Monday, October 17, 2016

Quiz: How Long Will You Live?

To A Longer Life

                                                                                                                Me
*** Start With Average Life-Expectancy
Female:   81       Male:   76                                                                      76


*** Definite Additions and Subtractions:

Cigarette Smoking, light (irregular, 4 or fewer years) = -1 year              75 (college years)
       "            "          heavy (regular, 5+ years) = -3 years

Alcohol Consumption, light (irregular) = +2 years                                  
       "             "              medium (regular) = +1 year
       "             "              heavy (uncontrolled) = -4 years

Caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate), light (irregular) = +1 year                    
       "                                            medium (regular) = +2 years                 77
       "                                            heavy (obsessive**) = 0 years

Diet of few fruits and veggies = -4 years
  "    of only some fruits and veggies = -1 year
  "    of mainly fruits and veggies = +4 years                                             81
        extras:
  "    heavy on the carbs = extra -1 year                                        
  "    95%+ organic = extra +1 year                                                            82
  "    vegetarian = extra +2 years
  "    vegan, first 1-3 years = extra +1 year
  "    vegan for 4+ years*** = extra -4 years

Worklife (sitting, except for breaks) = -2 years
       "      (moving on feet, repetitive) = -1 years
       "      (moving, non-repetitive) =  +5 years                                            87


*** Subjective Additions and Subtractions (pick a number)

Social Life, meager (always wanting a companion) = -3, -4, -5 years
        "        , limited (rarely wanting companion) = +2, +3, +4 years          90
        "        , robust (engaged with companions) = +2, +3, +4 years
        "        , overwhelmed (can't get away) = -3, -4, -5 years

Movement, Spare Time (couch potato) = -3, -4, -5 years
        "                             (light movement & rest) = -1, 0, +1 years             90
        "                             (vigorous move. & rest) = +3, +4, +5 years        

Sleep, interrupted (by pet, companion, work, worries) = -2, -3, -4 years
   "     , uninterrupted, but tired during day = 0, -1, -2 years
   "     , uninterrupted, rarely tired  = +1, +2, +3 years                                  91
   "     , uninterrupted and deep, using sleep aid = extra +2, +3, +4 years     95 (melatonin)

Drug Use, marijuana (regular, irregular, never again) = -2, 0, +4 years
          "    , addiction = -3, -7, -11 years
          "    , non-addictive, positive experience = 0, +2, +4 years

Air, city = 0, -2, -4
 "  , country = -1, 0, +1                                                                                 95


Highest Possible Score: 118/123 (male/female)       Lowest: 27/32 (male/female)


*** Your Score:
27 - 49 = Hey dude, lighten up
50 - 89 = Come on, you can do it
90 - 123 = She's got it

Me at 95 = Wow, that's a long life.  I'd be on the train to Luckytown if this played out.

If you're in the 50-89 zone, there's probably room for additional nuance, and it likely boils down to three questions:

1. Do you have trouble sticking to a decision you know to be right?  For example, "Potatoes are vegetables, riiiight?  So double my fries."  That is, there's a constant fight inside your head between what's the right, hard path, and the wrong, easy path?  Fight: subtract 3-5 years.  No fight: add 1-2.
2. Do you value intent in your life?  Is there a reason why you choose to do something one day and not another?  Yes: add 6-8 years.
3. Do you look forward to the future?  Are there people and projects in your life that you eagerly look forward to engaging with?  Yes: add 3-4 years.


** Caffeine to excess almost certainly impacts sleep

*** Apparently, a vegan diet will exhaust the liver's stored supply of certain key nutrients after about 4-5 years, and in subsequent years health may gradually suffer accordingly.  





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