Health Reporters Spill the Beans on Applying What They Preach.
Assembling Indoor Plants
I had a little collection of houseplants on a couple of shelves at this time last year. I’m living in a jungle now. My year took a very different turn when I began collecting uncommon aroids, a family of plants that includes alocasias, monsteras, and philodendrons. Being surrounded by lush greenery is peaceful, and taking care of my plants keeps me occupied, giving me less time to browse social media or lose myself in my thoughts. I’ve visited different locations for plant-related activities, and I’m always learning and studying ways to take better care of my plants. In addition, the excitement of finding fresh growth—like a leaf emerging—improves my mood and gives me something to look forward to every day. —Agnes Haupt
Rubbing My Face
In the midst of the pandemic, when I was scowling at screens most of the time, I began searching for remedies for headaches and tense faces. My searches brought me to the technique of self-guided face massage, which I have committed myself fully to during the past year. My favorite facial masseur on YouTube frequently discusses lymphatic drainage, which is meant to improve the appearance of your skin, flush out toxins, and lessen puffiness. I don’t care that I don’t entirely believe these statements. Since I have trouble meditating, these mini massages have been my go-to method of relaxation. I use a fragrant oil, occasionally light a candle, and then close my eyes for a short while. If it does nothing else except help me fall asleep, it’s peaceful and that’s enough. —Jamie Ducharme
Cycling with Fury
When I was craving fresh air in the early days of the pandemic, I dust off my old bicycle and hit the road, delighted to rediscover how quickly it provided fresh air and a good dose of exercise. I became more disciplined this year and started riding 10 miles a week, generally on Sunday afternoons. I also started riding my bike erratically, as fast as my legs would allow, whenever I’m angry or agitated. This is what I call anger biking. After a few minutes outside, the wind quickly dispels my anxieties. —A.H.
Establishing a Single Friend
Bringing a child into the world while relocating is both thrilling and demanding. Neither provides much time for relationships and self-care. But I’m happy I gave one of my goals this year—making a local friend in real life—priority. Using Peanut, an app that connects moms, I was able to find her. It’s changed our lives that we now email each other every day and get together for strolls in the park with our baby. —Mandy Oaklander
Sunning Myself
I did a piece on scientific podcaster Andrew Huberman earlier this year. He frequently discusses health practices that can help people “optimize” their life. I’m not into several of his recommendations, such as taking cold showers and supplementing with vitamins. One, though, has stayed with me: the notion that, in order to balance your circadian rhythms and enhance your energy and focus, you should expose yourself to sunlight as soon as you wake up. I will admit that I’m not always successful at this. (It turns out that my most persuasive piece was the one I wrote a while back about why it’s okay to ignore your alarm.) However, I’ve made an effort to include more quick morning strolls in my schedule and discover that when I go outside first thing in the morning, I’m typically more focused and awake. —J.D.
Monitoring My Sleep
I’ve never tracked my sleep previously because I’m a chronic night owl and I knew the results wouldn’t be good, but this year I became curious after switching from my hiking GPS watch to one that’s durable and lightweight enough to serve as a daily fitness tracker. Although the technology used by watches to monitor sleep is crude, mine has shown to be reasonably accurate in counting the overall amount of time I’ve spent asleep.
I’ve discovered that sleep specialists genuinely mean it when they advise you that getting too little sleep lowers your energy, emotions, and other aspects of your life. I know, such a bummer. Although I’ve always believed that I could function just as well on six hours of sleep as I could on eight, I can’t help but notice that my behavior on any given day makes a lot more sense when I consider the nights before. I’m determined to make a change, so even though it’s been difficult, I’m quitting my nightly scrolling habit in 2024. —Weiss, Haley
Taking my Pulse rate
I saw a doctor about a year ago after experiencing unusual shortness of breath nearly all the time for several months. Anyone who has ever had a routine exam knows that taking your blood pressure is one of the first things that takes place. “Do you realize that your blood pressure is at emergency levels?” asked the nurse who took mine. No, I didn’t. After running all the tests and finding nothing further amiss, they put me on statins and instructed me to routinely check my blood pressure in order to monitor any changes. Even though I was frustrated not to know the root cause, it was still quite satisfying to see my daily readings return to a range that was, if not perfect, at least reasonably healthy.
I then began to fiddle around. Before and after taking my dog for her morning walk, during the workday, on the weekends after sleeping in late, or after returning home after an evening movie during the workweek, I would check my blood pressure. The trends are certainly not surprising, but it nevertheless drives home how your lifestyle may have a direct influence on your health to see how your stress levels alter dependent on your behaviors. —With Elijah Wolfson
Consuming Extra Ice cream
This year, I developed a slightly counterintuitive health habit. I started consuming ice cream, but sparingly. My overall sugar intake is reduced and I avoid other sweets because of the intense feeling of indulgence. —The Honorable Jeffrey Kluger
Establishing a Home-Based Workspace
I didn’t have a desk when the pandemic struck. But eventually, work-from-home days turned into regular workdays, and hopping between my bedroom floor, my couch, and our circular dining table wasn’t working. Nevertheless, the longer I was able to function without a designated workstation, the less sense it made to invest the funds and time.
Establishing an office zone was the first thing I did in my new apartment when I moved in 2023. I now own everything I need, including the monitor, chair, desk, and even a little tabletop bookshelf. Not only is my neck appreciative, but my concentration has improved dramatically. Setting up a distinct boundary between my work and leisure areas has been a straightforward yet essential adjustment. —H.W
Giving Up Twitter
I used to spend far too much time on Twitter (now X), like many journalists do, skimming through the day’s headlines and being caught into specialized online dramas. Even though I still have an account and occasionally use it for work, I no longer spend as much time there and haven’t posted in months. I’m really liberated. It seems that the doctors and researchers who informed me in interviews that reducing your social media usage is beneficial to your mental health were correct. —J.D.