Meaning and Purpose
From Director of Health Alex Maples
A labor of love is sustainable (nothing else is).
Taking care of your body is work. Forgoing the tasty thing in front of you to keep a healthy body weight. Sweating and grunting in the gym to build muscle. Making time to move so your cardiovascular system runs smoothly. Being disciplined about getting to bed each night so you can recover and do it all again. It can feel daunting, especially at the start.
That’s why I encourage anyone building a healthy lifestyle to start by connecting their fitness and health journey to meaning and purpose. Don’t just do it because you “should.” Tie it to your ability to be effective as a parent/spouse/business owner – the roles that matter most. Then, what seems like a chore becomes the scaffolding for the life you’re building.
Aesthetics are Great, but There’s More to It
We all want to look good. But consider expanding the frame: connect body composition to the functional realities of blood sugar management, inflammation, and longevity. Managing it is a lever to support your performance now and in the future – so you can watch your kids grow up and build families of their own, get down on the floor to play with your grandchildren, or have the physical capacity to do the activities you love decades down the road.
Movement as a Celebration
Find ways to move your body that truly bring you joy: pickleball with good friends, dancing with your spouse, training to summit that mountain you’ve dreamed of. A daily foundation of movement keeps you primed for adventure and fun. When it’s fun, it stops being a task and becomes something you can’t wait to do.
Take Care of Future You
Sleep can feel like it's getting in the way. “More work to be done.” “The kids are finally down – this is my only me-time.” “One more episode.” Every night offers a barrage of choices that either hurt or help your future self. Prioritizing sleep sets tomorrow up to win. Remember how much better you feel. think, and train after a solid night's rest – it might help you resist the scroll.
Putting It Together
Widen the time horizon. One workout, one walk, or one night of sleep won’t make or break you. But ten years of small good choices vs. small bad ones? It’s the difference between creaky and capable. When things start to feel like a grind, zoom out. Re-orient to the things you really care about. Think about how much better a healthy version of you will feel and perform in those situations. Health is the quiet engine behind it all – steady deposits that compound into the life you want.
