You might remember my previous article about nonrestorative sleep and waking up at 3 a.m., unable to fall back asleep. We looked at the roles stress and blood sugar dysregulation play in causing a nighttime cortisol spike that produces a hyperarousal state, making it difficult to fall back asleep. That marks one type of disrupted…

We spend most of our days doing similar routines—waking at the same time, eating the same breakfast, doing similar tasks at work, communicating with the same people, wearing the same outfits, and watching the same TV shows. And on it goes. When we make our routines and habits effortless, it can help us to feel…

When you think of fitness walkers, do you conjure images of silver haired seniors getting their daily cardio? Or do you picture a younger person with bulging biceps, six-pack abs, and phone in hand carefully monitoring their step count? It turns out, both images would be representative of the millions of Americans who walk on…

Simple and enjoyable physical activities such as bicycling, dancing, and tai chi can lead to significant improvements in physical and mental symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and sometimes even slow the progression of the disease. Parkinson’s disease is the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s, but it’s growing quickly. “In recent years, PD [Parkinson’s disease] has undergone the fastest growth…

Aromatherapy is a word that conjures images of celebrity trends, New Age dogma, and pop-up air fresheners found on supermarket shelves. When French biochemist René-Maurice Gattefossé coined the term in the 1920s, he probably had no idea that his against-the-odds recovery from gas gangrene using lavender essential oil would prompt a global surge of followers…

I’ve worked with a number of people who want more spaciousness in their lives—more time for rest, play, reading, reflecting, self-care, and hanging out with friends and other loved ones. The challenge isn’t that it’s hard to create more time (although, for some people, it’s actually very hard). The challenge is that no matter how…

Have you been feeling stuck, unable to move forward in important areas of your life? That’s rough. I’ve been there. In the decade after college, there were long seasons when I felt the gap between who I was and who I wanted to be wasn’t shrinking nearly as fast as I wanted. The worst part…

The three greatest distinctions between plants and animals are that animals have a nervous system, mobility, and cholesterol. In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has painted cholesterol as the root of all evil, saying that if your cholesterol is anywhere higher than a certain level, then you’re in great danger and must take X number…

Someone I know shared that they came back from a meditation retreat excited about the meaningful possibilities they had envisioned on the retreat—new projects, opportunities, and important stuff they wanted to create. It’s so incredible to be excited about meaningful possibilities! And then they got home, and there were piles of tasks, emails, and messages…

For many older adults, preventing a fall can add years to their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury for older adults in the United States. About 1 in 4 adults aged 65 or older falls each year. Falls can cause serious injuries such as hip…