Longevity or Living? Rethinking the Goal
Sep 05, 2025
We hear about longevity everywhere these days. Biohacking, cold plunges, fasting windows, weighted vests, endless supplements. It's become the shiny word of the moment. But let me ask you something: do you really want to live longer if those extra years are filled with things you hate doing?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for an early exit (I've got too many hikes, belly laughs, and adventures left to check off). But the truth is, I don't just want more years. I want better ones.
Because longevity without quality is like buying an extended warranty on a car you don't even like driving.
The Problem with the Longevity Obsession
Here's my issue with how longevity is sold to us: it's often just a clever rebrand of anti-aging culture. It sends the same old message: "You're not doing enough, you should fight aging, you need to keep up." It's the same pressure, wrapped in shinier packaging.
But aging isn't the enemy. Losing joy is.
When we chase every new hack, we risk forgetting that health isn't just about years added, it's about how those years feel. And if the road to longevity is paved with punishment (workouts you dread, diets you despise, routines that feel like chores, expensive procedures and supplements/medications you have to take forever and can't afford), then what are we even doing?
Joy as a Health Metric
Here's a radical thought: joy should be a health marker, right alongside blood pressure, bone density, or muscle mass.
Joy doesn't just make life feel richer; it actually supports health. Studies have linked happiness, purpose, and social connection to a lower risk of disease and a longer lifespan. Translation: the things that make us light up are good medicine.
Anti-Aging vs. Pro-Living
Here's where I land: I'm not anti-aging. I'm pro-living.
That means embracing movement and workouts you actually look forward to, food you savor, and relationships that fill you up. It means saying no to practices that suck the joy out of your life, even if they come wrapped in promises of "extra years."
Because here's what no one wants to say out loud: those "extra years" aren't guaranteed anyway. But how you feel this year? That's up to you.
A Little Perspective Shift
Try this reframe:
Would I still want to do this if it didn't add a single year to my life?
- Would I still want to go hiking? Yes! Because the view, the fresh air, and the sense of adventure are worth it.
- Would I still want to lift weights? Yes! Because it makes me feel powerful, capable, and strong enough to carry groceries, luggage, and yes, my aging dog.
- Would I still want to eat ice cream in the sun? Absolutely! Because that's a memory-maker, not a lifespan calculator.
If the answer is yes, then it's worth doing.
Here’s a personal truth: For years, I obsessed about working out every single day, chasing the next shiny routine, even if it meant an hour on the stairmaster, bored out of my mind but chanting to myself, “I must, I must, this burns calories.” I thought missing a session meant I was failing. But that wasn’t joyful; it was exhausting.
These days, I move because it makes me feel alive, not because it checks some longevity box. And you know what? I’m healthier, stronger, saner, and way happier for it.
Now What?
This week, try one of these simple, joyful practices:
- Swap a "should" for a "want." Instead of "I should go for a run," ask, "What movement do I want to do right now?"
- Do one thing that's joyful for no other reason than it makes you smile. Dance in your kitchen, walk barefoot in the grass, play fetch with your dog, hula hoop in your driveway.
- Check your joy meter. Ask yourself: If this doesn't add a single year to my life, is it still worth doing?
Because the real goal isn't outliving everyone else, it's out-joying them.
So, longevity? Great. But not if it comes at the expense of the present. Let's not just add years to our lives. Let's add more life to our years.
I'd love to hear which one you'll try this week. Email me at [email protected]
