Nonnamaxxing: What Italian Grandmas Can Teach Us About Living Longer

The Trend: You’ve heard of fibermaxxing, looksmaxxing, and sleepmaxxing — now, there’s “nonnamaxxing.” That’s right, living more like an Italian grandma is going viral, and while the name might make it sound like a passing fad, nonnamaxxing is full of science-backed healthy habits that could actually help you live a longer, healthier life. 

What People Are Saying: When you think about Italian grandmothers, you’re probably imagining home-cooked meals made from scratch (often with hefty glugs of olive oil), gardens bursting with ripe, seasonal vegetables, and time spent with loved ones. Those are some of the central concepts of nonnamaxxing, along with daily walking, connecting with your community, and generally living a more intentional, mindful, and relaxed life. It’s the opposite of hustle culture — which is why it’s so appealing, experts say. 

What to Know: Even beyond the nonnas, Italians are known for their healthy lifestyle — the Mediterranean diet is widely considered to be one of the healthiest eating plans, and Sardinia is one of the world’s Blue Zones, where people regularly live to be centenarians. Despite its very-online name, embracing your inner nonna and making nonnamaxxing a lifestyle may actually be a smart move for longevity.