Daily writing prompt

What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?

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Here are my strategies for pushing back against the slippery slope of aging and bad habits:

• I try to walk on average 10K steps per day on a weekly basis and count them weekly. My goal for 2025 is to do most of these steps by hiking over weekends, with a bit higher difficulty. This is my cardio fitness, gym, and meditation exercise, 3 in 1
• I try to read at least 6 books per month every month, and this is a forced way to turn off my brain in the evening so I can sleep. Quality sleep is essential for feeling well
• I try to go to bed before midnight and sleep at least 7h every day
• I have strict rules for alcohol and coffee and I mostly avoid them but do not avoid Coca-Cola Zero. I probably should. I love it.

Apart from the abstinence from coffee and alcohol, all the other goals require somewhat good health and good spirit. The 10K steps goal is very challenging because you start from 0 every day, and even the relaxed goal (8k weekday, 15k weekend day) is still quite tough. Any discomfort can make achieving this impossible.

The habit of reading 6 books/month can be cheated in many ways, for example, by reading very short books. But the number is just a target, it’s not the point. Books get me off the screen and help me sleep. Computers are addictive.