diff --git a/_authenticate.php b/_authenticate.php
index d7f4b36..a93df5d 100644
--- a/_authenticate.php
+++ b/_authenticate.php
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 <?php
+// Set session cookie lifetime to 30 days
+ini_set('session.cookie_lifetime', 60 * 60 * 24 * 30);
+// Keep server-side session data for 30 days
+ini_set('session.gc_maxlifetime', 60 * 60 * 24 * 30);
+
 session_start();
 
 if (!isset($_SESSION["authenticated"]) || $_SESSION["authenticated"] !== true ) {