A new Lancet analysis of 59,000 adults suggests that tiny upgrades in sleep, movement and diet together are linked with extra, disease-free years of life.
I exercise daily, ( a life long athlete). Sleep relatively well but am not a “kitchen person” … find very little motivation to change that but am reflecting on your message…
There’s usually something that feels like it takes more effort than we’re comfortable with, isn’t there.
For me, it’s exercise. I’m okay with a country walk, but strength exercises are an ordeal to be suffered through five days a week. Yet exercise looks like something that comes easily to you.
I wish, Mike! That book made James Clear a multi-millionaire.
Still, it’s very empowering to know that small changes, stacked day after day, compound to great potential long-term health benefits. We don’t have to change our lives overnight to live longer and healthier.
This is such an excellent piece Dr. Jones! As a Board-Certified Coach I know the importance of making healthy lifestyle changes feel doable and here you're doing just that by empowering others with the study takeaways to make small changes for big impact.
I also appreciated the message that you need not necessarily rest on your laurels if you're already living a pretty heathy lifestyle--there's always more you can gain and it doesn't take a lot!
I agree there’s always more, but it shouldn’t feel like an endless chore. Small, easy changes that compound over time can have a huge impact on long-term health without requiring a whole-life overhaul - that’s the strategy both of us advocate.
This is a confirmation of what my experience has been. For years I have read that smaller amounts of exercise did nothing. That has not been my experience so I keep on every day doing what I can. Any movement is better than none. My healthy eating helps tremendously. I have had chronic sleep problems and am at long last finding things that help me. I am 70 years old and have several chronic health issues yet I am still able to live a good life. What more can you ask for?
You’ve seen from the graph in the article that the curve is steepest at the outset, when you’re starting from little exercise, poor sleep and a poor diet. With your healthy diet and consistent exercise you’re likely to be way up that curve. Now that you’re finding things that help with sleep, you climb that health and longevity curve even more.
Here in the UK, one of the big supermarkets has the slogan ‘Every little helps.’ That’s equally true for our health as it is for supermarket pricing. Every small improvement in exercise, sleep and diet increases our chance of a longer, healthier life.
I exercise daily, ( a life long athlete). Sleep relatively well but am not a “kitchen person” … find very little motivation to change that but am reflecting on your message…
There’s usually something that feels like it takes more effort than we’re comfortable with, isn’t there.
For me, it’s exercise. I’m okay with a country walk, but strength exercises are an ordeal to be suffered through five days a week. Yet exercise looks like something that comes easily to you.
Reminds me of the book “ Atomic Habits "
I wish, Mike! That book made James Clear a multi-millionaire.
Still, it’s very empowering to know that small changes, stacked day after day, compound to great potential long-term health benefits. We don’t have to change our lives overnight to live longer and healthier.
This is such an excellent piece Dr. Jones! As a Board-Certified Coach I know the importance of making healthy lifestyle changes feel doable and here you're doing just that by empowering others with the study takeaways to make small changes for big impact.
I also appreciated the message that you need not necessarily rest on your laurels if you're already living a pretty heathy lifestyle--there's always more you can gain and it doesn't take a lot!
Thanks, Melanie.
I agree there’s always more, but it shouldn’t feel like an endless chore. Small, easy changes that compound over time can have a huge impact on long-term health without requiring a whole-life overhaul - that’s the strategy both of us advocate.
This is a confirmation of what my experience has been. For years I have read that smaller amounts of exercise did nothing. That has not been my experience so I keep on every day doing what I can. Any movement is better than none. My healthy eating helps tremendously. I have had chronic sleep problems and am at long last finding things that help me. I am 70 years old and have several chronic health issues yet I am still able to live a good life. What more can you ask for?
That’s such an encouraging note, Deborah.
You’ve seen from the graph in the article that the curve is steepest at the outset, when you’re starting from little exercise, poor sleep and a poor diet. With your healthy diet and consistent exercise you’re likely to be way up that curve. Now that you’re finding things that help with sleep, you climb that health and longevity curve even more.
Here in the UK, one of the big supermarkets has the slogan ‘Every little helps.’ That’s equally true for our health as it is for supermarket pricing. Every small improvement in exercise, sleep and diet increases our chance of a longer, healthier life.
Keep tweaking those dials, Deborah!