Well, that’s an ominous-sounding headline. Something you might hear in a movie with a guy in a hockey mask named Jason, or maybe Michael Myers.
It’s all good, though:
New research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that regular running reduces the risk of death (especially from heart disease) across the board — regardless of duration or speed.
The best part is you don’t have to run marathon distances to get the benefits — casual running does the trick. And while this study was specific to runners, I’d imagine other forms of aerobic exercise provide the same protections.
If you’ve read Further over the years, you know I’m not a runner. I often make jokes like “I only run if chased,” or even “Go ahead and kill me Jason, it’s better than running.”
Truth is, I hated running because I was out of shape. Now that I’ve been hiking regularly and my fitness is much improved, the thought of running doesn’t sound so bad.
In fact, I catch myself thinking I might like it. Not to live longer, but because I’m now hooked on how aerobic exercise makes me feel — and running is something you can do just about anywhere and any time.
If I’m going to start running, I know I’ll need to ease into it. Thanks to the book The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan Heath, I remembered a program called Couch to 5K developed by a guy named Josh Clark. It’s an app that gets you running in small increments until you work your way up to a continuous run of 3.1 miles (5K).
In addition to using small steps that build into a running habit, the app also provides satisfying milestones along the way. These “moments” of achievement provide a powerful psychological boost to keep going to the next level.
Smart stuff.
Anyway, I’m going to give it a shot. Who’s with me?
Why Running Makes You Live Longer
Keep going-
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further: top ten
Can’t Slow Down
In keeping with the feature story, you don’t need to go fast to thrive. And even though declines in the speed of your running and other activities are unavoidable, they may be less steep than many of us fear.
We Slow as We Age, but May Not Need to Slow Too Much
Walk This Way
Adding a little mindfulness to a normal, regular walk helps to fight stress and anxiety, new research finds. People report less stress when they are moving around and even less when they move around mindfully, the psychologists found.
The Easy Walking Technique That Reduces Stress
Apartame the Beast
The research remains inconclusive, but I’m still glad I kicked my Diet Coke habit long ago. Artificial sweeteners may interfere with the way essential gut bacteria does its job, and previous research has suggested that they may be linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and strokes.
More Evidence Just Landed That Artificial Sweeteners Really Are Bad For You
Enter Sandman
For people who travel a lot, getting quality shut-eye can be difficult, thanks to time zone changes, loud airplanes, and unfamiliar hotels. This can lead to slow reaction times and increased perceived effort when exercising (among other activities).
7 Tools to Help You Sleep Better When Traveling
Focus Sprints
This is an interesting article about the benefits of breaking up your day into periods of 52 minutes of work, followed by 17 minutes of rest. It doesn’t really have anything to do with the 8-hour work day, though.
Why the 8-Hour Workday Doesn’t Work
Work Hard, Work Hard
As someone who enjoys my work, I loved this piece in defense of those of us who think work is (gasp) fun, and perhaps more fun than what others do for fun. Maybe more people need to find work they enjoy instead of shaming those who already have?
Pushy People
When thinking about how to develop in our careers, we overlook one very key piece of the learning puzzle: proactively surrounding ourselves with people who will push us to succeed in unexpected ways and, in so doing, build genuinely rich, purposeful lives of growth, excellence, and impact.
The Key to Career Growth: Surround Yourself with People Who Will Push You
There Is No Spoon
In our work, we simply can’t afford to make decisions when we feel helpless, nervous, or mindless. Three psychological barriers explain our tendency to cling to general wisdom and favor absolutes, rather than finding the best approach that works specifically for you.
The 3 Psychological Reasons We Cling to Conventional Wisdom (and How to Break Free)
Nap Time
Naps are not an indulgence or a sign of laziness, but rather a powerful means of rejuvenating your mental and physical well-being. Here are four reasons why you should find the time, and a place, for a brief daytime snooze.
Four Reasons Why You Should Take a Nap
Awe Yeah
In our busy lives, seeking the experience of awe may be low on our list of priorities. Research suggests, however, that awe can make you happier, healthier, more humble, and more connected to the people around you.
Eight Reasons Why Awe Makes Your Life Better
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