An Obvious Secret to Longevity That Most People Overlook

Healthy habits and genes matter, but so does this "invisible" factor.

Posted February 7, 2026 | Reviewed by Margaret Foley

“Longevity” is the flexible term that can either mean just "lifespan" or both lifespan and healthspan—years spent in good health. The internet is flooded with articles that claim to tell you how to increase your longevity. And why not? Most of us want to live longer, especially if we can still possess the vitality of our younger years. In addition, research tells us that getting older brings with it a happiness bonus—a fact so amazing to me that I wrote a whole book about it.

Most articles on longevity emphasize the healthy habits you should be practicing or the unhealthy habits that you must change if you want to live longer and better. Of course, your genes might account for as much as half of your lifespan. And Lady Luck also plays a role.

But there is one secret to longevity that most writers on the subject (myself included) tend to overlook, and this factor is also critical for healthy longevity. I will reveal this secret below.

Healthy Habits and Longevity: The Great Eight

First, what are the healthy habits that promote longevity? So that you don’t miss the longevity cruise ship, here is a short summary of the major lifestyle habits that research has linked to a longer and healthier life:

(Note: Overcoming addictive habits by yourself can be difficult. For support and help, call 988, the crisis hotline number. The 211 hotlines can also provide social service information and referrals.)

The following behaviors are also lifespan/healthspan boosters: using hearing aids or vision aids if needed; vaccinations; a yearly checkup to catch chronic conditions early; a positive attitude toward aging; reading; creative activities; helping others; spending time in nature; and positive self-talk .

Yes, there are experts—some real, some self-proclaimed—who claim to know the secrets to longevity. Some are selling supplements, others longevity resorts, and still others unproven medical procedures or medications. But the Great Eight have been validated by years of medical and psychological research.

Yet adopting every single habit above and choosing your ancestors wisely will not ensure your longevity. There is still something missing in this longevity puzzle. What is it?

The Missing Piece in the Longevity Puzzle

The missing piece is our environment, both physical and societal. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and our healthcare and social safety nets can all be critical factors not just for well-being and happiness but also for longevity.

We don’t usually think about longevity when we consider environmental issues such as air and water pollution. But the connection is obvious. Here are just a few brief examples of the ways the environment affects our longevity:

Air quality . Pollution from vehicles, factories, wildfires, and mining all affect the quality of the air we breathe. Poor air quality is a factor in asthma, various other respiratory conditions, heart health, ER visits, and, yes, premature death. In their annual "State of the Air" report , the American Lung Association writes that, "even after decades of successful efforts to reduce sources of air pollution, 46% of Americans—156.1 million people—are living in places that get failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution."

I was shocked to learn that air pollution kills more Americans each year than vehicle crashes, according to this article in the New York Times.

Traffic accidents, suicides, infant deaths, accidental poisonings, obesity, and drug overdoses also play a deadly role, illustrating the need for both more robust medical and mental health care.

Important as the "Great Eight" healthy habits are, a blueprint for a longer life has to include more than individual actions. Societal supports must play a role, too. It is baffling that large segments of our society advocate policies that would weaken environmental supports when they, too, will be affected by them. Air pollution, water pollution, and contagious diseases know no boundaries .

Selig, M. (2020). Silver Sparks: Thoughts on Growing Older, Wiser, and Happier. Tucson: Jetlaunch.

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Meg Selig is the author of Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success .

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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.