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Life Lessons From Queen Elizabeth II
At 94 the world s longest-reigning monarch still follows these 10 rules
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. All of which makes Elizabeth II's ability to run the monarchy since 1952 a royal anomaly. World famous since birth, she has worked harder than any of her predecessors — more than 40 hours a week in her 90th year — without the slightest reliable report of her collapsing under the , shirking her endless duties or losing her temper. I spent more than a year investigating the mystery of her resilience for my new book, Long Live the Queen; here are just a few of the secrets I discovered. Anwar Hussein/Getty Images 1 Recharge your willpower
Elizabeth II's self-control appears limitless because she takes time to replenish it — grasping, as research shows, that willpower is akin to a battery that requires routine recharging. Teatime is that crucial interval for the queen: a sacred break in her hectic day when she rests for a quiet hour with a fragrant pot of Earl Grey or Darjeeling, and something sugary. Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images 2 Stick to a schedule
From her first day as queen, Elizabeth has calmed her mind by following a strict daily regimen, ending each day by writing in her journal. Erin Combs/Toronto Star via Getty Images 3 Develop your sense of purpose
The queen lives for something larger than herself — her country. Studies show having a dedicated cause helps immunity and reduces one's risk of . Hulton Archive/Getty Images 4 Serve others
The patron of hundreds of charities, Elizabeth II believes that giving herself to good causes can do “as much as anything … to help me put my own worries into perspective.” Her reward: an infusion of an anti-inflammatory hormone. Entertainment Access curated AARP entertainment articles, essays, videos, films and more See more Entertainment offers > Illustrated London News/Mary Evans 6 Brush aside vanity
From the beginning of her reign, the queen has made a deliberate effort to practice what behavioral psychologists call self-distancing. She can, with a complete lack of vanity, comb through a daily onslaught of personal stories in the tabloids and still remain a detached and, frequently, amused spectator. Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 7 Never stop playing
Elizabeth II still takes time, almost every day, to play as she loved to as a child (specifically, with horses). Doing so has kept her muscles active and her mind remarkably agile, thanks to play's unique ability to suspend the brain in a youthful, flexible state. Keystone Pictures USA 8 Keep the faith
The queen attends church every Sunday and prays every night before bed, grounding rites that have been an essential component of her iconic resilience. Whatever worries the world throws at her, she believes there is a higher throne on which to lay them. Arthur Edwards/Pool/Getty Images 9 Be open to change
At an age when many find it hard to accept altered conditions, Elizabeth II has never stopped learning and adapting. “Change has become a constant,” she remarked in 2002. “The way we embrace it defines our future.” Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images 10 Cherish your crowning years
Elizabeth II smiles more nowadays and is more warmly approachable than ever. All of this supports the scientific phenomenon known as the U-bend of life — the discovery that the world's happiest people tend to be those who are in their 80s and beyond. MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Restaurants offers > See more Travel Planning offers > See more Flowers & Gifts offers > See more Groceries offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS