Focusing directly on increasing happiness or reducing stress is misguided. These feelings are natural byproducts of practicing core wellness behaviors like exercise, social connection, and maintaining a sense of purpose.
Research on millions of people reveals that having strong social relationships reduces mortality risk by 20-30% in later life, an impact that significantly outweighs the benefits of diet, exercise, and sleep.
While physically detrimental, alcohol's benefit in facilitating social interaction—a powerful mitigator of mortality risk—can outweigh its harms when consumed moderately in social settings, not alone or to excess.
Contrary to decades of dietary advice, data shows no significant difference between whole-fat and low-fat dairy. In fact, whole-fat dairy products are associated with decreased risks of diabetes and cardiovascular issues.
Retirement poses a significant health risk. The daily schedule, external expectations, mental challenges, and social network provided by a job are crucial for brain health. Their removal can lead to accelerated cognitive decline and social isolation.
Repetitive mental exercises like crossword puzzles merely reinforce existing neural pathways. To maintain cognitive health and build new connections, one must engage in novel challenges like learning a new language or skill.
Higher education builds "cognitive reserve" by increasing neural connections. This creates a higher physiological baseline, meaning it takes much longer for age-related brain cell loss to manifest as cognitive impairment, a benefit often overlooked in financial ROI debates.