How do we navigate remodelling our lifestyle to enrich the quality and experience of life?
If there’s one thing the stomping ground of middle age and beyond offers us, it’s a renewed perspective.
This is the time to plan a quest for answers, to ready ourselves for a trek into the wilderness, braving life’s big questions.
It is as much an inward journey as it is an outward one—boots on the ground, prepared to confront some tricky terrain. Preparing for this trek means taking back control of your health and prioritising self-care.
It is a time to question the socially engineered structures that have been the tapestry on which we paint our lives.Perhaps you begin to notice the rotten foundations in our culture that disconnect us from ourselves and each other. Midlife brings a growing wisdom that deserves to be nourished, along with a wealth of research we can apply to discover new ways of living and connecting.
How often have we read a book that moves us to change something about our lives, only to find it difficult to follow through?
In Lost Connections, Johann Hari wrote:
“Once you understand that depression is to a significant degree a collective problem caused by something that has gone wrong in our culture, it becomes obvious that the solutions have to be—to a significant degree—collective too. We have to change the culture so that more people are freed up to change their lives.”
In this age of information, perhaps what truly matters is acting on what resonates with you personally and applying it to your own life.
Let’s turn down the volume on stories of war, crime, and horror, and focus instead on what’s possible within your own story.
Developing your own daily self-care ritual is an essential step toward exploring your full potential, both creatively and spiritually, as true and lasting wellness lies in the everyday.
Cultivating a lifestyle for wellness
Building a supportive lifestyle for lasting wellness begins with the everyday moments of our lives. It’s about bringing attention to small actions infused into our routines and activities, where we can make significant shifts toward creating a lifestyle that deeply supports us.
What I’ve come to understand is that the system we currently live in does not prioritise human wellness. I often think of this as an equation that has become way out of balance.
Working long hours just to keep a roof over one’s head, too much sitting and lack of movement, an abundance of processed food instead of real food, and toxic overload are some of the main factors that disrupt human harmony.
If we’re honest, most people find time for self-care or a full exploration of life beyond mere survival to be in short supply. As a society, we need to confront big questions on a larger scale, but on an individual level, we can start to focus on what is truly important, even in the small spaces within our day.
But perhaps the most urgent issue is disconnection from our source. This is an acknowledgment of a creative force larger than ourselves, consciousness and spirituality. Interestingly, a 2024 study by Dr Lois Lee from the University of Kent highlighted that atheism is on the rise in the UK with 19% of the population. A further 20% identifies as agnostic or undecided. However, 15% includes individuals who do not identify with organised religion but hold spiritual beliefs or engage in spiritual practices, such as meditation or connection with nature.
This truly is an era of questioning what it means to be human and imagining new systems to support human growth and all life on this planet, creating a lifestyle with integrity for all.
The vessel we use, also known as our physical body, is designed to function efficiently and will give you many miles if you take care of its basic needs.
Sleep
Jason Prall, a health practitioner known for The Human Longevity Project, recently mentioned during the Ageless Energy Summit that he has witnessed incredible transformations in his clients when they focus on just two aspects of their lives: sleep quality and movement.
Matthew Walker, in his book Why We Sleep, states:
“The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life. The leading causes of disease and death in developed nations—diseases that are crippling health-care systems, such as heart disease, obesity, dementia, diabetes, and cancer—all have recognised causal links to a lack of sleep.”
Circadian rhythm, or your internal body clock, is increasingly recognised for its importance to overall health and function. Getting natural light in your eyes during the morning and throughout the day is crucial for regulating this rhythm and ensuring a good night’s sleep.
Explore these topics further, and take steps to prepare your bedroom and routine to support quality sleep.
Movement
Movement is a non-negotiable part of life, and your body relies on it.
A lesser-known reason why people need to move more is to help the lymphatic system remove waste. Toxins bombard us from every angle, and our drainage system needs to function well. Much of the lymphatic system is built around our joints, waiting for us to move so it can perform its critical job.
It is possible to prevent many problems of modern life with good movement, mobility, strength, and posture. Mobility work helps to keep joints and muscles functioning effectively for more intense pursuits, reducing the risk of injury.
Incorporating small sessions of mobility exercises into your day can counteract the effects of prolonged sitting, standing, or other repetitive activities, helping to maintain balance.
Honouring the Intrinsic
Connecting with nature, even in small ways, can greatly enhance well-being. Whether it’s through regular walks, gardening or a communal garden, or simply appreciating natural spaces, there are many ways to bring the outdoors into daily life. Nourish your body with wholesome, locally sourced food, supporting local producers at The Food Finders Hub . Pay attention to the quality of the water you drink, and consider ways to improve it.
Most importantly, make time each day for something meaningful to you—small, intentional acts that honour what truly matters.
This truly is an era of questioning what it means to be human and imagining new systems to support human development and all life on this planet, creating a lifestyle with integrity for all.
Inspiration
One of my favourite inspirational talks by Lyla June addresses 3000-year-old solutions to modern problems.