It wasn’t long ago that Anthem Blue-Cross did a study on the health of average Americans. Looking at hundreds of metrics, they found that the peak health of Americans was at a dismal 27 years old. This means that for the average American, a mid-life crisis would happen somewhere at the end of their second decade of life, and it's all downhill from there.

While modern medicine has propped-up lifespan, we entirely forgot about health-span and we stay stuck in a sickened state for the rest of our years. Part of the reason why we are here is because of the paradigm that we operate out of. Modern life is all about timing. We want our coffee to be perfectly made in 60 seconds. We want to have the perfect body after 2 workout sessions. We eat takeout, because cooking takes way too long. I can speak from experience, because this is how I used to think. “I don’t have time for any of this.” This is where I was wrong. Because if I thought being healthy was time consuming, I needed to realize the time consumption of being chronically sick.

Trading convenience for healthy patterns of life has led us down a road to less vitality, less energy, less health, and a lesser life. So, this week’s article is going to be all about healthy alternatives that allow you to both save time and save your health. Here are 4 things that you can implement this week to be a healthier, happier you on a timescale that fits high performance people:

Stack your tasks. This is especially effective when you are looking at tasks you do individually. You can easily do passive tasks that are great for your health while you do active tasks that require your focus. One example could be that you use your sleep rolls while you listen to a podcast. You can sit under red lights while you answer your emails or call a friend. 

Set aside time for things that are important to you. I once heard someone a lot wiser than me tell me that, “People don’t experience time, they experience presence.” I think about this a lot when it comes to raising my son. He doesn’t want my time, he wants me. My focus, my attention. Sometimes we get caught up with wanting to do other things in the midst of something that is important. My focused, intentional 30 minutes is a lot more meaningful than a distracted hour. So, if you set aside time for an important part of your day, you can give it your full attention without wasting empty time between.  

Warplan for meals during the week. Everyone has those moments where you get home from a long day. You look in the fridge and nothing is thawed, prepared, or even remotely close to resembling a meal. We’ve all been there. It is perfectly fine to eat out if you have the means, however, there are good options and not so good options for eating out. A lot of times, we shoot ourselves in the foot in reaching our health goals, because we chronically eat out with inflaming foods. Dr. Emily and I generally plan out our meals for the week on Sunday. This works out even better if you can gameplan to make extra food one night and eat it again on a night that is going to be a late one.

Invest in restorative practices to prolong your time with healthspan. Instead of choosing what’s convenient, choose what turns back time on the clock when it comes to your health. Things that reduce sympathetic hyperactivity, bring nourishment to the cells, improve cellular detoxification, and bring resiliency to your body–these are the things that should be focused on to live to the highest potential!

More time equates to more life spent with loved ones and more fulfillment of your life’s calling. Use these tips to steward it well and see your life flourish with more purpose and passion.

To Vitality, 

Dr. Nate