YOU, HEALTHIER & HAPPIER

Items sitting in your bedroom, linen and storage closets right now can banish aches, sleeplessness & more

- by GABRIELLE LICHTERMAN

Lengthen your life with a paintbrush

Here's a great reason to unearth your paint supplies, knitting needles or any other hobby you've put on hold. A new study of nearly 80,000 people aged 50 and over found that regularly enjoying creative pastimes lowers the risk of dying prematurely from all serious health conditions (including type 2 diabetes and heart disease) by 29%, reports the Journal of Global Health. Hobbies help you express yourself, which bolsters your immune system. They also give you a sense of purpose, which encourages you to make healthier choices—such as loading up on extra veggies.

OR GRAB YOUR SNEAKERS: New research from Vanderbilt University reveals that walking briskly for at least 15 minutes a day cuts your risk of an early death by nearly 20%. Picking up the pace strengthens your heart and muscles, balances blood sugar and burns calories, keeping you in tiptop shape.

Reduce stress by hugging a pillow

When you need to dial down tension, take a spare pillow from the linen closet and give it a gentle squeeze. You'll feel calmer in minutes. Scientists in Singapore found that hugging something soft quickly quiets beta and gamma waves in the brain, putting you at ease.