If You Want to Increase Your Healthspan, Do These 6 Things

The small decisions and habits that make a big difference in your health across your lifespan

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In 2017, the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at Washington University in St. Louis published an article titled “Healthspan is more important than lifespan, so why don’t more people know about it?”

Until last week, I hadn’t heard of a health span. I’d heard people talk about the importance of eating well and exercising, but never in the context of saving your mind and body for a later enjoyable life.

After all, what’s the point of reaching old age if we’re not ourselves and can’t live a life we enjoy?

I’m at the age (recent post-grad from college) where many of my relatives are reaching old age, all with varying acuity levels and range of mobility.

“In my mind, there are few sins so egregious as extending life without health. This is important. It does not matter if we can extend lifespans if we cannot extend healthspans to an equal extent. And so if we’re going to do the former…