In order to make changes that stick, I take my big goals and break them down into small pieces. Then I focus on one at a time until it becomes a habit. The goal of safer driving is a good one, but it's one of those big, non-specific goals that…
Albany is about two-and-a-quarter hours north of where I live in the NYC area. I was driving up to Albany one morning early this year. It’s a drive I’ve made countless times. First, during the four years I went to college in Albany in the 1980s, and more recently during…
In March 2012, I read an article in Prevention magazine that made a big impact on me. I can’t find a link to the piece, so I'm going to summarize it. The story is written by a woman who fell asleep the wheel of her car going 65 mph with…
“Be Healthy” is the sixth of the Six Simple Rules for a Better Life. In most places, including here, most "be healthy" attention is paid to eating well and exercising. Another topic I always cover in speaking engagements is “knowing your numbers.” The numbers referred to are those such as…
This is a guest post by Julian Hooks As a fitness enthusiast, I came to realize long ago that fitness and health are founded on regular workout routines. I’m a member of a family that suffers from obesity. As such, I have even more cause to make sure I’m fit…
When I was a kid, I was a speed eater. My dad would tell me and my siblings to chew our food 30 times before swallowing, but we ignored his advice and his good example (he is the slowest eater I have ever met). I did learn to eat more…
Soon after two close friends of mine spent two days at a health and relaxation retreat, my wife and I were at a dinner hosted by one of them. There were six couples at dinner including the hosts. When we sat down to eat, we each found a piece of…
This is a guest post by Jane Sheeba Implementing tips is a great way to manage or deal with life situations in a quick manner. But I’m more of a strategic person. What’s the difference between implementing a strategy and practicing a tip? Tips are quickie solutions—you face a problem,…
In Six Simple Rules for a Better Life, I opened the chapter on the 6th rule, “Be Healthy”, with quite a few thoughts on longevity—on the amazing medical advances that are extending longevity. In my speaking engagements, when I talk about being healthy, I also comment about longevity—about how fortunate…
I’m a long-time reader of the weekly ScienceTimes section in Tuesday’s New York Times. One of my go-to columns is Jane Brody's on "Personal Health". In last week's column, Brody wrote about recent studies showing the health benefits of nuts. I’ve known about the health benefits of nuts for a…
Making time for exercise is a big challenge for many people. Whether it's about exercise or anything else, time management is about making time for your priorities. How do you make time for exercise? I do it the same way I do everything else important to me: I treat it…
This is a guest post by Morgan Johnson. A couple of years ago, as a result of an unsuccessful marriage and stressful job, I found myself suffering from a prolonged period of feeling very down. Fortunately, after months of self-regret, and living in a house which looked more like a…