In the age of hacks, bio-hacks, apps, devices, tracking tools, and medical test for anything imaginable, sometimes it is good to take a step back, pause, take a deep breath and reflect. Are all the “hacks” working for me, am I getting healthier, is it making my life better?
The answer might be yes, then by all means keep doing it. In good ole Midwest lingo “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” That said, if not then let’s talk.
Another ole school saying is Less is More. Have we become obsessed about having “perfect numbers” either on a certain test, sleep score or genetic test? See post on Chasing Perfection. Sure, having a baseline of metrics and getting insight on your current health status is valuable. However, maybe there is a tipping point that isn’t offering a real return on investment.
Having worked in the health, wellness and fitness industry most of my life. As a bona fide senior citizen, I’ve seen more than my share of the latest and greatest health inventions. Some might work temporarily, others not at all and many end up gathering dust in one’s closet or workspace. One thing we do know (but product and test companies are rare to speak about) is The Basics Work when it comes to our general health and wellbeing. What are the basics?
Our SQ1 Wellness Fab 7
- Get regular sunshine
- Lift heavy weights
- Move frequently throughout the day
- Eat real food (preferably plenty of animal-based sources)
- Cook and eat the majority of your meals at home (with little to no snacks)
- Engage regularly in a community that supports your health
- Find time to be quiet to reflect, slow down and be with your own thoughts
While there are many variations and personal tweaks one could add to this list, doing these 7 things on a regular basis will get you way ahead of the pack. I dare you to try this for 60 days and see what happens. BTW, plenty of time to experiment before the end of the year.
You might think this is just common sense, but we live in an age where flashy numbers, latest study headlines and magic medical solutions are highly promoted. Think the current wave for GLP-1 Weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy. Granted I understand certain individuals might benefit from such promoted treatments, but any medication does have side effects, good to know both sides. I’d still say try lifestyle first then evaluate further.
Additionally, with every longevity guru who has “THE” supplement cure. (See post Supplement ≠ Solution) It is always good from time to time to do without and see if you’re really receiving benefits or not. Often the list of supplements can grow exponentially without us taking notice.
Why is this important?
Working with hundreds of clients across the age spectrum I see a growing trend of searching for “the test” or “the hack” and when they don’t find it, disappointment sets in. Or even, because a test or hack maybe brought more questions than answers they keep trying to find another hack and do another test in the hope of “the answer” or a 1 item solution.
A dear colleague of mine, nurse practitioner with decades of experience says, “It is never 1 thing.” This notion to keep testing and hoping for the 1 thing requires a lot of energy, mentally and physically. The waves of hope followed by disappointment can hamper one’s ability to partake in other (read The Basics) more health enhancing practices.
Finding the lifestyle practices that best support your needs and demands is a lifelong process. Take time to evaluate if you’re investing in real health enhancement basics. Those practices like the 7 mentioned above may not be glitzy and headline grabbing but they just might save your life.
Lastly, many advocate we just need more healthcare which equates to more spending. If you look at this graph of life expectancy vs. health spending from 1970 to 2024 by One World Data the statistics demonstrate our overall decline in life expectancy in the US while spending dramatically increased.
More money spent ≠ Better health outcomes. A prudent policy as an individual is to invest in you now, put a team together and build a toolbox of basics.
