It seems like the news is always full of advice on how to live longer and be healthy. We’re advised to quit all our bad habits like smoking and drinking, to lose weight, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. Realistically we know these are all good things for our health, but these are also very hard things to do.

If you’re looking for inspiration to get out there and start the new you, there’s now scientific evidence that links these 5 healthy traits with a longer lifespan.

Lifestyle changes could add 12-14 years to your lifespan

In the study published in the journal Circulation, researchers studied these exact 5 points. They compared the people who drank no more than 1-2 glasses of alcohol per day (one for women and two for men) ate a healthy diet, didn’t smoke, exercised rigorously for at least 30 minutes a day, and were a moderate weight.

The study found that following these lifestyle points typically added 12 years for men, and 14 years for women, after the age of 50. The more of these lifestyle points you manage to hit, the more likely you are to live longer.

Why this matters

Most of us know what we need to do to be healthier, but it’s not always easy to see the proof behind this advice. There always seems to be one person who managed to live a long and healthy life and still smoke a pack a day, or the person who eats healthy but never exercises.

This study sheds light on just how much these 5 points help, as well as offering solid proof that they do extend lifespan. Although your individual needs may be different from other peoples, you’re unlikely to find a doctor in the world who doesn’t agree with this advice.