Immediately, Dick Van Dyke is formally 100 years previous. Born on Dec. 13, 1925, the “Mary Poppins” actor took Hollywood by storm together with his singing and dancing, and have become an Emmy, Grammy and Tony award-winning legend.
Now, Van Dyke has earned a brand new title: centenarian. Over the course of his life, the performer has shared the practices he follows to remain in the most effective of well being.
“Once you attain 100, numerous issues do not work too nicely,” Van Dyke informed The New York Occasions final month. However “typically I really feel like I am 15 once more.”
In his latest guide, “100 Guidelines for Dwelling to 100: An Optimist’s Information to a Comfortable Life,” revealed final month, Van Dyke explores his secrets and techniques for longevity even additional.
Listed below are three research-backed staples in his routine that he credit for his 100 years of life.
How Dick Van Dyke stays energetic at 100, and his ideas for an extended, wholesome life
1. He strikes his physique usually
Even at 100, Van Dyke goes to the health club 3 times per week, he informed the New York Occasions. When he makes his solution to every machine, typically he dances as he walks, he mentioned.
On his off days from the health club, he practices yoga and stretches. Van Dyke mentioned his medical doctors are amazed at how he is nonetheless capable of contact his toes.
Just like Van Dyke, many Japanese centenarians — notably within the blue zone, Okinawa, Japan — begin their mornings with train. Sometimes they do a low-intensity exercise that airs on the radio, known as radio taiso, which is about three minutes lengthy.
The train additionally promotes a way of group as a result of members are inclined to observe it alongside associates, colleagues or household.
2. He has an optimistic outlook and does not flip down alternatives that excite him
“I’ve determined persons are born with a sure character and a sure outlook, a sure perspective,” Van Dyke mentioned in a sit-down interview with Al Roker for the TODAY present this November. “I are inclined to look on the great facet of issues.”
Protecting a way of playfulness in his life helps him expertise much more enjoyable, he mentioned in his interview with The New York Occasions. Simply final yr, Van Dyke starred in Coldplay’s music video for the track “All My Love.”
Within the Administrators’ Minimize model of the video, Van Dyke spoke about how his profession aligned together with his need to stay a child at coronary heart. He mentioned he is “a kind of fortunate individuals who acquired to do for a dwelling what I’d have executed anyway.”
Usually, the happiest centenarians pursue jobs which can be fulfilling to them and do not retire. “Assume how fortunate I’m,” he mentioned. “I acquired to do what I do — play and act foolish.”
3. He values high quality time with family members
In direction of the tip of the “All My Love” music video, Van Dyke welcomes his kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren into body to bop with him. The scene is an emblem of simply how a lot he treasures spending time together with his family members.
Van Dyke is all the time searching for methods to get his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to get pleasure from their time at his home, in order that they wish to come again and go to, he informed The New York Occasions. He desires his yard to resemble a theme park, and talked about that he is planning so as to add a zipper line subsequent.
“Simply listening to all of them on the market squealing provides me such pleasure,” Van Dyke mentioned.
A decades-long examine performed by researchers at Harvard discovered that the important thing to happiness and longevity is social health, or sustaining wholesome, long-lasting interpersonal connections.
So far as his plans for his birthday at this time, Van Dyke’s itinerary could be very relaxed when squared with the most important accomplishment of turning 100. Nonetheless, it aligns with spending high quality time.
“He does not wish to do something,” his spouse Arlene Silver informed Folks final week. “He desires to be in his room watching Jeopardy! reruns with me.”
Wish to give your children the last word benefit? Join CNBC’s new on-line course, Tips on how to Increase Financially Sensible Youngsters. Discover ways to construct wholesome monetary habits at this time to set your kids up for better success sooner or later. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD for 30% off. Provide legitimate from Dec. 8 to Dec. 22, 2025. Phrases apply.
