Prioritizing quality time gives you longer life! 

“The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they're right if you love to be with them all the time.”  
—Julia Child 

It’s delightful to watch the interplay between Julia and Paul Child on HBO’s series “Julia.” They treasured the time they had together, while nurturing their own individual interests (cooking and painting). 

Did you know that people who spend quality time with their partners find greater fulfilment in life and live longer lives? (Julia lived to age 91 and Paul to age 92!) 

What the research says 

Study after study confirm that being in a positive relationship is great for your health and longevity. The longest longitudinal study on happiness by Harvard University showed that people who prioritize quality time in their relationships are happier and live longer. The most critical factor in being able to stay healthy and combatting health problems was cultivating positive relationships! 

Marta Zaraska examined these data points in Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100. She shares data from studies that found research participants with larger social networks were about 45 percent less likely to die. 

Key takeaways 

If you’re concerned about your health and longevity, you exercise and watch what you eat. You probably also try to get enough sleep. Are you devoting as much energy to spending quality time with your partner?  

Now that you know quality time helps you live longer and lead a happier life, what are you waiting for? Going on date nights, making sure you carve out time for intimacy, and just scheduling quiet conversations and fun with your partner sounds like way more fun than eating healthy and exercising. And now we know it’s even more important! 

Maybe hit the kitchen and try out one of Julia Child’s recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking together?