Ilchi Lee, a philosopher and educator and author of “I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years”, says, “Old age is the future that awaits everyone, and how you live now will have a tremendous effect on your final decades of life.”

Simple changes in lifestyle and outlook will add up and help build physical power, heart power, and brain power so that you can stay healthy and continue to do the things we want well into advanced age.

Here are eight changes that Lee suggests making so that you can live a long, productive and healthy life

1. Move. Staying physically active is essential for developing physical power, but many people think they don’t have time for it. He suggests doing a high-intensity exercise, such as push-ups or jumping jacks, for just one minute every hour. If that’s too hard, try a gentler exercise such as stretching or breathing.

2. Dream. Dreams and goals stimulate your mind and motivate you to take care of yourself, grow, and change. If you focus on goals that you cherish, you will find yourself starting each day excited and eager to see what lies ahead.

3. Relish aging. Rather than living in dread of wrinkles, stooped posture, or forgetfulness, celebrate all the wisdom and experience you have accumulated and now can share with others. Lee says, “You can live with hope and dignity at every age.”

4. Help others. Contributing to others helps build social connections that are key to healthy aging. Find causes you believe in and then participate fully. The joy you get from giving back might surprise you.

5. Be outside. Lee advises, “nature rejuvenates body and soul. Greet nature like a friend, and it will heal the wounds you’ve suffered and open your closed heart.”

6. Meditate. Meditation promotes calmness and has been shown to increase serotonin, a hormone associated with happiness and contentment.

7. Challenge your brain. Make new neural connections by challenging your brain. Learn a foreign language, take up an instrument, or learn to code. Lee notes that “Even brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand each night helps your brain grow in wonderful ways.”

8. Contemplate. Take the time to ask yourself, “Who am I? What do I want?” Ask until answers come to you, and then trust those answers. They will guide your decisions and actions for a life of fulfillment and inner peace.

You can read more about Ilchi Lee’s life-changing approach to aging by reading his article on The Doctor Weighs In.