Day 25: Self Care For The Future You 💸
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🗓️ Cheers to Thursday
It’s day 25 of Q&A, with today’s question: 🔥 What does self care look like for your future self, and how can you incorporate those practices now?
❤️ From Lifespan to Healthspan
Like most people, I fear death and want to maximize my health and longevity well into my later years. I get it: I’m 22, and the idea of my 80+ year-old self seems kinda… out of left field.
But here's the thing: the habits you establish today will profoundly impact your ability to thrive as your future self.
🤔 Why Should You Care About Healthspan?
Healthspan vs. Lifespan:
Lifespan is the total number of years you live.
Healthspan is the number of those years you live in good health, free from chronic diseases and disabilities.
Focusing on healthspan means prioritizing not just how long you live, but how well you live during those years. It’s about staying vibrant, sharp, and independent for as long as possible.
Today’s question challenges us to reflect on how our current actions shape our future quality of life. It’s not just about avoiding illness; it’s about thriving and maintaining the capacity to engage fully in life.
When we consider our future selves, we consider the notion of a future in the first place.
🤑 The Power of Compounding Habits
Like financial investment, the small, healthy habits grow exponentially over time to yield significant long-term benefits 🤩
The domains of sleep, exercise, nutrition, mental health, and social wellbeing are all arenas we can tap into to maximize both the quality and length of our lives.
If you’re interested in learning more about these topics, feel free to check out these thought-leader-scientist-extraordinaires who have personally fascinated and educated me over the past few years:
Peter Attia — A physician specializing in longevity and optimal performance, Peter Attia's work explores the science of extending healthspan and improving overall wellness. Love his book, Outlive.
Andrew Huberman — A neuroscientist and professor at Stanford, Andrew Huberman provides insights into brain function and how it impacts our mental and physical health.
Stacy Sims — An expert in exercise physiology and nutrition, Stacy Sims focuses on how gender differences affect performance and health, particularly in women.
Sam Harris — A neuroscientist and philosopher, Sam Harris offers deep dives into mindfulness, meditation, and the nature of consciousness.
Gabriellie Lyon — A physician specializing in muscle-centric medicine, Gabrielle Lyon emphasizes the importance of muscle health for longevity and metabolic well-being.
Andy Puddicombe — Co-founder of the meditation app Headspace, Andy Puddicombe shares practical advice on incorporating mindfulness into daily life for improved mental health.
Paul Conti — A psychiatrist with a focus on trauma and its impact on mental health, Paul Conti provides valuable perspectives on psychological resilience and healing.
Robert Lustig — An endocrinologist and professor, Robert Lustig explores the impact of diet and sugar on metabolic health and disease prevention.
…. the list continues.
While some days self care may look like bubble baths and dark chocolate, most days it means showing up to do the “maintenance” work to sustain our future selves.
Cheers to the small acts today that energize us for tomorrow (and hopefully 80+ years into the future).
➡️ Here’s how other Full Stoppers answered the question: What does self care look like for your future self, and how can you incorporate those practices now?
One of the big things that is loosely 'self-care' for my future self is building good relationships today that I can sustain in the future. That's because relationships are important for my longterm happiness, and I need to be more intentional about cultivating them today.
I jump to conclusions really easily. I want to work on slowing down my thinking without jumping to anxiety. I actually meditated today and felt amazing. I will continue to meditate
My self-care in the future includes taking breaks and calling more loved ones. I can do that now by intentionally planning out a time to do these activities.
Thank you for reflecting with me, and I look forward to more of your insightful responses!
🎯 Tomorrow’s question is this: What was a small win or achievement I had this week?
Drop your answer here if you feel compelled and you’ll be (anonymously) featured in the next edition of Full Stop.
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Natalie, a recent graduate from Brown University with a degree in neuroscience, is passionate about fostering human connection through radical vulnerability. Writing daily to challenge and dismantle limiting beliefs, she shares her journey from pre-med student to budding entrepreneur. Follow Full Stop. to join in on her path of discovery and growth.