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According to new research, the recipe for leading a long and healthy life is maintaining a young mindset, being immature from time to time and regularly enjoying a touch of nostalgia. A recent poll of 2,000 adults found almost three quarters of those surveyed believe forgetting you are an adult every so often is an important key to a healthy existence.
The study commissioned by Healthspan to launch their new range of Multivitality Gummies for men and women found that feeling nostalgic and identifying with those things from our childhood makes us happy.
Dr. Meg Arroll, a psychologist on behalf of Healthspan, said, “Perceiving ourselves as younger than our age is linked to a more future-orientated outlook, which means that we make better health choices such as engaging in exercise and healthy eating.”
Another interesting find is the fact that it is believed that men don’t “mature” fully until the age of 29. Women aren’t far behind though – only acting like a fully-grown adult once they reach the age of 27.
(If you are unsure whether you are actually an adult, here’s a checklist.)
The research also revealed that over half of those polled longed for their childhood and 19- to 25-years-of-age was identified as the “carefree” years of youth.
Watching kid’s films and old TV shows, pulling silly faces behind other people’s backs, and mimicking what other people say are just some of the ways people behave child-like. Other signs of not becoming a fully-fledged adult include blowing bubbles through a straw, driving with the music turned up loud and daydreaming all the time.
One-fourth of those surveyed said that one of the things they love most about being a parent is that is gives them an excuse to be a big child again and play with toys.
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Dr. Arroll explained, “The findings of this survey support previous research that has shown nostalgia boosts our mood. Which may be why the majority of survey respondents stated that Christmas was their favorite time of year as this is a time when adults shake off their daily worries and jump into playing games, spending time with loved ones and reconnecting with their inner child.”
Monopoly, playing cards and Lego were the games that most helped us connected with our childhood in a positive way. Watching old movies, listening to songs from our childhood, watching old TV shows, playing board games, eating old fashioned sweets and pouring over old holiday photos were some of the things people also do to recapture those memories.
“The research shows that nostalgia can buffer against depression, boost social connectedness, so doing things/activities from childhood can be important in maintaining health, specifically with regard to social connectedness as isolation is so damaging to health, e.g. as bad as smoking,” stated Dr. Arroll.
The study carried out via OnePoll.com, found unanimously that being a “Kidult” is good for your health, from thinking of yourself younger, to indulging in some nostalgia, getting in touch with your inner child, or doing something child-like will go a long way towards making you feel happier and healthier.