Our days, our lives

If I asked you how you're living your life, what would your answer be?

Often, when describing our lives, we tend to focus on the big picture–our careers, goals, relationships, finances, and so on. We rarely pay close attention to how we navigate each day. And yet, because of the compound effect, the cumulative impact of our daily actions and choices will shape our life.

While major decisions, such as what degree to pursue or who to marry, do indeed hold weight, we shouldn't underestimate the profound impact of the seemingly small and insignificant choices we make every day. From our lunch choices to the company we keep on weekends, all these little things add up over time. Therefore, living with intentionality extends beyond learning to be mindful in order to savor the moment–it's about striving to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life overall. It's also about setting an example for our loved ones and creating a positive ripple effect.

This brings us to the power of habits–those automatic behaviors we perform consistently, often without much conscious thought. Cultivating good habits becomes especially crucial during challenging times when our willpower may be depleted. For instance, I'm experiencing new health flare-ups and it's been disheartening. However, I have maintained some health and self-care basics, like eating three balanced meals per day, getting some movement in through short walks and yoga, and sticking to a consistent bedtime. These habits I've built up in recent years, though seemingly small, have been my anchor in preventing a downward spiral, and will help me be more resilient in the long run.

Dr. Andrew Huberman, whose podcast is a treasure trove of health and science knowledge, likes to remind his listeners of the importance of what he calls health fundamentals. Apart from the more predictable advice on eating well, staying active, and getting adequate sleep, Huberman discusses the impact of sunlight exposure and meaningful social connections.

Sunlight exposure was something I never paid attention to until recently, and I am still working on being more consistent with it. However, I've noticed that when I do follow Huberman's advice, my mood and focus throughout the day improve. The idea is to get some bright light into our eyes as soon as we wake up, as it helps regulate two essential hormones, cortisol and melatonin. Ideally, we should go out for a quick walk (5 mins on sunny days, at least 10 if the sky is cloudy). And if we wake up before the sun is out, we want to turn on all the bright lights we can in our house, and then get that sunlight exposure once the sun is out. I must admit I don't typically go for a walk early in the morning, but I’ve noticed that also just stepping out onto the balcony for a few minutes after waking up makes a difference and helps me feel more energized and positive.

As for the significance of our social networks, science has proven that these connections are vital for our mental and physical well-being, and they even contribute to longer lifespans. In fact, a lack of social connection seems to be a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. Huberman stresses that they need to be quality social connections. Developing more self-awareness, honing our communication skills, learning to set healthy boundaries, and proactively seeking like-minded individuals through shared interests, are ways we can both improve our existing relationships and find new ones. All things we can discuss more in future posts.

Now I'd like to hear from you. Are you paying attention to how you move through your day? What daily or weekly habits do you find particularly beneficial? Are you currently working on developing a new routine, and would you like to share it here for some added accountability? Were you surprised by the advice on sunlight exposure (I was)?