Just spent a fortune on suspension repairs, looking for ways to make it last

I just had to replace both front shock absorbers and a bunch of bushings on my car and it was not cheap. The mechanic mentioned that our roads and climate are really hard on these parts. Now that I've got everything new up front, I'm really motivated to take better care of it and I've been researching extending vehicle suspension lifespan. Beyond just avoiding big potholes, which is easier said than done here, what actually makes a difference? Does slowing down more dramatically for speed bumps help protect things? Also, how much does regular wheel alignment and balancing contribute to making suspension parts last longer? I used to skip alignments sometimes to save money but now I'm thinking that was false economy. I'd love to hear what habits other drivers have adopted to keep their suspension healthy for as long as possible.