cermakalex Why a Restart? Wouldn’t a few new habits and losing weight be enough?
I don’t think so. It’s about starting a new and better lifestyle so I can live a healthier life, even in later years. As it’s often discussed today, with terms like longevity, healthspan, and well-being.
The beginning of this change can be traced back to two years ago. I celebrated my 40th birthday and kept telling everyone that I still feel like I’m 27. My mind somehow got stuck there, and I don’t feel like I’ve aged at all.
It’s really strange—my brain and perception of time stopped years ago, but my physical body is moving forward. After turning 40, my body is less forgiving of certain indulgences, and I’m starting to feel the effects of aging. My joints hurt more, I’m more tired, and going out for culture and sacrificing sleep feels more like a punishment.
So, I began to think more about how to work on my ideal weight, better physical condition, how to sleep better, eat better—just live better!
At that time, I came across the book 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. For me, as someone obsessed with perfect time management and checklists (at work, they called me “the Excel spreadsheet”), it was like a revelation. Realizing that I’m already in the theoretical second half of my life (if I’m lucky), and that I shouldn’t keep rushing around, was actually a turning point. The book teaches us to accept that there are some things we just won’t manage to do. And I’d like to do a lot of things. 🙂
Slow down, start listening to my body, focus more on the basic, important aspects of life—sleep, movement, healthy eating, etc. That’s what it’s all about! And if I want to simply enjoy life itself and live it as long as my body allows, I need to slow down and start doing what experts already know. But how can I achieve that when dopamine makes me feel good about getting more and more done?
Often, a big change needs to come to force you into this. Illness, a breakup, or a job resignation. The gradual “I’ll start on Monday,” “I’ll start on the first of the month,” or “I’ll start in the new year” approach works, but less often.
That’s what happened to me too. I had been employed for over 16 years at a company where I grew until the leadership changed, and big changes, including the economic situation, followed. My dissatisfaction with myself extended to dissatisfaction at work. Unfortunately, I didn’t want to admit it, so before I decided to leave, I was let go. And that’s when the restart could begin!
When you finally have time to watch podcasts and videos about longevity, you clarify your goal. And the ultimate goal I found is: „To live as long as possible in good health.“ To sum it up:
- I’m not happy with my weight
- I’m not happy with my physical condition
- I’m not happy that I wake up every night and sleep poorly
- I’m not happy that I constantly crave sweets and fried food
- I’m not happy with my career direction
So the goal is to “optimize health and regain a passion for life so that I can live as long as possible in good health,” not just lose weight or start exercising more. So, come on this journey with me. Be inspired, maybe together we can achieve long-term physical and mental health. 🙂
