5 things you do at the cottage that help you live longer

Coffee often gets a bad rap, but some new studies seem ready to clear its record — and also reveal its surprising health benefits. For starters, the state health agency in California retracted its claim that coffee needs warning labels, now stating that the drink “has not been shown to increase the risk of cancer.” And a study just released has found that coffee drinkers actually live longer than their non-coffee-drinking counterparts. The research followed half a million people and found that people who drink even up to eight cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of death. And, yes, this includes decaf. Starting the day with a cup of coffee is a part of many cottagers’ morning ritual.

For most of human history, we were surrounded by nature. In recent years, city living has changed that, but many of us, when we go out to wild areas, can feel it in our bones that we’re returning home. And that feeling is supported by the health benefits we see when we go back to nature. Studies have shown that even seeing greenery has benefits to our physical and mental health. An eight-year study found that women who had more exposure to vegetation had lower mortality rates, which included having lower rates of cancer and respiratory disease. Taking vacation time in general has been associated with lower heart disease (and more marriage satisfaction for couples), so if you need an excuse to spend another weekend out in the woods, say it’s for your health.

Lake swimming is a quintessential part of the cottage experience, but it also happens to be one of the best forms of exercise around. Aerobic exercise (which includes swimming) is good for your heart, your mood, and your immune system. But a lot of aerobic exercise, like running and cycling, can be tough on our bodies. Swimming, on the other hand, largely frees us from the constraints of gravity, allowing us to evenly distribute the impact of exercise. It has even been shown to benefit people with arthritis and joint issues. Sure, there’s some fancy gym equipment out there for low-impact aerobic exercise, but what would you rather do, spend an hour going nowhere on an elliptical, or go swim in a beautiful lake?

You’ve probably heard the argument that booze is good for you before, along with the counter-arguments that it’s all a bunch of wishful thinking. However, plenty of studies have shown that in moderation, alcohol is correlated with several health benefits. For starters, people who drink show a lower rate of cardiovascular disease. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, moderate consumption of alcohol raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which is associated with protection against heart disease. Alcohol has also been associated with better sensitivity to insulin and improvements to blood clotting. However, high alcohol consumption has been linked to cancer, perhaps because it blocks the absorption of folate, a vitamin that helps our cells divide. So drink in moderation, and eat plenty of leafy greens.

In the daily nine-to-five grind, sleeping isn’t encouraged. We’re told to get up early to get a start on work, and napping is seen as squandering precious productivity time. But getting more sleep is proven to be good for us, including our brains. Napping helps us retain information, makes us better problem solvers, and lowers stress. And people who sleep in, even just on weekends, live longer than those who don’t. For some of us, being at the cottage is one of the only times we truly give ourselves permission to sleep and relax. Therefore, the more time spent at the cottage, the healthier and happier we’ll be! So turn off your morning alarm, head out the cottage, and catch some Zs. Your body (and brain) will thank you.