Decluttering is a powerful tool for achieving organization and reducing overwhelm in our lives. One of its primary benefits is the immediate sense of control and order it brings to our spaces. When we systematically go through our belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or discard, we create a more streamlined and efficient environment. This not only saves us time searching for things but also reduces the mental stress caused by a cluttered and chaotic setting. As we eliminate unnecessary items and simplify our surroundings, we gain a clearer perspective on what truly matters, leading to increased focus and reduced mental clutter. Furthermore, decluttering has a profound impact on…
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A guide to identifying and avoiding gerontogens (aka aging accelerators)
Read time: 4 minutes, 30 seconds Aging, an inevitable part of life, has fascinated and perplexed humanity for centuries. While we cannot halt the relentless march of time, researchers have made tremendous strides in understanding the processes that drive aging. Among the many factors at play, gerontogens have emerged as key players in the aging puzzle. In this blog post, we will delve into what gerontogens are, explore some examples, and understand why we should strive to avoid them. What are gerontogens? Gerontogens are substances or factors that accelerate the aging process or increase the risk of age-related diseases. The term “gerontogen” derives from the Greek words “geron” (meaning old…
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Stay Mentally Fit With These 8 Brain Exercises
Read time: 5 minutes Brain exercises have a positive impact on brain health and delay aging effects. Activities such as puzzles, memory games, and learning new skills, activate various brain regions and promote neuroplasticity. This is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections between neurons. Brain exercises stimulate the release of neurotrophic factors, which promote the survival and growth of neurons. They also increase blood flow to the brain and deliver essential nutrients and oxygen. Computers and smartphones have profoundly influenced the way we use our brains. Their impact on our brain function can be both beneficial and detrimental. These devices have expanded access to information, improved communication,…
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9 Lifestyle Habits to Preserve Your Brain’s Youth
Read time: 4 minutes, 30 seconds As we grow older, various changes occur in the brain that can impact cognitive abilities. One change is the gradual loss of brain cells in regions associated with learning and memory. This loss can affect memory formation and retrieval. There is also a decline in the production of neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers are essential for communication between brain cells. This decline can lead to slower processing speed and decreased cognitive flexibility. The brain’s blood vessels also undergo changes. They become less efficient at delivering oxygen and nutrients to brain cells. This can impair cognitive function and increase the risk of conditions like dementia. Research…
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9 Anti-aging habits for athletes in their 40s
9 Anti-aging habits for athletes in their 40s Read time: 4 minutes, 45 seconds. As athletes enter their 40s, their bodies go through natural aging processes that can present unique challenges compared to their 30 year old selves. As we age, our bodies take longer to recover from physical activity. This means that athletes in their 40s may need more time to recover from workouts or competitions than they did in their 30s. Our muscles, tendons, and ligaments become less flexible and more prone to injury. This can increase the risk of injury for athletes in their 40s, especially if they do not take appropriate precautions. Also Read: 8 Anti-aging tips…
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8 Anti-aging tips for athletes in their 30s
Read time: 6 minutes, 15 seconds. Athletes in their 30s experience a gradual decline in physical performance and recovery. The body’s ability to produce energy declines, leading to decreased muscle mass, strength, and endurance. Recovery time also increases because healing takes longer. This makes it harder to maintain a high level of performance during intense training periods. This may require shorter training sessions, more rest days, and a more conservative training approach to avoid injury and burnout. One significant difference between athletes in their 30s and athletes in their 20s is the increased risk of injury. As we age, the body becomes more susceptible to wear and tear, making it…
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Maximizing athletic performance: How reducing exposure to toxins can make a difference
Read time: 6 minutes, 15 seconds. Reducing exposure to toxins is important for both health and athletic performance. Exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and air pollution, can have negative effects on the body, including damage to organs, impaired immune function, and inflammation. These effects can ultimately impact athletic performance, causing decreased endurance, reduced strength, and slower recovery times. By reducing exposure to toxins, athletes can help protect their bodies from harmful effects, allowing for optimal performance and overall health. Additionally, reducing exposure to toxins can lead to improved respiratory and cardiovascular health, which are critical for endurance and performance in many sports. By making conscious choices…
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10 Micro-Habits With Major Results
Two sprinters are at the starting line getting ready, right as the official yells “on your mark!”. One athlete is crouched down with their bodyweight leaning forward. The other is standing completely upright with their weight on their heels. Assuming they start at exactly the same moment, who is more likely to win the race? The sprinter who is leaning forward will gain more momentum at the beginning of the race. They begin the race in a position to crush it. We can use this concept of leaning forward and apply it to the rest of our lives. If you are always leaning toward your finish line, then you’ll improve…
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5 ways your diet is accelerating aging
(Read time: 4.5 minutes) The foods that you eat can have a major impact on the rate that your body ages. If you’re depriving your cells of the nourishment they need, they will become damaged and cause you to age faster. If you are exposing your cells to toxic compounds then you are accelerating the rate at which that damage occurs. Here are 5 ways that your diet may be causing you to get older faster: 1. Consuming processed foods and added sugars. Highly processed diets are associated with obesity and Type 2 diabetes but researchers in Spain also found that people who consume high amounts of “ultraprocessed foods” have…
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Is your morning routine serving you? (+ free download)
During the last half of 2022, I am embarrassed to say that let go of my self-care a bit. I began to slip on the consistency of my training, nutrition and morning routine. I used to be so good at mornings. At one point my routine included walking outside, reading, journaling, a skin-care routine, AND even a 4 minute cold shower! Then life (aka a puppy and more demanding work schedule) happened. Little by little, I had less control over my mornings. Some days, I wouldn’t even have the chance to change out of my pajamas before having to take the pup out to do his business. Before I knew…
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How To Do Less And Get More
This post was an email I sent to my newsletter subscribers on February 7, 2023. Every January, I take the time to choose a word to set an intention for what to focus on. 2022 was A YEAR. We got a german shepherd puppy named Axel. I launched my Elite Athlete Training Camp. Then we got engaged. And I finally got a promotion at work that I’ve been working toward for years. Life was good. Full of BIG time-consuming and energy-intensive responsibilities, but good. Also Read: 5 Hacks to Manage Your Energy Not Your Time Once January 1st rolled around, I didn’t have as much clarity as I’ve had in years…
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Is your lifestyle accelerating your aging?
This post is an email that was sent to my newsletter subscribers on February 15, 2023. Today I am grateful for my 10-year-old car with 140k miles. This modern(ish) machine makes all the things that I love in my life possible. It gives me access opportunities that would be difficult to get without it. I am able to drive to play volleyball. To a trailhead in the mountains (as long as it isn’t snowing). To far off lands to see new places and visit familiar faces. I know next to nothing about cars except for the fact that they 1.) are expensive and 2.) wear out and get old. Oh,…
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Hacking Age-Related Decline in Athletic Performance
According to sport scientists, most elite athlete peak between the ages of 28 and 32, and then performance declines about 2 percent each year. The reason this occurs is because there are factors involved in the aging process that the aging process is causing changes at the cellular level. Once an athlete hits the age of 30, the following changes begin: Declining maximum heart rate Decline of ability to utilize oxygen during maximum effort (aka aerobic capacity, aka VO2 max) Loss of muscle mass, especially fast twitch fibers Decreased collagen production Loss of strength, speed, endurance, and reaction time Lower production of growth and sex hormones Due to these…
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When and Why to Consume Probiotics
I’ve been taking probiotic supplement every day for the past 5 or so years. I’m convinced that they have contributed to my overall health and well-being but have also helped my digestive system adapt when it’s thrown for a loop. They’ve helped to keep me regular and healthy while I’m traveling, and got everything back to normal quickly after needing full anesthesia for my knee surgery. In general, probiotics have been found to support: Immunity. Since 80% of of your immune system resides just outside of your intestinal walls, a healthy gut supports a healthy immune system. A healthy gut microbiome helps to minimize immune responses that lead to inflammation…
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Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Probiotics
Probiotics are live micro-organisms that are administered to provide benefit to the host. They mainly consist of bacteria, but also include fungi such as yeasts. There are two types of probiotics: exogenous and endogenous. Exogenous probiotics are those that are consumed through the diet and must be continually ingested to maintain balance in the bowels. Endogenous probiotics are those beneficial bacteria and fungi that naturally occur in the human gut and make up the microbiome. If you’re new to probiotics, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor and make sure that a probiotic isn’t going to interfere with any medications or symptoms of an existing condition. This guide can…
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5 Essential Oils For Improving Focus
Focus is important for athletes to get into their flow state and perform at their physical and mental peaks. There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to focusing, and getting into the flow state. I talked about them in this podcast episode and give you some tips on how to get into your flow state. Aromatherapy can be a very effective trigger for helping you to get into your flow state and improve focus, mental clarity and athletic performance. Essential oils can bring balance to the brain by calming an anxious mind or energizing a sluggish one. Here are my favorite and most effective essential oils…
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15 Ways to Reset, Renew and Reinvent Yourself
I find that because I work from home (and will be for the foreseeable future), every day feels like a Tuesday. Even back before the pandemic and I was commuting into an office, I still would fall into these groundhog-day funks where my life just felt so…mundane. There are weeks when I will wear and wash the same clothes, buy the same groceries and cook the same meals. I feel like my life is on auto-pilot and with everything being so planned and predictable, I find it difficult to be spontaneous. Spring is here and is a great time to switch some things up and get a fresh start. The…
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Two Secrets of Successful Habit Change
This morning, I was making breakfast in my kitchen. I took the pan out of the corner cabinet, sprayed it with avocado oil from the cabinet above the stove and turned the burner on to medium. I opened the fridge by the top (because the seal is so strong that it’s nearly impossible to open by the handle) and took out the eggs, some veggies and leftover bacon. I opened the far right drawer to remove a spatula…and so on. I did all of these actions without thinking about them. I’m comfortable cooking in my own kitchen. I know exactly where everything is. I have cooked the same exact breakfast…
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5 Hacks to Manage Your Energy Not Your Time
Everything you were told about productivity is not the whole story. Productivity isn’t about managing time, it’s about managing your energy. These are some hacks that you need to know in order to save your energy and use it to enhance your productivity. One of the most common challenges that I hear from adult athletes is that they don’t have time to train for their sport. Many adult athletes find it difficult to find time to train for their sport (or do anything, really) because they have so many other conflicting priorities. Things like full-time jobs, side-hustles, caretaking responsibilities, paying bills, and social obligations can make it difficult to juggle…
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Sleep Hacks to Upgrade your Sleep
Are you looking for easy and reliable sleep hacks? Well, you have come to the right place. Let’s get started on getting you a healthy night’s sleep. Biohacking your sleep is really all about supporting hormones. One type of hormone is secreted in order to initiate sleep (such as melatonin). The other type is secreted while you’re asleep (such as growth hormone). These ones are responsible for growth, repair. And the other type is those that are regulated with the body being well-rested. A well-rested body will properly regulate stress hormones (such as cortisol), sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, hunger hormones such as insulin and leptin, and thyroid hormones.…