4. Pray to live longer.
Handing things over to a higher power could put more candles on your birthday cake. Indeed, people who attended religious services and prayed at least once a week were 46% less likely to pass away during a six-year study, says lead author Harold G. Koenig, MD, of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. Other studies also indicate a connection. So whats the deal? High-stress lives dont last as long, and praying is a stress releaseyoure asking for help, says Dr. Teitelbaum. Frequent churchgoers are also more likely to take part in social activities and enjoy a supportive network of family and friends, which could help them avoid, or at least cope better, with personal difficulties.