when you mess up. Cry when you need to. But don’t get bitter. It makes the years feel heavier.

Let go of perfection and live already

Stress management is not a luxury—it’s survival

You know what’s worse than junk food? Chronic stress.
Find your thing: journaling, nature walks, deep breaths, yelling into a pillow (yes, that works too).
Just don’t ignore it.

Joy is a decision (and sometimes a fight)

This might sound cheesy but hear me out: a joyful 80-year-old is rarer than a six-pack.
It’s not about denying pain—it’s about choosing to notice the good.
Sun on your face. A dog wagging its tail. Coffee that hits just right.

I forget this all the time. Then I remember. Then I forget again. That’s fine too.

Final thoughts: living to 100 isn't the goal—loving the journey is

So yeah, if you want to live to 100 and enjoy it?

• Move every day, even if it’s dancing in socks.

• Eat like your body matters.

• Stay curious and connected.

• Drop the stress where you can.

• And find something small to smile about. Every. Single. Day.

Because it’s not about counting years. It’s about making them count.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.